INTRODUCTION TO BIOCHEMISTRY
DEFINITION, HISTORY, SCOPE AND APPLICATION
WHAT IS BIOCHEMISTRY?
Biochemistry is study of the chemical substances and processes that occur in
plants, animals, and microorganisms and of the changes they undergo during
development and life.
It deals with the chemistry of life, and as such it draws on the techniques of
analytical, organic, and physical chemistry. (Vennesland & Stotz, 2019)
It is derived from the from the combining form bio-, meaning "life",
and chemistry which involved with elements and compounds composed of
atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, properties, behavior
and the changes they undergo during a reaction with other substances.
In biochemistry we only deal with the organic elements; Carbon, Hydrogen,
Oxygen and Nitrogen
HISTORY OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Carl Alexander Neuberg – he is often referred to as the "father of modern
biochemistry". His notable contribution to science includes the discovery of the
carboxylase and the elucidation of alcoholic fermentation
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier - a French nobleman and chemist who was central to the
18th-century chemical revolution and who had a large influence on both the history
of chemistry and the history of biology.
Joseph Priestley, Jan Ingenhousz, and Jean Senebier – demonstrates that
photosynthesis is essentially the reverse of respiration was a milestone in the
development of biochemical thought.
John Mayow - observed the fundamental analogy between the respiration of an
animal and the burning, or oxidation, of organic matter in air.
Friedrich Wöhler - synthesis of an organic compound, urea in 1828
Justus von Liebig – described the great chemical cycles in nature. He pointed out
that animals would disappear from the face of the Earth if it were not for the
photosynthesizing plants, since animals require for their nutrition the complex organic
compounds that can be synthesized only by plants.
Louis Pasteur - proved that various yeasts and bacteria were responsible for
“ferments,” substances that caused fermentation and, in some cases,
disease. He also demonstrated the usefulness of chemical methods in
studying these tiny organisms and was the founder of what came to be
called bacteriology.
,Fritz Albert Lipmann - proposed that ATP is the common form of energy exchange in
many cells, a concept now thoroughly documented.
Watson and Crick – proposed the double helix structure of DNA
IMPORTANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY
MEDICINE:
Physiology: Biochemistry helps one understand the biochemical changes and related
physiological alteration in the body.
Pathology: Based on the symptoms described by the patient, physician can get clue on
the biochemical change and the associated disorder. For example if a patient complains
about stiffness in small joints, then physician may predict it to be gout and get confirmed
by evaluating uric acid levels in the blood. As uric acid accumulation in blood results in
gout.
Nursing and diagnosis: In nursing importance of clinical biochemistry is invaluable.
Also almost all the diseases or disorders have some biochemical involvement. So the
diagnosis of any clinical condition is easily possible by biochemical estimations
AGRICULTURE:
Prevent diseases and Enhance Yield/ growth: It helps for prevention, treatment of
diseases and also increase the production or yield. Some hormones promote growth,
while other promote flowering, fruit formation etc. In fisheries, use of substances to
promote fish growth, their reproduction etc. can be understood.
Adulteration: addition of another substance to a food item in order to increase the
quantity of the food item in raw form or prepared form, which may result in the loss of
actual quality of food item. Ex. High fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, used
to adulterate honey
Biochemical tests for the pesticide residues or other toxic waste in plant, food grain
and soil can be evaluated. Hence during import and export of food grains a biochemical
check of the toxic residues is done to fix the quality.
In animal husbandry, the quality of milk can be checked by biochemical tests. It also
helps diagnose any disease condition in animals and birds.
In fisheries the water quality is regularly monitored by biochemical tests.
In Plant/ Botany: Biochemistry of plants gave way to breakthrough of how food is
synthesized in them and the reason why they are autotrophs i.e. not dependent on other
,living beings for food. Biochemistry in plants describes; Photosynthesis; Respiration;
Different sugars; Plants secondary metabolites.
NUTRITION:
Food chemistry gives an idea of what we eat. The nutrients value of food material can
also be determined by biochemical tests.
Role of nutrients: Due to biochemistry the importance of vitamins, minerals, essential
fatty acids, their contribution to health were known. Hence there is frequent
recommendation for inclusion of essential amino-acids, cod liver oil, salmon fish oil etc.
by physicians and other health and fitness experts.
Physician can prescribe to limit usage of certain food like excess sugar for
diabetics, excess oil for heart & lung problem prone patients etc. As these
carbohydrate and fat biochemical can inhibit the recovery rate from said disorder.
This knowledge is due to their idea on food chemistry and related.
PHARMACY:
Drug Constitution: Biochemistry gives an idea of the constitution of the drug, its
chances of degradation with varying temperature etc. How modification in the medicinal
chemistry helps improve efficiency, minimize side effects etc.
The half life and Drug storage: This is a test done on biochemical drugs to know how
long a drug is stable when kept at so and so temperature. For example many enzymes,
hormones are stored for dispensing. These get deteriorated over time due to
temperature or oxidation, contamination and also due to improper storage.
Drug metabolism: It also gives an idea of how drug molecules are metabolized by
many biochemical reactions in presence of enzymes. This helps to avoid drugs which
have poor metabolism or those with excessive side effects from being prescribed or
dispensed to the patient.
CONCLUSION
Just about everything that happens in every cell of our bodies is based on
Biochemistry. It reveals the biochemical processes that are taking place in every living
being. Specifically, we study how the elements; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen
work or interact with other elements in order for a life to function.
Biochemistry has undeniably became important in modern world. We can also say that
it took a huge part in the modernization of our civilization because of its broad and
important applications that molded us to become who we are right now.
CELL AND CELL ORGANELLES
, TYPES OF CELL
Prokaryotes: (bacteria): simple cells with no internal membrane-bound structures.
DNA is in a special region of the cytoplasm.
Eukaryotes: complex cells with internal membranes. DNA is in a nucleus separated
from the cytoplasm by a membrane.
PROKARYOTES
“Pro” means before and ”kary” means nucleus
Cytoplasm consists of the jelly-like cytosol inside the cell, plus the cellular structures
suspended in it. In eukaryotes, cytoplasm specifically means the region outside the
nucleus but inside the plasma membrane.
DNA is the genetic material of the cell.
Ribosomes are molecular machines that synthesize proteins.
STRUCTURES
DEFINITION, HISTORY, SCOPE AND APPLICATION
WHAT IS BIOCHEMISTRY?
Biochemistry is study of the chemical substances and processes that occur in
plants, animals, and microorganisms and of the changes they undergo during
development and life.
It deals with the chemistry of life, and as such it draws on the techniques of
analytical, organic, and physical chemistry. (Vennesland & Stotz, 2019)
It is derived from the from the combining form bio-, meaning "life",
and chemistry which involved with elements and compounds composed of
atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, properties, behavior
and the changes they undergo during a reaction with other substances.
In biochemistry we only deal with the organic elements; Carbon, Hydrogen,
Oxygen and Nitrogen
HISTORY OF BIOCHEMISTRY
Carl Alexander Neuberg – he is often referred to as the "father of modern
biochemistry". His notable contribution to science includes the discovery of the
carboxylase and the elucidation of alcoholic fermentation
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier - a French nobleman and chemist who was central to the
18th-century chemical revolution and who had a large influence on both the history
of chemistry and the history of biology.
Joseph Priestley, Jan Ingenhousz, and Jean Senebier – demonstrates that
photosynthesis is essentially the reverse of respiration was a milestone in the
development of biochemical thought.
John Mayow - observed the fundamental analogy between the respiration of an
animal and the burning, or oxidation, of organic matter in air.
Friedrich Wöhler - synthesis of an organic compound, urea in 1828
Justus von Liebig – described the great chemical cycles in nature. He pointed out
that animals would disappear from the face of the Earth if it were not for the
photosynthesizing plants, since animals require for their nutrition the complex organic
compounds that can be synthesized only by plants.
Louis Pasteur - proved that various yeasts and bacteria were responsible for
“ferments,” substances that caused fermentation and, in some cases,
disease. He also demonstrated the usefulness of chemical methods in
studying these tiny organisms and was the founder of what came to be
called bacteriology.
,Fritz Albert Lipmann - proposed that ATP is the common form of energy exchange in
many cells, a concept now thoroughly documented.
Watson and Crick – proposed the double helix structure of DNA
IMPORTANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY
MEDICINE:
Physiology: Biochemistry helps one understand the biochemical changes and related
physiological alteration in the body.
Pathology: Based on the symptoms described by the patient, physician can get clue on
the biochemical change and the associated disorder. For example if a patient complains
about stiffness in small joints, then physician may predict it to be gout and get confirmed
by evaluating uric acid levels in the blood. As uric acid accumulation in blood results in
gout.
Nursing and diagnosis: In nursing importance of clinical biochemistry is invaluable.
Also almost all the diseases or disorders have some biochemical involvement. So the
diagnosis of any clinical condition is easily possible by biochemical estimations
AGRICULTURE:
Prevent diseases and Enhance Yield/ growth: It helps for prevention, treatment of
diseases and also increase the production or yield. Some hormones promote growth,
while other promote flowering, fruit formation etc. In fisheries, use of substances to
promote fish growth, their reproduction etc. can be understood.
Adulteration: addition of another substance to a food item in order to increase the
quantity of the food item in raw form or prepared form, which may result in the loss of
actual quality of food item. Ex. High fructose corn syrup or cane sugar, used
to adulterate honey
Biochemical tests for the pesticide residues or other toxic waste in plant, food grain
and soil can be evaluated. Hence during import and export of food grains a biochemical
check of the toxic residues is done to fix the quality.
In animal husbandry, the quality of milk can be checked by biochemical tests. It also
helps diagnose any disease condition in animals and birds.
In fisheries the water quality is regularly monitored by biochemical tests.
In Plant/ Botany: Biochemistry of plants gave way to breakthrough of how food is
synthesized in them and the reason why they are autotrophs i.e. not dependent on other
,living beings for food. Biochemistry in plants describes; Photosynthesis; Respiration;
Different sugars; Plants secondary metabolites.
NUTRITION:
Food chemistry gives an idea of what we eat. The nutrients value of food material can
also be determined by biochemical tests.
Role of nutrients: Due to biochemistry the importance of vitamins, minerals, essential
fatty acids, their contribution to health were known. Hence there is frequent
recommendation for inclusion of essential amino-acids, cod liver oil, salmon fish oil etc.
by physicians and other health and fitness experts.
Physician can prescribe to limit usage of certain food like excess sugar for
diabetics, excess oil for heart & lung problem prone patients etc. As these
carbohydrate and fat biochemical can inhibit the recovery rate from said disorder.
This knowledge is due to their idea on food chemistry and related.
PHARMACY:
Drug Constitution: Biochemistry gives an idea of the constitution of the drug, its
chances of degradation with varying temperature etc. How modification in the medicinal
chemistry helps improve efficiency, minimize side effects etc.
The half life and Drug storage: This is a test done on biochemical drugs to know how
long a drug is stable when kept at so and so temperature. For example many enzymes,
hormones are stored for dispensing. These get deteriorated over time due to
temperature or oxidation, contamination and also due to improper storage.
Drug metabolism: It also gives an idea of how drug molecules are metabolized by
many biochemical reactions in presence of enzymes. This helps to avoid drugs which
have poor metabolism or those with excessive side effects from being prescribed or
dispensed to the patient.
CONCLUSION
Just about everything that happens in every cell of our bodies is based on
Biochemistry. It reveals the biochemical processes that are taking place in every living
being. Specifically, we study how the elements; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen
work or interact with other elements in order for a life to function.
Biochemistry has undeniably became important in modern world. We can also say that
it took a huge part in the modernization of our civilization because of its broad and
important applications that molded us to become who we are right now.
CELL AND CELL ORGANELLES
, TYPES OF CELL
Prokaryotes: (bacteria): simple cells with no internal membrane-bound structures.
DNA is in a special region of the cytoplasm.
Eukaryotes: complex cells with internal membranes. DNA is in a nucleus separated
from the cytoplasm by a membrane.
PROKARYOTES
“Pro” means before and ”kary” means nucleus
Cytoplasm consists of the jelly-like cytosol inside the cell, plus the cellular structures
suspended in it. In eukaryotes, cytoplasm specifically means the region outside the
nucleus but inside the plasma membrane.
DNA is the genetic material of the cell.
Ribosomes are molecular machines that synthesize proteins.
STRUCTURES
