Main description:

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.

Contents:

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