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We may, I believe, anticipate that the chemist of the future who is interested in the structure of proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and other complex substances with high molecular weight will come to rely upon a new structural chemistry, involving precise geometrical relationships among the atoms in the molecules and the rigorous application of the new structural principles, and that great progress will be made, through this technique, in the attack, by chemical methods, on the problems of biology and medicine.

Linus Pauling#2

ChemistryBiologyFutureMedicineStructure

About this quote

What does it mean?
Pauling predicts that future chemistry will rely on precise structural analysis to solve complex biological problems.
In plain terms
Future chemistry will use precise atomic structures to solve biology and medicine problems.
What can you take from it?
Precise structural chemistry is key to advancing biology and medicine.

Where it applies

  • biochemistry research
  • drug design
  • medical education

Putting it to work

  • study molecular structures
  • apply geometry to biology

Questions to consider

  • How does structure determine function in your field?

Another view

Geometric models may oversimplify the complexity of living systems.

More from Linus Pauling

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