The successful 30-Second series tackles biochemistry, the science of the chemical processes which underpin the workings of all organic life.30-Second Biochemistry takes 50 of the most significant ideas relating to the study of the chemical processes connected to living organisms, simplifying each concept using just 300 words and one picture. By using chemical procedures to tackle biological challenges, biochemistry reveals the behaviour of complex molecules and how they combine to form the building blocks of life. Through this book you will gain a clear understanding of a fascinating area of science, embarking on a journey that reveals how new life is created, the path molecules take to develop from microscopic cells into complete organisms and how energy is harvested and harnessed to help organisms function efficiently. Have all the key terms of this fascinating science explained in simple, bitesize chunks of information-rich text, as well as meeting the key figures who have helped make biochemistry what it is today.

6 Introduction Chapter 1: Biochemistry's Context 12 GLOSSARY 14 Life's Scale 16 Life's Units 18 Life's Power 20 Life's Rules 22 Life's Matrix 24 Life's Give & Take 26 Profile: Lawrence Henderson 28 Life's Organizing Force Chapter 2: Building Blocks 32 GLOSSARY 34 Elements 36 Bonds: Life's Handedness 38 Chains: Biological Polymers 40 Lipids 42 Sweetness: Carbohydrates 44 Profile: Frederick Sanger 46 Life's Letters: Nucleotides 48 Workforce: Amino Acids & Peptides Chapter 3: Machinery 52 GLOSSARY 54 Protein Folding & Aggregation 56 Shape: Protein Structure 58 Profile: Max Perutz 60 Roads & Rafters: Structural Proteins 62 Motors 64 Transport & Storage 66 Membranes, Messengers & Receptors 68 Making Life Go: Enzymes Chapter 4: Harvesting Energy 72 GLOSSARY 74 Life's Currency 76 Using Big Carbs 78 Using Small Carbs 80 Long-term Storage & Burning Fats 82 The Central Hub 84 Profile: Hans Krebs 86 ATP From Air 88 Mobilizing the Cell Chapter 5: Making Life 92 GLOSSARY 94 Burning in Reverse: Photosynthesis 96 Bringing in the Nitrogen 98 Pooling the Amino Acids 100 The Making of the Message Bearers 102 Maintaining the Code 104 Profile: James Watson, Francis Crick & Rosalind Franklin 106 Reading the Book 108 Doctoring Decoding: Epigenetics 110 Finding the Source Chapter 6: Staying Alive 114 GLOSSARY 116 In & Out: Digestion & Excretion 118 Blood, Breath & Balance 120 Moving 122 Profile: Hugh Huxley 124 Biochemistry on the Brain 1 26 Detox 128 Electrolyte Balance 130 Coordinating the Defence Chapter 7: In Sickness & Health 134 GLOSSARY 136 Things We Need 138 Staying Fit 140 Progeny & the Pill 142 Maintaining the Right Balance 144 Repelling the Hijackers 146 Profile: Gertrude Elion & George Hitchings 148 When Cells Break Bad 150 Gene Editing 152 Appendices 154 Resources 156 Notes on Contributors 158 Index 160 Acknowledgements