What does the field of proteomics study?

The field of proteomics focuses on the large-scale study of proteins, which are crucial components of living organisms. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within biological systems, including catalyzing metabolic reactions, replicating DNA, responding to stimuli, and transporting molecules.

Proteomics encompasses the identification, quantification, and characterization of proteins in a given cell or organism. This field leverages advanced techniques such as mass spectrometry and bioinformatics to analyze protein structures, functions, and interactions. By studying proteins on a large scale, researchers can gain insights into the underlying biological processes, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic targets.

This is distinct from the other mentioned fields. The interaction of genes pertains more to genetics and molecular biology, while cellular respiration involves metabolic pathways and energy production, and mechanisms of cell division focus on processes like mitosis and meiosis. Each of these fields contributes valuable knowledge to biology but does not encapsulate the breadth of protein study that proteomics does.