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The Physical Basis of Biochemistry

The Foundations of Molecular Biophysics

  • Textbook
  • © 1998

Overview

Authors:
  1. Peter R. Bergethon

    1. Department of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, USA

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Table of contents (33 chapters)

  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
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Keywords

About this book

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.

Authors and Affiliations

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

    Peter R. Bergethon

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