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Found throughout the biosphere, nitrogen plays a key role in such biomolecules as proteins, amino sugars like chitin and peptidoglucans, DNA and RNO, and chlorophyll. Despite nitrogen's abundance, its fate once an organism dies is not always well understood. This book presents late-1990s research on the fate of nitrogen-containing macromolecules in the bio- and geosphere, with a strong emphasis on biogeochemical processes. The volume discusses proteins and amino sugars, their occurrence, degradation, and preservation in arid, freshwater, and marine environments. It includes an overview of ancient DNA and research on the fate of nitrogen in soil. It also examines the links between nitrogen, sedimentary organic matter, and biomacromolecules. Complete with a critical look at analytical methods, the book addresses questions on the stability of nitrogen-containing biomacromolecules and the transformations they undergo upon diagenesis.