The Physics of Living Processes

Preface xiii

Acknowledgements xvii

I Building Blocks 1

1 Molecules 3

1.1 Chemical Bonds and Molecular Interactions 3

1.2 Chirality 7

1.3 Proteins 7

1.4 Lipids 15

1.5 Nucleic Acids 16

1.6 Carbohydrates 21

1.7 Water 24

1.8 Proteoglycans and Glycoproteins 25

1.9 Viruses 26

1.10 Other Molecules ...