The origin of peptones

Peptones, which are fundamental for protein digestion, were discovered from scientific advances in the 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, humanity began to understand the biological processes that sustain life. One of the greatest enigmas was how the human body breaks down proteins into absorbable components. 

Scientists and physicians began studying protein digestion and metabolism, driven by the need to improve nutrition, treat digestive disorders, and develop new biotechnological applications. 

This interest coincided with a revolution in organic chemistry led by Emil Fischer, a prominent German chemist. Fischer helped decipher the structure of sugars and pioneered the synthesis of peptides, the chains that make up proteins. 

Fischer’s research on the bonding of amino acids and the formation of peptide bonds was crucial to understanding how proteins break down into smaller products, such as peptones, during digestion. 

Fischer stated that peptides, including peptones, are formed when amino acids are linked by specific bonds. His work on the artificial synthesis of these compounds provided the basis for studying their properties in greater detail. Based on his discoveries, scientists were able to understand how digestive enzymes act on proteins and how peptones are generated. These components remain essential in medical, nutritional, and biotechnological applications today. 

Thanks to the scientific curiosity of that era, combined with the achievements of Emil Fischer, the foundations were laid for the knowledge that today companies such as Biotecnica exist, driving innovation in the production of bioproducts and therapies and demonstrating how history and science are intertwined in the advancement of human well-being.

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