Proteomics of the Book

Biocodicology is an extension of codicology. Both fields seek to answer questions about the book beyond its literary content. While codicology makes use of aspects of the book that we can see such as its material, binding style, or other physical aspects, biocodicology delves into remnants of the book that can't be seen with the naked eye. Biocodicology relies on the analysis of nucleic acids and amino acids that can be extracted from a books surface. Genomics is the study of DNA and RNA, molecules that have nucleic acid subunits. Proteomics is the study of proteins, molecules that have amino acid subunits.

The Field of Proteomics

Proteomics involves identifying all the proteins present in a given sample. Samples could range from organisms**, biological assays**, or physical objects (like books). Once the proteins have been identified, researchers can use that information to make inferences about the sample. For an organism this can take the form of its current state of health (during a check up when your doctor asks you to pee in a cup one of the things checked are your protein levels). Identifying proteins is only half of the endeavor, it is also equally important to analyze the quantity of the proteins in a sample. Both the types and quantity of protein present are necessary for one to make an important inference.

Proteins

Proteins have a primary structure**, which consist of a string of its amino acids in the order that they were placed. This primary structure more or less determines how a protein folds/forms, leading to its shape, which then determines its function. Slight changes in the primary sequence of the same protein can help people using proteomic techniques to discriminate between different species** and allow for specific species identification.

Unlike DNA, which remains the same regardless of cell** type within an organism, proteins have tissue** specificity. Protein levels are are also susceptible to environmental factors. This means that one can not only identify the species but also the specific biological tissue.