A concise yet broadly based text geared for students with varying degrees of knowledge of the subject. Introducing biochemistry using the theme of intermediary metabolism, the text is divided into three sections: Biological Compounds, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids; Metabolism of Energy-yielding Compounds, including comprehensive chapters on photosynthesis, the nitrogen and sulfur cycles, ammonia assimilation, and sulfate assimilation; and Metabolism of Informational Molecules, with chapters on molecular biology and biotechnology. This edition features more information on plant biochemistry, a new chapter on genetic engineering, gene manipulation, and viruses and gene rearrangements. The book has been extensively updated and revised throughout.