Fermentation : vital or chemical process? / by Joseph S. Fruton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fruton, Joseph S. (Joseph Stewart), 1912-2007.

Series:

History of science and medicine library ; v. 1.

History of science and medicine library, 1872-0684 ; v. 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fermentation--History.

Fermentation.

Biochemistry.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (159 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Human knowledge of the conversion of grape must into wine and of cereal dough into bread is as old as agriculture. This book is a study of the ways this phenomenon (fermentation) has been considered since Aristotle to be analogous to natural processes such as human digestion. During 1200-1600 A.D., alchemists wrote "ferments" or "elixirs" that could turn lead into gold. A century later, in Newton's time, many physicians and natural philosophers considered fermentation to be an important natural process. The 18th century was marked by Lavoisier's celebrated experiment on alcoholic fermentation. The 19th-century debate about the nature of this process was concluded by Buchner's preparation of an active cell-free yeast extract. From 1910-1940 many researchers participated in the identification of the chemical intermediates and catalysts in the multi-enzyme pathway of alcoholic fermentation.

Contents:

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Aristotle to Paracelsus

2. Van Helmont to Black

3. Lavoisier to Fischer

4. The Buchners to the Warburg Group

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [117]-133) and index.

ISBN:

1-281-39991-4

9786611399917

90-474-1041-6

OCLC:

568194070

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789047410416 DOI