The Physical Basis of Biochemistry

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxii

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2. The Science and Philosophy of Biophysical Study

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction to the Principles and Practice of Biophysical Chemistry

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 3-7

   3. Physical Thoughts, Biological Systems: The Application of Modeling Principles to Understanding Biological Systems

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 8-26

   4. Probability and Statistics

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 27-40

3. Physical Foundations

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 41-41

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   2. Physical Principles: Energy—The Prime Observable

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 43-47

   3. Physical Principles: Mechanics and Motion

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 48-67

   4. Physical Principles: Waves

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 68-96

   5. Physical Principles: Electrostatics

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 97-108

   6. Physical Principles: Electromagnetics

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 109-124

   7. Physical Principles: Quantum Mechanics

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 125-157

   8. Chemical Principles

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 158-172

4. Measuring a System: Tools for Exploring Natural State Space

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 173-173

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   2. Measuring the Energy of a System: Energetics and the First Law of Thermodynamics

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 175-186

   3. The Whole Is Greater than the Sum of Its Parts: Entropy and the Second Law

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 187-207

   4. Which Way Is That System Going? The Gibbs Free Energy

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 208-227

   5. Friends and Neighbors—Interactions in a System: Phase Equilibria

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 228-248

   6. Spectroscopy: Analysis of Structure

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 249-267

   7. Analysis of Structure: Microscopy

      • Peter R. Bergethon

      Pages 268-281

The objective of this book is to provide a unifying approach to the study of biophysical chemistry for the advanced undergraduate who has had a year of physics, organic chem­ istry, calculus, and biology. This book began as a revised edition of Biophysical Chemistry: Molecules to Membranes, which Elizabeth Simons and I coauthored. That short volume was written in an attempt to provide a concise text for a one-semester course in biophysical chemistry at the graduate level. The experience of teaching biophysical chemistry to bi­ ologically oriented students over the last decade has made it clear that the subject requires a more fundamental text that unifies the many threads of modem science: physics, chem­ istry, biology, mathematics, and statistics. This book represents that effort. This volume is not a treatment of modem biophysical chemistry with its rich history and many contro­ versies, although a book on that topic is also needed. The Physical Basis of Biochemistry is an introduction to the philosophy and practice of an interdisciplinary field in which biological systems are explored using the quantitative perspective of the physical scientist. I have three primary objectives in this volume: one, to provide a unifying picture of the interdisciplinary threads from which the tapestry of biophysical studies is woven; two, to provide an insight into the power of the modeling approach to scientific investigation; and three, to communicate a sense of excitement for the activity and wholesome argument that characterize this field of study.

• Bergethon
• biochemistry
• biology
• biophysics
• chemistry
• membrane
• molecular biophysics
• physical biochemistry
• physical chemistry

• Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA

  Peter R. Bergethon

Policies and ethics