Over the past decade, scientists have made a series of dramatic research findings emphasizing the vital role of the peroxisome, a small organelle containing oxidizing enzymes and catalase and commonly found in animal and plant tissue. These findings include major advances in our understanding of its metabolic roles, genetics and biochemistry, and of the broad involvements of peroxisomal diseases. This book provides a basic introduction to the peroxisome and its relationship to other components of eukaryotic cells, followed by detailed and comprehensive discussions of these recent advances. The authors review current understanding of the morphology, phylogeny, enzymology and ontogeny of the peroxisome, and conclude with a chapter on peroxisomes and human disease. The authors are well respected researchers in this field and have produced an authoritative and readable text that will appeal to postgraduates and researchers in biochemistry, cell biology and medical science.