A Lesson in the Body’s Building Blocks

Not everyone needs to have the knowledge of today’s biochemist. What’s important to know is that there have been extraordinary advances in what scientists now understand about the way the human body works. Their discoveries show it’s the little things that matter.

Fifty years ago, the focus was at the level of the cell, understanding its properties and functions. In labs, experiments involved poking and prodding cells to see how they behaved in response.

Today, advances in technology make it possible to study the building blocks of cells and how they function. Scientists, and now computers, are sequencing DNA at lightening pace. They can study proteins, for example, one at a time, manipulating genetic codes in search of breakthroughs in disease treatments.

Among the little things that matter are myriads of chemical and electrical interactions involving lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates. One marvels at this microscopic complexity!

One remarkable and very small worker is proline, an amino acid that functions as a building block for proteins. Think of it as an odd piece of Lego requiring combinations with other Lego to make a strong and purposeful structure. While it's not as well-known as some other amino acids, proline is indispensable for the structure and function of collagen, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and skin.