The Basics of Molecular Biology

ISBN-13: 9783031194030 / Angielski / Miękka / 2022 / 184 str.

Alexander Vologodskii

Opis

Accessible and comprehensive, this book describes the universal cellular nature of living organisms and is an indispensable tool for anyone in the sciences who wishes to get a quick overview of molecular biology. Individual chapters cover nucleic acids and proteins, genetic code and protein synthesis, the fidelity of transferring genetic information to the next generations, and the regulation of various processes inside the cells. Special attention is paid to new areas rising from modern DNA sequencing technologies which transform biology. The book also touches on developing areas, such as cures for cancer and CRISPR, which are important for medicine and the future of humankind.  

Spis treści

Introduction                                                                                                       

Chapter 1. The major processes in the biological world                                      

Cells as basic units of life                                                                             

Important facts from chemistry and physics                                                               

Structure of DNA and inheritance of genetic information                                           

RNA molecules                                                                                           

Proteins                                                                                                                  

Genetic code                                                                                              

From DNA to proteins                                                                                 

Concluding remarks

Chapter 2. Enzymes, conformational changes, energy, and molecular motors     

Motion of macromolecules in water                                                             

Enzymes                                                                                                                                       

Conformational flexibility of proteins and allosteric transitions                       

Energy in the cell life                                                                                    

Molecular motors                                                                                       

Energy transfer from food to ATP                                                                                        

Chapter 3. The cells                                                                                            

The lipid membrane                                                                                    

Membrane proteins                                                                                                  

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells                                                                  

The cell cycle                                                                                              

Chapter 4. Genome                                                                                         

Bacterial genome                                                                                        

Eukaryotic genome                                                                                                            

Chromosomes                                                                                                           

DNA sequencing                                                                                                    

Genome editing                                                                                                                 

Chapter 5. Regulation of gene expression and protein activity                            

Regulation of transcription                                                                                       

Post-transcriptional changes of mRNAs                                                                    

Suppression of gene expression by small noncoding RNA molecules              

Chapter 6. DNA replication, its fidelity, mutations, and repair                       

Replication of the double helix                                                                                   

DNA damage and repair                                                                             

Accumulation of mutations in individuals and populations                                         

Chapter 7. Transmission of signals                                                                   

The general principle                                                                                  

How receptors receive signal molecules                                                       

Intracellular signaling molecules                                                                 

G-protein-coupled receptors                                                                        

Signal transduction in neurons                                                                                  

Sensing smell                                                                                              

Chapter 8. Multicellular organisms and their development                               

Body tissues and connections between the cells                                           

Development of multicellular organisms                                                     

Stem cells                                                                                                    

Death of the cells                                                                                                  

Chapter 9. Biological defense I. Protection from foreign nucleic acids              

The restriction-modification system                                                            

CRISPR-cas system                                                                                   

RNA-induced silencing complexes

Chapter 10. Biological defense II. The immune system of vertebrates                

The adaptive immune system                                                                        

The innate immune system                                                                           

Chapter 11. Pathogens                                                                                   

Viruses                                                                                                       

Bacteria                                                                                                      

Eukaryotic parasites                                                                                  

Chapter 12. Cancer                                                                                       

General features of cancer                                                                         

Cancer-critical genes                                                                                  

External causes of cancers                                                                           

Cures of cancer                                                                                           

Glossary

Index

O autorze

Alexander Vologodskii graduated from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Soviet Union, in 1972.  Since then and till 1992 he worked in the Biophysical Laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Genetics, in Moscow. He received a Ph.D. in biophysics in 1975 and the highest Russian scientific degree, Doctor of Science, in 1985. In 1992 he relocated to the United States, where he was a visiting scientist at UC Berkeley for three years. From 1995 to 2011 he was the head of the research laboratory at New York University. He published about 120 papers and two monographs. Vologodskii works now as a freelance science writer.