Emperor of Enzymes: A Biography of Arthur Kornberg, Biochemist and Nobel Laureate

This book chronicles the life and work of the late Arthur Kornberg, one of the premier biochemists in the world, who discovered the enzyme DNA polymerase, a key enzyme required for the biosynthesis of DNA.

The book provides readers with a view of the personality and character of one of the great biochemists of the late 20th century, as well as insights into the origin and growth of the discipline of nucleic acid biochemistry, especially the biosynthesis of DNA.

The book consists of 17 chapters that trace the life and work of Arthur Kornberg.

• Growing Up in New York City, Medical School and the United States Navy
• Learning from the Masters — The NIH and the Ochoa Laboratory
• The Cori Laboratory — And a Return to the NIH
• Washington University
• The Lure of Nucleic Acid Enzymology
• The Discovery of DNA Polymerase
• Stanford University Medical School
• The Stanford Department of Biochemistry
• Life in the Test Tube?
• Like Father Like Sons
• Spores — A Brief Interlude
• DNA Replication — The Holy Grail
• Polyphosphate
• A Life of Writing
• In Support of Basic Science
• Commercial Ventures and the Founding of DNAX
• A Life Well Lived

• There are no competing titles
• It is a biography of a world famous scientist
• It provides a history of nucleic acid biochemistry