该书共包括六部分20章。第一到第三部分共7章是引导性基础知识：包括蛋白质的结构和功能；核酸结构、核酸技术和染色体结构；遗传分析及病毒对分子生物学的贡献和地位。第四到第六部分共12章是分子生物学的核心内容：包括DNA代谢(DNA复制，DNA损伤和修复，DNA重组和转座)，RNA的合成和加工(细菌内的转录和基因表达调控，真核细胞内mRNA转录、调控和转录后加工，核糖体RNA、转运RNA和细胞器RNA的合成)，以及蛋白质的合成(转运RNA和遗传密码，核糖体和翻译过程)。该书对所涉及内容的描述非常全面翔实，并具有一定的前沿性，非常适用于初学者。

Preface

CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Molecular Biology

SECTION 1 Protein Structure and Function

CHAPTER 2 Protein Structure

CHAPTER 3 Protein Function

SECTION 2 Nucleic Acids and Nucleoproteins

CHAPTER 4 Deoxyribonucleic Acid Structure

CHAPTER 5 Nucleic Acid Technology

CHAPTER 6 Chromosome Structure

SECTION 3 Genetics and Virology

CHAPTER 7 Genetic Analysis in Molecular Biology

CHAPTER 8 Viruses in Molecular Biology

SECTION 4 DNA Metabolism

CHAPTER 9 DNA Replication

CHAPTER 10 DNA Damage and Repair

CHAPTER 11 Recombination

CHAPTER 12 Transposons and Other Mobile Elements

SECTION 5 RNA Synthesis and Processing

CHAPTER 13 Bacterial RNA Polymerase

CHAPTER 14 Regulation of Bacterial Gene Transcription

CHAPTER 15 RNA Polymerase Ih Basal Transcription

CHAPTER 16 RNA Polymerase Ih Regulation

CHAPTER 17 RNA Polymerase Ih Cotranscriptional and Posttranscriptional Processes

CHAPTER 18 Ribosomal RNA, Transfer RNA, and Organellar RNA Synthesis

SECTION 6 Protein Synthesis

CHAPTER 19 Protein Synthesis: The Genetic Code

CHAPTER 20 Protein Synthesis: The Ribosome

Index