Protein is not just one of the five food groups but a molecule that could help find a treatment for cancer.

What is Proteomics?

Proteomics is the study of proteins which play a huge role in our body’s workings and functions.

Proteomics is closely linked to genomics, which is the study of genes and our genetic makeup or DNA.

Genes contain the information to build and run an organism, but it's the proteins that actually do the work. They provide the structure, cause the reactions and sometimes tell the DNA what to do.

Proteomics is a new field of molecular biology where people identify and analyse proteins, how they work with each other in the body and how they react under different conditions. Knowing this kind of information can mean understanding the cause of disease and bad health and much, much more. Proteomics could also lead to better and more powerful drugs to deal with disease.

In the future, proteomics will have a huge effect on health, aging and agriculture. Australian researchers are taking a lead role in the field of proteome research and technology.

Where to from here?

If you would like to be involved in this exciting new area, contact TAFE and tertiary institutions to find out more.

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/buzz/buzzwords/