Biological & Life Science Chemicals
Enzymes, proteins, synthesis reagents and more, in the grade your protocol calls for.
Biological and life science chemicals covers the chemicals that labs use day to day. You’ll find enzymes for breaking down proteins and running activity tests. Proteins and amino acids for food science, protein testing and research work. Ready to use synthesis reagents for labs that build DNA and RNA sequences. Plus carbohydrates, sugars and surfactants for sample prep and formulation. Everything is organized by type so you can shop by what you actually need, and you can filter the whole grid by grade, size or certification to narrow things down fast. If you need a regular supply, we offer Autoship. If your volumes are larger than what’s listed, a custom quote takes a minute to request. Either way, you’re buying from a supplier that ships reliably, keeps inventory accurate and has the documentation your quality team will ask for.
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Biological & Life Science Chemicals Types Biological & Life Science Chemicals - 1 products All Filters
Biological & Life Science Chemicals - 1 products About Biological & Life Science Chemicals
Biological reagents don't act like bulk solvents, so a little background goes a long way. Enzymes are proteins. Heat, moisture and pH all change how well they work, which is why strength shows up as units per gram or as a ratio, like Pepsin 1:3000 or Amylase 1:10,000 in lactose. Most enzyme powders keep best cold and dry, and your COA and SDS will spell out storage. Protein materials differ from one another too. Casein, gelatin and albumin each dissolve and gel in their own way, and gelatin is sold by Bloom strength. The synthesis reagents are another story. They come pre mixed in solvents like tetrahydrofuran or acetonitrile, they hate moisture, and they burn. Keep bottles sealed. The THF based capping reagents ship as Class 3 flammable liquids.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Enzymes get plenty of use in digestion studies, activity assays, food science and teaching labs. Papain comes in USP Grade for when a pharmacopeia standard matters. Biuret Protein Testing Solution handles the classic color test for protein, and surfactants help with lysis and sample prep. Carbohydrates and sugars go into fermentation, culture preparation and carbohydrate testing. Then there's oligonucleotide synthesis, where three reagents carry the load. Activator solutions drive each coupling step. Capping reagents block unreacted 5 prime hydroxyl groups so deletion sequences don't pile up. Oxidation solutions turn each new phosphite linkage into a stable phosphate. Our capping reagents are made for automated DNA and RNA synthesizers, so match the formulation to your platform before you order.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Five grades show up in this category. Bioreagent Grade covers the most products. It's prepared for biological and oligonucleotide synthesis work, and every capping, activator and oxidation solution carries it. Reagent Grade is high purity for general lab use. Lab Grade works when trace impurities won't change your result, like a teaching demo. USP Grade meets United States Pharmacopeia standards. FCC Food Grade meets Food Chemicals Codex standards for food use. A higher grade isn't automatically the better buy, and grades don't swap one for one. Match the grade to your method, then read the lot COA before you commit to a big order.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
Trypsin, pepsin, papain, catalase, amylase and more for assays, digestion and teaching labs.
Casein, gelatin, egg albumin, gluten, DL alanine and a Biuret testing solution.
Pre mixed Cap A and Cap B solutions in 4 L bottles for DNA and RNA synthesizers.
Bioreagent Grade activators that drive the coupling step in oligo synthesis.
Iodine based oxidizer that locks in each new phosphate linkage.
Sugars and carbohydrates for culture prep, fermentation and testing.
Wetting and lysis agents for sample prep and formulation work.
Prepared for biological and oligonucleotide synthesis applications.
High purity for general lab use.
A practical pick for non critical work and teaching.
Meets United States Pharmacopeia standards.
Meets Food Chemicals Codex standards for food use.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
Trusted by 256,000+ customers. Labs, schools and production teams keep coming back, which tells you the ordering process holds up.
99.5% of orders ship in 1 to 2 business days. Your assay or synthesis run shouldn't be waiting on a truck.
98.9% inventory accuracy. The size you see is the size you get. No backorder surprise after checkout.
Certified quality. Lab Alley is ISO 9001 certified for quality management. In this category, Kosher and Halal certification applies to Polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP K-90, Powder, USP Grade, Kosher, Halal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Bioreagent, Reagent and Lab Grade?
Bioreagent Grade is prepared for biological and oligonucleotide synthesis work, which is why our capping, activator and oxidation solutions carry it. Reagent Grade is high purity for everyday lab use, like buffers and bench chemistry. Lab Grade fits jobs where trace impurities won't matter. If your protocol names a grade, match it. Then check the lot COA.
What do enzyme numbers like 1:3000 or 20,000 units per gram mean?
They tell you strength, not purity. A ratio like Pepsin 1:3000 is the traditional way to say how much substrate one part of enzyme can act on. Units per gram, like Catalase at 20,000, count activity under a defined assay. Higher means more activity per gram, so you may need less. Just compare like with like, and check the COA for the assay behind the number.
Where can I get a COA or SDS for these products?
Start with our Certificates of Analysis and Safety Data Sheets pages. Some product pages, including the capping reagents, ask you to request the documents directly. If your lab needs paperwork for an audit or to qualify a reagent, ask before you order. That way nothing slows down your start date.
Which products are Kosher or Halal certified?
In this category, Kosher and Halal certification applies to Polyvinylpyrrolidone PVP K-90, Powder, USP Grade. Enzymes, proteins and synthesis reagents aren't listed as Kosher or Halal. Use the Kosher and Halal filters on this page to see what carries each certification today.
Can these be shipped to a home address?
Some products here ship only to business, school or laboratory addresses. Flammable items, like the THF based capping reagents, also ship as hazardous materials. Every product page shows any address restriction before checkout. If a restricted item is ordered to a home address, it can be pulled from your order, so confirm the address first.
Which grade should I use for oligo synthesis, enzyme assays or food work?
For oligonucleotide synthesis, go with Bioreagent Grade capping, activator and oxidation solutions that match your synthesizer. For enzyme assays and teaching labs, Lab or Reagent Grade powders usually do the job unless your method says otherwise. For food or pharmaceutical work, look at FCC or USP grades, like Papain, USP Grade.
Should I buy premixed capping reagents or mix my own?
Premixed Bioreagent Grade capping reagents save you the weighing, mixing and drying, and the ratio stays the same bottle after bottle. Mixing your own gives you flexibility, but a little stray moisture or a measuring slip can cost you yield. If you also need a dry wash solvent, see our Acetonitrile page.
Can I buy these in larger sizes or in bulk?
Often, yes. Sizes run from small bench quantities up to 25 kg and 50 lb on select products, and capping reagents come in 4 L bottles. Autoship is available on select products through our Autoship program. For recurring or larger volumes, visit Bulk & Custom Chemicals or request a quote.
Guides & Resources
What it Means to be a Food Grade Chemical
What Does it Mean to be “Food Grade?” In 2014, the food blogger known as Food Babe famously created commotion on the internet with her ...
Read article →Chemical Grades
Explore the various chemical grades and their applications in different industries. Understand the significance of purity standards, including ACS, USP, Lab Grade and more.
Read article →Eco-Friendly Solutions That Grow with You: Advancing Sustainability in the Life Sciences
Eco-Friendly Solutions That Grow with You: Advancing Sustainability in the Life Sciences In the Life Sciences industry, progress isn’t just a...
Read article → Industries That Use Biological & Life Science Chemicals
Life Sciences & Biotech
Explore high-purity chemicals for life sciences and biotech research including solvents, reagents, acids, bases, enzymes, buffers and molecular biology grade solutions.
Learn more →R&D/Laboratory
Explore ACS, HPLC and LC/MS grade chemicals for R&D and laboratory use including solvents, acids, bases, buffers and standardized solutions for research and QC.
Learn more →Pharmaceuticals & Nutraceuticals
Explore USP and NF grade chemicals for pharma and nutraceuticals including solvents, excipients, propylene glycol, glycerin and HPLC reagents.
Learn more →Education
Explore chemicals for K–12 and university labs including dilute acids, bases, ACS solvents, biology reagents and indicators for classroom and research use.
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