PREFACE 



theoretical chemistry. The biochemical description of muscular 

 contraction, nerve conduction, glomerular filtration, and secre- 

 tion and membrane phenomena is still relatively virgin territory. 

 The structural analysis and interpretation of the way in which 

 mitochondria, nuclei, membranes, myelin sheath, and other 

 complex cellular structures are constructed in a chemical sense 

 have yet to reach even the blueprint stage. A fabulous area of 

 exploitation awaits the investigators who can hurdle the con- 

 ceptual barriers in the way of the biochemical study of hormone 

 action at the molecular level. If current progress on the re- 

 construction of in vitro systems for synthesis of protein is to 

 serve as a guide, then we must surely anticipate the polygamous 

 marriage, in the not too distant future, of biochemistry with 

 genetics, immunology, hematology, and virology. The older 

 problems of biochemistry are clearly moribund but the newer 

 problems have the fascination and challenge of youth. 



David E. Green 



February 7956 



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