Biochemistry and its scope

Introduction

Biochemistry is the study of chemistry of  biological system i.e. biochemistry is the branch of life science in which discuss the various chemical substance and chemical reaction occuring in living organisms.Life is chemical process which  is directed by thousands of enzymatic reactions in an organized manner.These enzymatic reactions occuring in living organisms are known as metabolic reactions.The term Biochemistry was first introduced by the German Chemist Carl Neuberg in 1903.

The study of  Biochemistry takes into account the studies related to the nature of the chemical constituents of living matter, their transformations in biological systems and the energy changes associated with these transformations. 

Modern Biochemistry has two Branches, Descriptive Biochemistry  and Dynamic Biochemistry.

Descriptive Biochemistry : This branch deals with the qualitative and quantitative characterization of various living components.

Dynamic Biochemistry : This branch deals with the  elucidation of the nature and the mecahnism of the bichemical reaction occuring in living cell in organisms.

Many effective disciplines have been emerged from biochemistry such as Enzymology (Study of enzymes),Endocrionology (Study of hormones),Clinical Biochemistry (Study of diseases),Molecular biochemistry (Study of biomolecules) etc.Along with these discipline some other modern branch are developed to fill requirement of developmental world e.g. Agriculture Biochemistry, Pharmacological Biochemistry etc.

Peoples those acquire a sound knowledge of Biochemistry can take two step concerns in Biomedical science.

1 . Understand and maintain health
2 . understand and treatment of diseases

History of  Biochemistry

(Proteins - enzymes)
1828 Wohler --> synthesized a biological compound (urea) from ammonium cyanate (an inorganic chemical)! NH4⁺ NCO^-

^{1833  the Anselme Payen discover first enzyme diastase (today called Amylase)}

1897 the Buchner brothers (Eduard and Hans) demonstrated that alcoholic fermentation could occur in a cell-free extract.

1926 J.B. Sumner demonstrated that an enzyme (urease) was a protein and could be crystallized (indicative of fixed molecular structure and purity)

1950s  James D. Watson, Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins were instrumental in solving DNA structure and suggesting its relationship with genetic transfer of information.

1958, George Beadle and Edward Tatum received the Nobel Prize for work in fungi showing that onegene produces one enzyme.

1988, Colin Pitchfork was the first person convicted of murder with DNA evidence, which led to growth of forensic science.

2006 Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello received the  Nobel Prize for discovering the role of RNA interference (RNAi), in the silencing of gene expression.

Scopes and jobs of Biochemistry

There are various feilds  in which a Biochemist find employment  and apply their acquired knowledge include:

Private Sector:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical manufacturing companies
• Food and Drink (includes brewing)
• Health and Beauty Care
• Medical Instrument companies
• Research Companies and Laboratories

Public Sectors:

• Agriculture and fisheries
• Blood Service
• Cancer research institutes
• Environmental Pollution Control
• Forensic Science
• Hospitals
• National Blood Services
• Overseas Development
• Public Health Entities
• Public Health Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical firms
• Food industry andagrochemical companies

Institutes of research as employ students of Biochemistry. Educational institutions also take in professionals in the field of Biochemistry.

Job profiles:

• Biologist
• Biomedical Scientist
• Biotechnologist
• Chemical Examiners
• Chemist
• Clinical Scientist
• Food Scientist
• Forensic Scientist
• Laboratory Technician
• Microbiologist
• Pharmacologist
• Research Associates
• Research Officers
• Research Scientist
• Quality control analyst

Objectives of Biochemists

The major objective of  a Biochemist is the complete understanding of all the chemical processes associated with living cells at the molecular level. To achieve this objective, biochemists have attempted to isolate numerous molecules (bio molecules).

In brief the objectives can be listed as follows:

1. Isolation, structural elucidation and the determination of mode of action of biomolecules.
2. Identification of disease mechanisms.
3. Study of in born errors of metabolism
4. Study of oncogenes in cancer cells
5. The relationship of biochemistry with genetics, physiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology etc. 

Biochemistry is related to almost all the life sciences and without biochemistry background and knowledge, a thorough understanding of health and well-being is not possible.