The processes of life

"Recent research in molecular biology has produced a remarkably detailed understanding of how living things operate. Becoming conversant with the intricacies of molecular biology and its extensive technical vocabulary can be a challenge, though, as introductory materials often seem more like a barrier than an invitation to the study of life ... The Processes of Life covers the basics in all aspects of molecular biology, from biochemistry and evolution to molecular medicine and biotechnology. After introducing the culture of biology and the diversity of living things throughout history, the book describes evolution; "just enough chemistry"; universal processes of life and the underlying molecular structures; details of how proteins and nucleic acids carry out the processes of life; structures and processes in eukaryotes; the complexities of multicellular organisms; the anatomy and physiology of animals; fundamentals of human disease and its treatment; contemporary biotechnology, including genetic engineering; and bioethics and the implications for society of molecular biology's discoveries."--Book cover.