What is biochemistry?
Biochemistry, often called biological chemistry, is the process of understanding chemical processes occurring within and relating to living organisms. By monitoring data flow through biochemical signaling and the current of chemical energy through metabolism, biochemical procedures give rise to the intricacy of life. Over the last 40 years, biochemistry has become so effective at explaining living processes that now almost all parts of the life sciences from botany to medicine are involved in biochemical research. Today, the main emphasis of pure biochemistry is in understanding how biological molecules give rise to the developments that occur within living cells, which in turn relates largely to the study and understanding of complete organisms.
Biochemistry is closely connected to molecular biology, the study of the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information encoded in DNA is able to result in the procedures of life. Depending on the precise definition of the terms used, molecular biology can be believed to be a branch of biochemistry, or biochemistry as a tool of which to examine and study molecular biology.
Much of biochemistry deals with the arrangements, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids, which make up the structure of cells and carry out many of the functions related with life. The chemistry of the cell also rests on on the reactions of smaller molecules and ions. These can be inorganic, for instance water and metal ions, or organic, for example the amino acids which are used to manufacture proteins. The instruments by which cells harness energy from their surroundings via chemical reactions are identified as metabo...
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...g is training, which is the safety procedures that must be taken in the lab, the correct and safe handling of lab equipment, and the correct handling of specimens and samples. These are extremely important to ensure the validity of the results obtained through research.
The qualities necessary for someone who wants to work in the biochemistry field are a talent for mathematics and an interest in biological or chemical sciences. Since the research relies on computers and medical technology, a wide-ranging understanding of computer science and software is very helpful. Advanced level researchers must know how to plan conceivable experiments, which may contain designing and building the essential technical tools and equipment. Attention to detail, the capability to work with a team and decent communication skills are also exceptional qualifications for a biochemist.
Catalase is a common enzyme that is produced in all living organisms. All living organisms are made up of cells and within the cells, enzymes function to increase the rate of chemical reactions. Enzymes function to create the same reactions using a lower amount of energy. The reactions of catalase play an important role to life, for example, it breaks down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. Our group developed an experiment to test the rate of reaction of catalase in whole carrots and pinto beans with various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. Almost all enzymes are proteins and proteins are made up of amino acids. The areas within an enzyme speed up the chemical reactions which are known as the active sites, and are also where the
Homeostasis is the biological process that maintains a stable internal environment despite what occurs in the external environment. Chemicals and bodily functions are maintained in a balanced state so the body may function optimally. There are various systems in the human body that require maintenance through the processes of biochemical checks and balances so they may function properly. One of these systems includes the rise and fall of blood glucose and is under the control of the homeostatic regulation process. Homeostasis is essential in blood glucose regulation as high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) and low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) are dangerous and can affect the human body in many ways and can also lead
Proteins are one of the main building blocks of the body. They are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs. Even smaller units create proteins; these are called amino acids. There are twenty different types of amino acids, and all twenty are configured in many different chains and sequences, producing differing protein structures and functions. An enzyme is a specialized protein that participates in chemical reactions where they serve as catalysts to speed up said reactions, or reduce the energy of activation, noted as Ea (Mader & Windelspecht).
All living organisms require energy. In order to obtain energy, cells within the organisms must go through the processes of cellular respiration and/or fermentation. The way in which “oxidation of glucose leads to ATP production” is emphasized in cellular respiration (Freeman et al., 2014).
Enzymes in general are very interesting to learn from and are fundamental in carrying out processes in various organisms. Enzymes are proteins that control the speed of reactions, they help quicken the rate of the reaction and also help cells to communicate with each other. There are 3 main groups of enzymes, first are the metabolic enzymes that control breathing, thinking, talking, moving, and immunity. Next are the digestive enzymes that digest food and normally end with –ase, there are 22 known digestive enzymes and examples of these are Amylase, Protease, and Lipase. The final group are the Food or plant enzymes which is what my enzyme that I’m studying falls under. Papain gets its name because it comes from papaya fruit, its main purpose is to break down proteins and break peptide bonds however it is not only used in the Papaya fruit and has many external uses. It was also very helpful in the 1950s when scientists were trying to understand enzymes. It also helps us to this day understand Protein structural studies and peptide mapping. Without enzymes, reactions in the body would not happen fast enough and would tarnish our way of life which is why it is vital that we study and learn from them.
Your body has about 10 systems that work together to complete a human being. This is studied by a branch of biology called anatomy. Anatomy is the study of body structures of humans, animals, and other living organisms. There are different types of anatomy like human anatomy, zootomy anatomy (animal), and phytotomy anatomy (plant) (Nordqvist, Christian, “What Is Anatomy?”). Students who plan to become part of the medical field are required to take anatomy along with biochemistry. Biochemistry is the study of chemical reactions inside the body. Doctors, pharmacists, and physicians are required to take many other biology and chemistry classes, but anatomy and biochemistry are the two major subjects studied to join the medical field. Without these courses a doctor, a pharmacist, or a physician would not know the basics of a human structure, the reactions and acids inside a human’s body. To become part of the medical field it is mandatory to study anatomy and have knowledge of each of the systems along with biochemistry.
Enzymes are biological macromolecule that acts as catalysts and increase the rate of a chemical reaction. Without enzymes, life, as we know about it, would not exist. Enzymes function by deceasing the activation energy and stabilizing the transition state of a chemical reaction without altering the thermodynamic of reaction (#1 Boyer). At the molecular level, enzymes catalyze these reactions by binding to the substrate or reactants to form an enzyme-substrate complex. The reaction takes place while the substrate is bound to the enzyme and converting the substrate to the new product. The new product is then released from the enzyme substrate complex, and the enzyme is then free to bind with more substrate. E+S → ES → E+P (#1 Boyer). Based on
Enzymes are protein molecules that are made by organisms to catalyze reactions. Typically, enzymes speeds up the rate of the reaction within cells. Enzymes are primarily important to living organisms because it helps with metabolism and the digestive system. For example, enzymes can break larger molecules into smaller molecules to help the body absorb the smaller pieces faster. In addition, some enzyme molecules bind molecules together. However, the initial purpose of the enzyme is to speed up reactions for a certain reason because they are “highly selective catalysts” (Castro J. 2014). In other words, an enzyme is a catalyst, which is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without undergoing changes. Moreover, enzymes work with
Leboffe, M. J., & Pierce, B. E. (2010). Microbiology: Laboratory Theory and Application, Third Edition 3rd Edition (3rd Ed.). Morton Publishing
The human body goes through many different reactions and processes that are necessary for humans to live. Chemical reactions by the human body are never seen with the human eye, but it is so vital that these processes are understood. Without this understanding, diseases and disorders can never be resolved or controlled. These processes may be small in size, but have a great deal of impact on the function of the human body.
Proteins are considered to be the most versatile macromolecules in a living system. This is because they serve crucial functions in all biological processes. Proteins are linear polymers, and they are made up of monomer units that are called amino acids. The sequence of the amino acids linked together is referred to as the primary structure. A protein will spontaneously fold up into a 3D shape caused by the hydrogen bonding of amino acids near each other. This 3D structure is determined by the sequence of the amino acids. The 3D structure is referred to as the secondary structure. There is also a tertiary structure, which is formed by the long-range interactions of the amino acids. Protein function is directly dependent on this 3D structure.
Where having a background knowledge of chemistry is important to understand the theoretical principles such as the chemical bonding and reaction pathways. Some biological and medical understanding is also important. Then next step is applying the mathematical methods to the scientific problems, Through the use of the analytics skills. For that Proficiency in various levels of programming languages is needed. Along with code development, software architecture skills, Computer modelling and statistical analysis methods. Other skills required are Problem-solving skills, Critical thinking, ability to work with and extract information from large datasets, adapting and integrating computer software to solve new categories of problems, as well as the skills in communication and the ability to work in teams are important.
I have always been intrigued by the field of science and that is the reason I pursued the field of Biochemistry for my undergraduate studies. How The Human body works and the different determinants that can affect one's health or a community as a whole have always been captivating to me. I wanted to emerge in a profession that is beneficial for me, my community, and the world I live in. I came to realize through various science courses and health care experiences that a career in health care was the best path for me to outreach my community and the world.
Molecular pharmacology deals with the biochemical and biophysical characteristics of interactions between molecules of different substances and those of the cell. In other words, it is molecular biology applied to pharmacologic and toxicologic questions. The methods of molecular pharmacology include precise mathematical, physical, chemical and molecular biological techniques to understand how cells respond to hormones or pharmacologic agents, and how chemical structure correlates with biological activity of various