Giant Molecules

Our lives are dominated by giant molecules, which have remarkable properties, some of which are only just being discovered and exploited by science, though many have long been exploited far more effectively by Nature. Giant molecules dominate our lives - from the proteins and DNA within us to the man-made fibres of our clothes and the many plastics that we use every day. And they are set to have an enormous impact on the future, as scientists and engineers learn from nature (biomimetics), and utilize the full potential of tiny carbon nanotubes. The possibilities may seem like science fiction - a space station tethered to Earth by cables of giant molecules, tiny molecular vehicles carrying and dispensing drugs in our bodies, smart materials that adjust automatically to optimize our comfort, minute computers utilizing the information storage capacity of DNA - but they are the subjects of cutting edge research. Walter Gratzer gives a fascinating account of the discovery and variety of giant molecules, how they come to have their remarkable properties, and how these are used by Nature and increasingly by us, pausing now and again to tell of some of the remarkable characters involved in their discovery and development. "A well-written and well-researched guidebook to an unfamiliar galaxy. Giant Molecules will serve as a suitable launching pad for anyone who wants an introduction to big molecules and their uses, from DNA computing to pykrete."--Journal of Chemical EducationListed in Science Book News"Walter Gratzer, a British biophysicist, presents a fascinating new book about giant molecules -- their history, their chemistry, their use in technology." --Huffington Post1. Before the dawn ; 2. The basics: a little chemistry ; 3. Proteins: from skin and bone to enzymes ; 4. Storage: of food and information ; 5. The protean element: carbon in new guises ; 6. The plastic world ; 7. The quiddity of polymers: shapes, sizes, and their effects ; 8. The new age: giant molecules for the 21st century ; 9. Present and future: where will it end? ; 10. The many faces of DNA ; Further Reading ; Bibliography