introduction to biochemical metathesis

Ginger Rogers (right) and Fred Astaire
demonstrate fundamental principle
of biochemical metathesis.

In the absence of Vleeptron's biochemistry consultant, AMY, we have been trying to figure out what the heck the biochemical process metathesis is. We have mastered the Animated Cartoon introduction, we know what a catalyst is.

But here, the Royal Swedish Academy for the Sciences demonstrated metathesis when they announced this year's Chemistry laureates.

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Trio awarded Nobel Prize
for making atoms 'dance'

Karl Ritter | the Associated Press
Thursday 6 October 2005

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- France's Yves Chauvin and Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock won the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry Wednesday for discoveries that let industry develop drugs and plastics more efficiently and with less hazardous waste.

The trio won the award for development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis -- a way to rearrange groups of atoms between molecules that the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences likened to a dance in which couples change partners.

To illustrate the process, two prize-committee members from the staid and dignified academy invited two assistants to dance, changing partners on the floor ...

VLEEPTRON EXTRA:

Ginger did everything Fred did,
only backwards
and in high heels.