Biological systems and genetic analysis are described in the first chapter in sufficient detail that no prior college biology course is needed. Properties of macromolecules and macromolecular structures are presented early to provide a framework for understanding nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis, mutation, gene regulation and assembly processes.

Preface / Systems and Methods of Molecular Biology / Genetic Analysis in Molecular Biology / Macromolecules / Nucleic Acids / DNA Technology / The Physical Structure of Protein Molecules / Macromolecular Interactions and the Structure of Complex Aggregates / The Genetic Material / DNA Replication / Repair / Mutagenesis, Mutations, and Mutants / Transcription / Translation I: The Information Problem / Translation II: The Machinery and the Chemical Nature of Protein / Regulation of the Activity of Genes and of Gene Products in Prokaryotes / Regulation in Eukaryotes / Bacteriophages I: Lytic Phages / Bacteriophages II: The Lysogenic Life Cycle / Plasmids / Genetic Recombination Between Homologous DNA Sequences / Transposable Elements / Recombinant DNA and Genetic Engineering / Eukaryotic Viruses / Tumor Viruses and Oncogenes / Bibliography / Index.

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