| Biochemistry and molecular biophysics has
been established as an
interdisciplinary program, at the interface of biology, chemistry,
and physics, that seeks to understand the basic molecular mechanisms
of life. Thus,
biochemists and molecular biophysicists study the atomic structure
and folding of biopolymers; their interactions with each other and
with small molecules; and the roles of particular biopolymers and
biopolymer assemblies in cellular physiology. The basic building
block of life is the cell; the intellectual focus of modern biochemistry and molecular biophysics is to understand how individual
parts interact to give cells their wide spectrum of functions. In particular, biochemistry and molecular biophysics addresses the principles through which the individual components of cells combine
in an orderly self-association to produce their form, their function,
and their dynamic behavior. |
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2013 California Institute of Technology
Division of Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering & Division of Biology
Last update:
5/1/13.
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