The Chemistry of Biology

More about the book

Living organisms are defined by their chemical foundations, making an understanding of elemental properties and compound interactions essential for biology. Chemistry explains why carbon, rather than silicon, is central to biology and why precious metals like gold and silver are irrelevant. The periodic table elucidates why phosphoric acid, not sulfuric acid, serves as a bridge in polynucleic acids and why DNA evolved from RNA. It also clarifies the significance of D-glucose in forming biopolymers like cellulose and glycogen, as well as the self-contained nature of the citrate cycle. Biochemistry is a synthesis chemistry that differs from synthetic chemistry mainly in its environmental conditions, selecting elements and compounds based on Earth's moderate temperatures, atmospheric pressure, water as a solvent, and oxygen as a primary reactant. The hypothesis presented suggests that the theory of evolution, a cornerstone of modern biology, is rooted in chemistry, effectively reversing the traditional biological perspective of Darwinism. For instance, the role of phenols as radical scavengers is fundamentally chemical, leading to biological variations in flowering plants. This perspective promotes a new, chemistry-centered understanding of "animate nature" and advocates for a revised, biologically oriented approach to chemistry education in schools and universities.