Use of Radioactive Tracers in Biological Research

Abstract

IF a chemist is asked to report on the use of the new tracer technique in biology, it is obvious that he is expected not to discuss the scientific problems, but the laboratory technique. The direction of the whole work from the first planning of the experiments to the final interpretation of the results, must lie in the hands of the biologist, and all that a chemist or, for that matter, a physicist or technician, can hope to contribute is advice as to the most efficient use of tools of research which may be unfamiliar to the biologist. The ideal organisation for such a task is a team of scientific workers ; it will be the more efficient the better the biologists and their helpers understand each others' points of view. This survey is meant as a contribution from the side of radiochemistry to such mutual understanding.