Chemical Biology
Chemical Biology - Related Videos
14:22
Free Radicals in Chemical Biology: from Chemical Behavior to Biomarker Development
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Cited by 9 •
2013
Radical-based biomimetic chemistry has been applied to building-up libraries necessary for biomarker development.
09:39
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
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Cited by 26 •
2014
Biochar is a carbon-rich material used as a soil amendment with the ability to sustainably sequester carbon, improve substrate quality and sorb contaminants. This protocol describes the 17 analytical methods used for the characterization of biochar, which is required prior to large scale implementation of these amendments in the environment.
04:17
Chemical Drying: Biological Sample Preparation for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
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2023
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a powerful tool to image—primarily—the surface features of a biological sample. Proper sample preparation, however, is critical to obtaining quality images. This video focuses on the dehydration and drying steps of preparing intact adult Drosophila for SEM.
07:28
Synthetic Biology
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2023
This video presents synthetic biology and its role in bioengineering. Synthetic biology refers to the methods used to genetically modify organisms in order to make them capable of producing large quantities of a product. This product could be a protein that the cell already makes or a new protein that has been encoded in a newly-inserted DNA sequence. Here, we discuss how an organism's genetic material is modified using transformation or transfection. Then, the process is shown in the...
01:57
What is Conservation Biology?
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2019
Conservation biology is a scientific field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems while meeting the needs of the human population. Humans require properly functioning ecosystems to maintain our supply of natural resources, including food, medicines, and building materials. Ecosystems also perform critical services, such as purifying our air and water. A large body of evidence indicates that such ecosystem services depend on biodiversity. Furthermore,...
FAQs
Small-molecule probes are designed to interact with selected proteins, nucleic acids, or cellular pathways. That interaction can produce a detectable signal or selectively alter the target's activity, allowing researchers to connect a molecular event with a biological response. Comparing the observed response with the probe's molecular structure helps clarify how chemical features relate to biological function.
Bioorthogonal reagents support the detection or measurement of biological molecules in living cells without requiring researchers to isolate the system first. Used with molecular labels, they help track selected targets or cellular processes while those processes occur. This capability makes them useful for examining cellular chemistry and for relating molecular changes to disease-associated effects.
Selective perturbation changes a chosen protein, nucleic acid, or pathway while limiting attention to unrelated cellular components. Researchers can then examine the resulting biological effects and infer the target's contribution to a mechanism. In chemistry, this approach connects the structure and reactivity of an introduced molecule with functional changes in a biological system.
A study commonly begins by selecting a biological target or process and designing a chemical probe, reagent, or label suited to that purpose. Researchers then use the molecular tool to detect, measure, or selectively perturb the system and interpret the resulting changes. These observations can clarify mechanisms or test whether a proposed biological target is valid.
Chemical biology is especially useful when researchers need to connect molecular structure with biological function or examine how altered cellular chemistry produces disease-related effects. Its tools can support mechanism studies, target validation, drug discovery, diagnostic development, and biological-system engineering. The appropriate application depends on whether detection, measurement, or selective perturbation is the primary goal.
Within chemistry, the field applies chemical design and molecular interactions to questions about proteins, nucleic acids, and cellular pathways. The resulting measurements can reveal molecular mechanisms and distinguish functional effects caused by changes in cellular chemistry. This cross-disciplinary perspective also supports practical outcomes, including identifying biological targets, developing diagnostics, and engineering biological systems.