Prof. Stephen Freeland, UMBC
Director of Interdisciplinary Studies
"Could Fundamental Biochemistry be different (and why should we want to know)? Amino acids as a case study"
Trained as a biologist and bioinformatician, my research into life's early evolution has moved ever further into the realm of chemistry in order to ask how and why biology (biochemistry) turned out the way it did. In recent years, my group has focused on the set of 20 genetically encoded amino acids with which life has been constructing protein polymers for more than 3 billion years. Experimental emulations of prebiotic planet, analysis of meteorites and astrochemistry all agree that many other types of amino acid are available as alternatives to an origin for life. Meanwhile synthetic biologists are learning how to engineer the genetic codes of diverse living organisms to build proteins with amino acids beyond anything seen in nature. In this talk I will discuss how the use of chemoinformatics and the concept of "chemical space" are enabling us to take early steps towards understanding the chemical context beyond life's choice of 20 amino acids - to say something useful about why biochemistry is what it is. A major motivation for this seminar is to encourage input from the Chemistry department at UMBC as I start in the new role of INDS director here: what can I do to build new bridges that further the goals of your department?
Dr. Stephen Freeland
Director of Interdisciplinary Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies
Fine Arts , Room 546A