Biochemistry For Dummies [Paperback]

John T. Moore (Author), Richard Langley (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470194286 | ISBN-13: 978-0470194287 | Publication Date: April 28, 2008 | Edition: 1

Are you baffled by biochemistry? You’re not the first, and you won’t be the last. Here’s the good news — you don’t have to stay baffled! Biochemistry For Dummies shows you the fun and easy way to get a handle on biochemistry, apply the science, raise your grades, and prepare yourself to ace any standardized test.

This friendly, unintimidating guide presents an overview of the material covered in a typical college-level biochemistry course and makes biochemistry basics easy to understand. It explains all the topics and practical applications in plain English. From cell ultrastructure and carbohydrates to amino acids, proteins, and supramolecular structure, you’ll identify biochemical structures and reactions, send your grades soaring, and start looking forward to your next class, instead of dreading it. Discover how to:

• Master biochemistry basics
• Work through biochemistry problems
• Prepare for standardized tests
• Grasp amino acid and protein structures
• Nail down enzyme terminology
• Get a grip on the Michaelis-Menton equation
• Load up on carbo knowledge
• Crack the nucleic acid code
• Learn to love lipids — but not too much
• Master the ABCs of vitamins
• Apply biochem in everyday life
• Explore a career in the field

From water chemistry to protein synthesis Biochemistry For Dummies gives you the vital information, clear explanations, and important insights you need to increase your understanding and improve your performance on any biochemistry test.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Covers proteins, carbohydrates, and genetics

Grasp biochem basics, apply the science, and ace your exams

Are you baffled by biochemistry? This unintimidating guide makes it easy to understand, explaining all the topics and practical applications in plain English. From cell ultrastructure and carbohydrates to amino acids, proteins, and supramolecular structure, you'll identify biochemical structures and reactions, improve your grades, and get ready to tackle your tests.

Discover how to:

• Master biochemistry basics
• Work through biochem problems
• Prepare for standardized tests
• Apply biochem in everyday life
• Explore a career in the field

About the Author

John Moore grew up in the foothills of Western North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where he received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He earned his master’s degree in chemistry from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. After a stint in the United States Army, he decided to try his hand at teaching. In 1971, he joined the chemistry faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he still teaches chemistry. In 1985 he started back to school part time and in 1991 received his doctorate in education from Texas A&M University. For the last five years has been the co-editor (along with one of his former students) of the “Chemistry for Kids” feature of The Journal of Chemical Education. In 2003, his first book, Chemistry For Dummies, was published, soon to be followed by Chemistry Made Simple. John enjoys cooking and making custom knife handles from exotic woods.

Richard Langley grew up in southwestern Ohio. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and mineralogy and then a master’s degree in chemistry. His next stop was the University of Nebraska, where he received his doctorate in chemistry. Afterwards, he took a postdoctoral position at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, followed by a visiting assistant professor position at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. In 1982, he moved to Stephen F. Austin State University. For the past several years, he and John have been graders for the Free Response portion of the AP Chemistry Exam. He and John have collaborated on several writing projects, including 5 Steps To A 5 on the AP: Chemistry and Chemistry for the Utterly Confused. Rich enjoys jewelry making and science fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Wiley Publishing; 1 edition (April 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470194286
• ISBN-13: 978-0470194287
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,630 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Errors errors everywhere, September 11, 2008

By 

Ann - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biochemistry For Dummies (Paperback)

I sat down with this book tonight, opened the first page and immediately see an error! Further investigation into the contents show more incorrect information. After using Klein's Organic Chemistry as a Second Language series for organic chemistry, this book is a HUGE let down in terms of writing style and in terms of how error-prone it seems to be. I am very disappointed.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Review please?, May 9, 2008

By 

K. Burns "Burnsie" (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biochemistry For Dummies (Paperback)

Did anyone review this book before it was published? The lack of arrows in the reactions, the labeling of two valines in the "cheat sheet," the structure of one of the valines is the same as the isoleucine, and leucine is left out. The book also mentions that mRNA for translation is directed to the mitochondria...a little confused on that one.

Overall, the book is a good review for those needing to refresh, but full of typos and stupid errors.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Filled with erorrs, July 18, 2010

By 

krok1 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Biochemistry For Dummies (Paperback)

Do not buy this book! It says on the cover "a reference for the rest of us". What a joke, this book is filled with elementary errors. I mean, the authors should look at the book at least once before dedicating it to "my wife", "my mother", "my sons", etc. ;-) I bought the book yesterday. Opened on "ATP: The body's monetary system" (chapter 13). In about 15 minutes of casual reading I found 5 error. Common authors, it will be great that you read it once.
Among errors

- Figure 13-1. Glycolysis. ATP is produced not consumed in 2 and 9 step of the second phase of glycolysis. This is the whole point of glycolysis! It says correctly in the text, but the figure is wrong. And the authors ask people to return frequently to the this figure! ;-0

- page 199 first sentence, it should be not "... transfer of a phosphate group from C-2 to C-3", but the other way around.

- page 201, on the bottom right of the page, chemical formula and structure of Ethanol (!) is given incorrectly. Common authors, get some basic Biochemistry TextBook and learn the formula for ethanol. Or just hire a good undergraduate student for 20 $ an hour to proof-read your error-filled "guide for the rest of us".


3 GROSS errors in 15 minutes, I would never read this book again!