This important volume is mainly concerned with the development of methods for "sequencing" - that is, determination of the order of the amino acids in proteins and of nucleotides in RNA and DNA. In 1943 the position of only one amino acid in a protein (insulin) was known, and Sanger's first paper resulted in finding a second amino acid. In his final paper in 1982 he describes the determination of a DNA sequence of 48,502 nucleotides. The papers describe the steady improvements in techniques, and exciting biological results revealed by the sequences.

This volume is a collection of articles written by Nobel Laureate Rita Levi-Montalcini and published from 1942 to 1995. Studies described in the first part set the stage for the discovery of a protein molecule which became known as the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), described in detail in the second part. The NGF synthesized in minute amounts in all vertebrate tissues, plays an essential role in the differentiation and survival of several nerve cell populations in the peripheral and central nervous system. The discovery of the NGF was defined by the Nobel Foundation as a milestone in...

Using the published work of Nobel Laureate Niels Kaj Jerne, this book shows how he developd his ideas. The book is a compilation of his published work, but in fact it is much more than that. Whether the reader wants to read the book systematically, or only browse, it opens a fascinating world of hypotheses, theories, facts and vistas. His selection theory, his view of how immunological diversity is created, and his concept of lymphocytes interacting as a network, reveals Jerne's revolutionary spirit. The book ought to be a rich source of inspiration for everyone interested in science and how...

The first two chapters of this invaluable book trace the developments of the chemistry and macromolecular structures, respectively, of proteins and nuclei acids. Similarly, the introductions to the succeeding chapters review, step by step, the historical landmarks in the topics covered. These include discoveries of biological phosphate esters, nucleotides and nucleotide coenzymes (important in intermediary metabolism), the nature of the genetic material and biological synthesis of proteins, formulation of the problem of the genetic code, and perspectives on bioenergetics. The selected papers...

Facsimiles of the author's "handwritten letters" (p. 807-877).

For those interested in how science is made, this work uses the published work of Nobel Laureate Niels Kaj Jerne to show how he developed his ideas. Jerne's view of how immunological diversity is created, and his concept of lymphocytes interacting as a network, reveal his revolutionary spirit.

Research in the laboratory of Baruch S. Blumberg resulted in the discovery of the hepatitis B virus and the invention of the vaccine which protects against it. This work comprises an account of research on HBV (and related subjects) and selected reprints from Blumberg and his colleagues.