INTRODUCTION ' 



study of metabolic processes. At least an elementary knowledge is 

 needed, not only of the major cellular components (water, carbohydrates, 

 fats, and proteins), but also of the minerals, vitamins, hormones, and 

 enzymes, which, although present in smaller amounts, arc equally vital 

 to the living organism. 



Relatively little time can be devoted, at first, to discussion of detailed 

 evidence for various facts and how this evidence was obtained, since 

 major emphasis must be given to the facts themselves. In other words, 

 the results rather than the methods of biochemical research form the 

 chief subject matter of the beginning course. It is for this reason that 

 the methods have been briefly outlined in this introductory chapter. As 

 in all elementary studies, the student is asked to accept great masses 

 of inform.ation more or less on faith, with the clear understanding, how- 

 ever, that each fact is firmly supported by experimental evidence which 

 he can review and assess for himself, if he so desires. References and 

 suggested readings are listed at the end of each chapter for this purpose. 



REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS 



Green, D. E. (editor), Cunenif; in Biochejnical Research, Interscience Publishers, 



Inc., New York, 1946. 

 Haurowitz, F., Progress in. Biochemistry, Interscience Publishei-s, Inc., New York, 



1950. 

 MacCorquodalc, D. W., Thayer, S. A., and Doisy, E. A., "The Isolation of the 



Principal Estrogenic Substance of Liquor FolHcuH,"' J. Biol. Chcrn., 115, 435 (1936). 

 Needham, J. and Baldwin, E., Hopkins and Biuchcmistry, W. Hpfi'er and Sons, Ltd., 



Cambridge, 1949. 



