TR.\NSLATOR'S PREFACE 



The translation of Professor Florkin's book has been complicated by the 

 rapid progress of biochemistry in the last few years, necessitating many 

 alterations and additions to the original text, to keep it up to date and to 

 include new material. The subject-matter dealt with in these pages 

 covers a very wide field, and I would crave the indulgence of the reader 

 for any errors due to lack of familiarity with some of the topics discussed. 

 Part of this discussion is at a philosophical level and, although not having 

 had the pleasure of meeting Professor Florkin personally, I have tried to 

 convey as faithfully as possible the ideas and concepts set out in the original 

 text. When in doubt, I have stayed as closely as possible to the phrase- 

 ology of the original. I have retained the term "biosphere", for example, 

 to describe the total collection of living organisms. Enzyme nomenclature, 

 too, has been a problem, but when in doubt I have used the terms given 

 in Baldwin's Dynamic Aspects of Biochemistry , or alternatively, the simplest 

 and most descriptive name for the enzyme. I have endeavoured to write 

 in good concise English and I trust that the result is clear and readable. 



Terry Wood 



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