Biological Thermodynamics

Description

This inter-disciplinary guide to the thermodynamics of living organisms has been thoroughly revised and updated to provide a uniquely integrated overview of the subject. Retaining its highly readable style, it will serve as an introduction to the study of energy transformation in the life sciences and particularly as an accessible means for biology, biochemistry and bioengineering undergraduate students to acquaint themselves with the physical dimension of their subject. The emphasis throughout the text is on understanding basic concepts and developing problem-solving skills. The mathematical difficulty increases gradually by chapter, but no calculus is required. Topics covered include energy and its transformation, the First Law of Thermodynamics, Gibbs free energy, statistical thermodynamics, binding equilibria and reaction kinetics. Each chapter comprises numerous illustrative examples taken from different areas of biochemistry, as well as a broad range of exercises and references for further study.

DON HAYNIE is Founder and Chief Scientist of Artificial Cell Technologies, Inc., Director of the Bionanosystems Engineering Laboratory and Research Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Central Michigan University, and a Clinical Professor at University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Former members of his research group are at Harvard Medical School, King's College London, Schering-Plough, and Pacific Nanotechnology. He has held academic appointments at Johns Hopkins University, University of Oxford, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, and Louisiana Tech University, in departments of biophysics, biomolecular sciences, biomedical engineering, chemistry, and physics. He has taught thermodynamics to biology, biochemistry, and engineering students world-wide.

'In my opinion, the author has covered a traditionally 'boring field' with vivid description and interesting examples. My overall impression is that this book is comprehensive, illustrative and up-to-date ... and I would certainly recommend it to my students.' Prof. Yigong Shi, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University '... an outstanding supplement to the treatment offered in most textbooks of biochemistry ...very rewarding for students majoring in biochemistry, biophysics, or biotechnology.' Prof. Frank Vella, Department of Biochemistry, University of Saskatchewan '... a very readable and informed introduction to energy transformation at several levels of biological organization: molecules, cells, and multicellular organisms ... a good introduction to the new field of biological thermodynamics and represents an important contribution to the literature.' Dr Lloyd Demetrius, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, USA and Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin