Our research in biological chemistry is concerned with two aspects of evolution. We have an ongoing research programme in prebiotic chemistry
focussing on the evolution of nucleic acids and genetically-coded proteins. This work involves synthetic and analytical chemistry. The second research area is concerned with exploiting evolutionary methods for the discovery of new chemical and biological catalysts. We are developing new methods for the creation and screening of chemical and biological diversity. Our targets are hybrid, green fermentation/chemical routes to important pharmaceutical intermediates and products. This work is highly interdisciplinary and involves, molecular biology, synthesis, automated
screen development and microbiology. Students and postdocs from both research areas acquire diverse skills in synthetic and biological chemistry. Recent destinations for past members of the group include Cambridge University (4), Glaxo-Wellcome (2), Cambridge Antibody Technology, Maxygen, Phylos, Harvard Medical School, Sense Therapeutic, Loughborough University, St. Judes Childrens Hospital, Biotica, Oxford University, BP-Amoco and The Scripps Research Institute.
