Radioisotopes
and Life Processes
The Understanding the Atom Series
Nuclear energy is playing a vital role in the life of every man, woman, and child in the United States today. In the years ahead it will affect increasingly all the peoples of the earth. It is essential that all Americans gain an understanding of this vital force if they are to discharge thoughtfully their responsibilities as citizens and if they are to realize fully the myriad benefits that nuclear energy offers them.
The United States Atomic Energy Commission provides this booklet to help you achieve such understanding.
Edward J. Brunenkant, Director Division of Technical Information
UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman James T. Ramey Wilfrid E. Johnson Dr. Theos J. Thompson Dr. Clarence E. Larson
Radioisotopes
AND LIFE PROCESSES
by Walter E. Kisieleski and
Renato Baserga
CONTENTS
[INTRODUCTION] 1 [CELL THEORY:
DNA IS THE SECRET OF LIFE] 2 [RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPES:
THE BIOLOGICAL DETECTIVES] 10 [DNA SYNTHESIS:
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CELLS] 15 [RNA SYNTHESIS:
HOW TO TRANSLATE ONE LANGUAGE INTO ANOTHER] 25 [PROTEIN SYNTHESIS:
THE MOLECULES THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE] 35 [CELL CYCLE AND GENE ACTION:
LIFE IS THE SECRET OF DNA] 37 [ISOTOPES IN RESEARCH:
PROBING THE CANCER PROBLEM] 43 [CONCLUSIONS] 45 [SUGGESTED REFERENCES] 47
United States Atomic Energy Commission
Division of Technical Information
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 66-61908
1966; 1967(Rev.)