Instrumental techniques of analysis have now moved from the confines of the chemistry laboratory to form an indispensable part of the analytical armoury of many workers involved in the biological sciences. It is now quite out of the question to considcr a laboratory dealing with the analysis of biological materials that is not equipped with an extensive range of instrumentation. Recent years have also seen a dramatic improvement in the ease with which such instruments can be used, and the quality and quantity of the analytical data that they can produce. This is due in no sm all part to the ubiquitous use of microprocessors and computers for instrumental control. However, under these circumstances there is areal danger of the analyst adopting a 'black box' mentality and not treating the analytical data produced in accordance with the limitations that may be inherent in the method used. Such a problem can only be overcome if the operator is fully aware of both the theoretical and instrumental constraints relevant to the technique in question. As the complexity and sheer volume of material in undergraduate courses increases, there is a tendency to reduce the amount of fundamental material that is taught prior to embarking on the more applied aspects. This is nowhere more apparent than in the teaching of instrumental techniques of analysis.

Analytical methods are the essential enabling tools of the modern biosciences. This book presents a comprehensive introduction into these analytical methods, including their physical and chemical backgrounds, as well as a discussion of the strengths and weakness of each method. It covers all major techniques for the determination and experimental analysis of biological macromolecules, including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The presentation includes frequent cross-references in order to highlight the many connections between different techniques. The book provides a bird's eye view of the entire subject and enables the reader to select the most appropriate method for any given bioanalytical challenge. This makes the book a handy resource for students and researchers in setting up and evaluating experimental research. The depth of the analysis and the comprehensive nature of the coverage mean that there is also a great deal of new material, even for experienced experimentalists. The following techniques are covered in detail: - Purification and determination of proteins - Measuring enzymatic activity - Microcalorimetry - Immunoassays, affinity chromatography and other immunological methods - Cross-linking, cleavage, and chemical modification of proteins - Light microscopy, electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy - Chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques - Protein sequence and composition analysis - Mass spectrometry methods - Measuring protein-protein interactions - Biosensors - NMR and EPR of biomolecules - Electron microscopy and X-ray structure analysis - Carbohydrate and lipid analysis - Analysis of posttranslational modifications - Isolation and determination of nucleic acids - DNA hybridization techniques - Polymerase chain reaction techniques - Protein sequence and composition analysis - DNA sequence and epigenetic modification analysis - Analysis of protein-nucleic acid interactions - Analysis of sequence data - Proteomics, metabolomics, peptidomics and toponomics - Chemical biology

Analytical chemistry today is almost entirely instrumental analytical chemistry and it is performed by many scientists and engineers who are not chemists. Analytical instrumentation is crucial to research in molecular biology, medicine, geology, food science, materials science, and many other fields. With the growing sophistication of laboratory equipment, there is a danger that analytical instruments can be regarded as "black boxes" by those using them. The well-known phrase "garbage in, garbage out" holds true for analytical instrumentation as well as computers. This book serves to provide users of analytical instrumentation with an understanding of their instruments. This book is written to teach undergraduate students and those working in chemical fields outside analytical chemistry how contemporary analytical instrumentation works, as well as its uses and limitations. Mathematics is kept to a minimum. No background in calculus, physics, or physical chemistry is required. The major fields of modern instrumentation are covered, including applications of each type of instrumental technique. Each chapter includes: A discussion of the fundamental principles underlying each technique Detailed descriptions of the instrumentation. An extensive and up to date bibliography End of chapter problems Suggested experiments appropriate to the technique where relevant This text uniquely combines instrumental analysis with organic spectral interpretation (IR, NMR, and MS). It provides detailed coverage of sampling, sample handling, sample storage, and sample preparation. In addition, the authors have included many instrument manufacturers’ websites, which contain extensive resources.

Do the sciences aim to uncover the structure of nature, or are they ultimately a practical means of controlling our environment? In Instrumental Biology, or the Disunity of Science, Alexander Rosenberg argues that while physics and chemistry can develop laws that reveal the structure of natural phenomena, biology is fated to be a practical, instrumental discipline. Because of the complexity produced by natural selection, and because of the limits on human cognition, scientists are prevented from uncovering the basic structure of biological phenomena. Consequently, biology and all of the disciplines that rest upon it—psychology and the other human sciences—must aim at most to provide practical tools for coping with the natural world rather than a complete theoretical understanding of it.

Analytical instrumentation is crucial to research in molecular biology, medicine, geology, food science, materials science, forensics, and many other fields. Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis, 8th Edition, provides the reader with an understanding of all major instrumental analyses, and is unique in that it starts with the fundamental principles, and then develops the level of sophistication that is needed to make each method a workable tool for the student. Each chapter includes a discussion of the fundamental principles underlying each technique, detailed descriptions of the instrumentation, and a large number of applications. Each chapter includes an updated bibliography and problems, and most chapters have suggested experiments appropriate to the technique. This edition has been completely updated, revised, and expanded. The order of presentation has been changed from the 7th edition in that after the introduction to spectroscopy, UV-Vis is discussed. This order is more in keeping with the preference of most instructors. Naturally, once the fundamentals are introduced, instructors are free to change the order of presentation. Mathematics beyond algebra is kept to a minimum, but for the interested student, in this edition we provide an expanded discussion of measurement uncertainty that uses elementary calculus (although a formula approach can be used with no loss of context). Unique among all instrumental analysis texts we explicitly discuss safety, up front in Chapter 2. The presentation intentionally avoids a finger-wagging, thou-shalt-not approach in favor of a how-to discussion of good laboratory and industrial practice. It is focused on hazards (and remedies) that might be encountered in the use of instrumentation. Among the new topics introduced in this edition are: • Photoacoustic spectroscopy. • Cryogenic NMR probes and actively shielded magnets. • The nature of mixtures (in the context of separations). • Troubleshooting and leaks in high vacuum systems such as mass spectrometers. • Instrumentation laboratory safety. • Standard reference materials and standard reference data. In addition, the authors have included many instrument manufacturer’s websites, which contain extensive resources. We have also included many government websites and a discussion of resources available from National Measurement Laboratories in all industrialized countries. Students are introduced to standard methods and protocols developed by regulatory agencies and consensus standards organizations in this context as well.