Kinetics for the Life Sciences Receptors, Transmitters and Catalysts [Paperback]

This book introduces the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level.Introducing the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level, this text shows that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps for a wide range of systems. They include enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception and ligand binding.Introducing the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level, this text shows that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps for a wide range of systems. They include enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception and ligand binding.This book introduces the reader to the kinetic analysis of a wide range of biological processes at the molecular level. It shows that the same approach can be used to resolve the number of steps for a wide range of systems including enzyme reactions, muscle contraction, visual perception, and ligand binding. The author discusses the methods for characterizing these steps in chemical terms. Firmly rooted in theory, a wide range of examples and experimental techniques are introduced as well. A historical approach is used to demonstrate the development of the theory and experimental techniques of kinetic analysis in biology.Part I. The Time Scales of Nature: a Historical Survey: 1. The history of the application of physical principles; 2 Kinetics and biological problems; 3 Time scales of nature and of measurement; Part II. Some Mathematical Introductions: 4. The origins of exponential behaviour; 5. Modelling of kinetic systems; 6. Data collection, reduction and analysis; 7. Guidelines for the derivation of equations used in the text; Part III. Elementary Kinetic Equations: Ground Rules: 8. The law of mass action, rates and equilibria; 9. The evaluation of first and second order rate constants; 10. An introduction to practical steady state kinl�