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ABSTRACT

Protein Engineering has become a tool in academia and industry alike for the production of proteins with new or optimized properties. In essense protein engineering uses genetic engineering techniques to alter the gene coding for the protein. Whereas Nature as a “blind watchmaker” has done protein engineering throughout the 3.8 billion year history of life, modem protein engineering attempts to do rational changes to the gene in question. As such protein engineering is a science in dramatic development The present chapter addresses the processes in Nature that facilitated the evolution of life, the importance of the physical chemical properties of water is stressed. The essential physical chemical techniques for studying the consequences of protein engineering is briefly outlined. Finally several protein engineering case stories are presented, highlighting the potentials and limitations of the technique.