A text for a short first course in molecular biology. Treatment takes a layering approach, where complexity is developed chapter by chapter rather than presented all at once. Includes chapter summaries, drill questions, problems, and conceptual questions, plus simple two- color diagrams. This third edition retains brevity of presentation and emphasis on fundamentals, and adds improved prose, updated material, margin terms, and key concepts. Material is reorganized in this edition in four sections on the structure of proteins, nucleic acids, and macromolecules; functions of macromolecules; coordination of macromolecular function in cells; and experimental manipulation of macromolecules. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR