Foreword

It has been said that, while the 20th century brought major advances in physics, the 21st will bring similar advances in the life sciences. Most of these advances will clearly come from research into the understanding of living systems at the molecular level. Consistent with this theme, we present here six contributions from well respected scientists on the separation and characterization of peptides and proteins, with particular emphasis on the field of proteomics. These papers describe cutting edge research that advances our knowledge of the structures and functions of these important “building blocks” of life. These papers will make enjoyable, enlightening reading.