Aug 29, 2013

Introduction to Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a scientific field that studies the chemical compounds and processes that occur within living organisms, and plays a vital role in expanding our understanding of biological systems. Biochemistry has applications in numerous areas, such as agriculture, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and food industries. Recent developments in genetics, biotechnology, and the molecular approach to genetic diseases are attributed to the field of biochemistry.

Biochemistry is a unifying theme in biology, as it underlies various biological processes such as photosynthesis, digestion, respiration, excretion, and muscle contraction, which all occur within cells. These processes are highly organized and are part of the larger metabolic process, which encompasses all chemical reactions taking place within cells. Metabolism involves two types of chemical reactions, anabolism, where complex molecules are formed by combining simpler substances, and catabolism, where complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones, with the release of energy.

Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are present in living cells and are interconverted through coordinated catabolic and anabolic activities. Overall, biochemistry is crucial in providing an understanding of how biological systems work and in advancing the fields of medicine and biotechnology.

No comments:

Post a Comment