Cells of all living organisms are covered by a dense layer of highly complex carbohydrates. These carbohydrates, which are also known as glycans, are essential mediators of a wide range of biological and disease processes. In order to study glycans in detail, scientists needed to complete a production process that involved more than 100 chemical steps, but researchers at Utrecht University have recently designed a process that is much faster and more efficient. The researchers published their results in Nature Chemistry.