In the Hands of the Giants - Carbohydrates and Proteins - Lecture 5

Explore the fascinating world of molecular handedness in this concluding lecture from the 1992 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures series, where Charles Stirling examines the "handed giants" - carbohydrates and proteins that form the fundamental building blocks of life. Discover how these massive molecules, constructed from repeating units, provide the scaffolding and energy stores for plants while serving as the raw materials that animals break down and reconstruct into glycogen and proteins. Delve into the remarkable "language" of proteins, written with amino acid "letters," that creates everything from hair and bones to blood, muscles, and brains, with special focus on enzymes that control body chemistry. Learn how protein structure and activity is governed by DNA - the ultimate handed giant residing in cell nuclei that contains the construction code for all living organisms. Understand the critical role of molecular chirality in heredity and how interference with this genetic code can lead to cancer, while exploring how chemists develop targeted weapons to recognize and destroy rogue DNA in cancerous cells. Examine the profound connection between molecular handedness and human characteristics like brain development, language, and right-handedness, revealing how these seemingly abstract chemical properties directly influence our most distinctive human traits. This 59-minute lecture, recorded on December 5, 1992, represents the culmination of a comprehensive exploration into the molecular basis of life's asymmetry and its far-reaching implications for understanding human biology and behavior.