Besides its multiple commercial uses, borate minerals have been recently of great interest for researchers seeking for an explanation to the origin of life on Earth. The largest borate mineral deposit in Peru is located in a salt flat in the Arequipa province.

In the last twenty years, the number of complete genomes that have been sequenced and deposited in data banks has grown dramatically. This abundance in sequence information has supported the creation of the discipline known as  paleogenetics. In this article, without going into complex algorithms, we present some key concepts for understanding how proteins have evolved in time. We then illustrate how paleogenetic analysis can be used in biotechnology. These examples highlight the connection between chemistry and biology, two disciplines that twenty years ago seemed to be more different than what they seem to be today.

Directed evolution allows us to explore protein functionalities not required in the natural environment. It mimics natural genetic processes and selective pressures. This approach is used when the molecular basis is not completely understood and rational design is a difficult task. This approach consists of serial cycles of consecutive diversification and selection which eventually lead to the accumulation of beneficial mutations. Here are presented two cases where directed evolution is used to modify two different proteins: Taq polymerase, enzyme used for DNA extension in PCR, and the LacI repressor protein which regulates gene expression on E.coli.

The origin of life on Earth is one of the most challenging questions in science. In the last 60 years, considerable progress has been made in understanding how simple molecules relevant to life can be generated spontaneously or are known to arrive to Earth from space. Additionally, analysis of the evolution history of nucleic acids, which are the repository of genetic information, points to a now extinct, universal common ancestor for all life on Earth. The studies of the origin of life offer many clues towards a common origin, perhaps not just on Earth but somewhere else in the solar system. However due to the length of time that the Earth has harbored life, the oldest clues of the first organisms are mostly gone. It is unlikely to find exactly what this first organism was like. Nevertheless, in the last few years, synthetic biology has made remarkable progress at modifying biomolecules...

Directed evolution allows us to explore protein functionalities not required in the natural environment. It mimics natural genetic processes and selective pressures. This approach is used when the molecular basis is not completely understood and rational design is a difficult task. This approach consists of serial cycles of consecutive diversification and selection which eventually lead to the accumulation of beneficial mutations. Here are presented two cases where directed evolution is used to modify two different proteins: Taq polymerase, enzyme used for DNA extension in PCR, and the LacI repressor protein which regulates gene expression on E.coli.

The origin of life on Earth is one of the most challenging questions in science. In the last 60 years, considerable progress has been made in understanding how simple molecules relevant to life can be generated spontaneously or are known to arrive to Earth from space. Additionally, analysis of the evolution history of nucleic acids, which are the repository of genetic information, points to a now extinct, universal common ancestor for all life on Earth. The studies of the origin of life offer many clues towards a common origin, perhaps not just on Earth but somewhere else in the solar system. However due to the length of time that the Earth has harbored life, the oldest clues of the first organisms are mostly gone. It is unlikely to find exactly what this first organism was like. Nevertheless, in the last few years, synthetic biology has made remarkable progress at modifying biomolecules...

In the last twenty years, the number of complete genomes that have been sequenced and deposited in data banks has grown dramatically. This abundance in sequence information has supported the creation of the discipline known as  paleogenetics. In this article, without going into complex algorithms, we present some key concepts for understanding how proteins have evolved in time. We then illustrate how paleogenetic analysis can be used in biotechnology. These examples highlight the connection between chemistry and biology, two disciplines that twenty years ago seemed to be more different than what they seem to be today.

Besides its multiple commercial uses, borate minerals have been recently of great interest for researchers seeking for an explanation to the origin of life on Earth. The largest borate mineral deposit in Peru is located in a salt flat in the Arequipa province.

The origin of life on Earth is one of the most challenging questions in science. In the last 60 years, considerable progress has been made in understanding how simple molecules relevant to life can be generated spontaneously or are known to arrive to Earth from space. Additionally, analysis of the evolution history of nucleic acids, which are the repository of genetic information, points to a now extinct, universal common ancestor for all life on Earth. The studies of the origin of life offer many clues towards a common origin, perhaps not just on Earth but somewhere else in the solar system. However due to the length of time that the Earth has harbored life, the oldest clues of the first organisms are mostly gone. It is unlikely to find exactly what this first organism was like. Nevertheless, in the last few years, synthetic biology has made remarkable progress at modifying biomolecules...

In the last twenty years, the number of complete genomes that have been sequenced and deposited in data banks has grown dramatically. This abundance in sequence information has supported the creation of the discipline known as  paleogenetics. In this article, without going into complex algorithms, we present some key concepts for understanding how proteins have evolved in time. We then illustrate how paleogenetic analysis can be used in biotechnology. These examples highlight the connection between chemistry and biology, two disciplines that twenty years ago seemed to be more different than what they seem to be today.

Besides its multiple commercial uses, borate minerals have been recently of great interest for researchers seeking for an explanation to the origin of life on Earth. The largest borate mineral deposit in Peru is located in a salt flat in the Arequipa province.

Directed evolution allows us to explore protein functionalities not required in the natural environment. It mimics natural genetic processes and selective pressures. This approach is used when the molecular basis is not completely understood and rational design is a difficult task. This approach consists of serial cycles of consecutive diversification and selection which eventually lead to the accumulation of beneficial mutations. Here are presented two cases where directed evolution is used to modify two different proteins: Taq polymerase, enzyme used for DNA extension in PCR, and the LacI repressor protein which regulates gene expression on E.coli.

This contribution presents a general review of the chemistry of polyesters. The different alternatives for the production of polyesters with different properties are presented and analyzed. In this respect, the characteristics related to their industrial use are highlighted, as well as their applications. Due to the importance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in our modern society and its massive use, the most common alternatives for its chemical recycling are detailed. Special attention is given to the depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate), including examples of the work developed by the authors.

This contribution presents a general review of the chemistry of polyesters. The different alternatives for the production of polyesters with different properties are presented and analyzed. In this respect, the characteristics related to their industrial use are highlighted, as well as their applications. Due to the importance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in our modern society and its massive use, the most common alternatives for its chemical recycling are detailed. Special attention is given to the depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate), including examples of the work developed by the authors.

This contribution presents a general review of the chemistry of polyesters. The different alternatives for the production of polyesters with different properties are presented and analyzed. In this respect, the characteristics related to their industrial use are highlighted, as well as their applications. Due to the importance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) in our modern society and its massive use, the most common alternatives for its chemical recycling are detailed. Special attention is given to the depolymerization of poly(ethylene terephthalate), including examples of the work developed by the authors.