ENGLISH

The Enigma of Ferment: From the Philosopher's Stone to the First Biochemical Nobel Prize

Book information

Publisher
World Scientific Pub Co Inc
Year
2006
ISBN
9812564217, 9789812564214
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
3 MB (3603062 bytes)
Pages
161\170
Time added
2013-12-17 18:44:02

Description

This popular account of the history of ferment takes the reader on a fascinating journey from its obscure origins in medieval medicine and alchemy to the modern concept of the enzyme. During the 19th century, the question of the nature of the ferment led to a long and bitter conflict between those that believed in a vital force peculiar to the living cell and those that looked for a more chemical explanation. The book takes an in-depth look at the events of 1897 when Eduard Buchner demonstrated that cell-free extracts of yeast could catalyze alcoholic fermentation, putting an end to "vitalism" and at the same time earning him a Nobel Prize, the first to be awarded for purely biochemical work.

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