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Intro To Biochem

This document provides an introduction to biochemistry, including its main areas of focus such as structural chemistry, metabolism, and molecular genetics. It discusses the history of important figures in biochemistry from the 1700s to present day. Biochemistry is related to other sciences such as genetics, physiology, immunology, pharmacology, and environmental science. It also describes the key differences between living and non-living things and introduces important biomolecules such as amino acids, nitrogenous bases, sugars, and fatty acids that are essential for life.

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394 views

Intro To Biochem

This document provides an introduction to biochemistry, including its main areas of focus such as structural chemistry, metabolism, and molecular genetics. It discusses the history of important figures in biochemistry from the 1700s to present day. Biochemistry is related to other sciences such as genetics, physiology, immunology, pharmacology, and environmental science. It also describes the key differences between living and non-living things and introduces important biomolecules such as amino acids, nitrogenous bases, sugars, and fatty acids that are essential for life.

Uploaded by

Peachy Pie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Biochemistry

Introduction
Biochemistry is the science concerned with the chemical basis of life.
It is also the science concerned with the chemical constituents of living cells and
with the chemical reactions and processes they undergo.
It is the application of the principles and methods of chemistry to the field of
biology and physiology.
It is the language of biology basic to the understanding of the different
phenomena both in the biological and medical sciences.

Biochemistry encompasses large areas of cell biology, molecular biology and


molecular genetics.
It is divided into 3 principal areas:
1. Structural chemistry
2. Metabolism
3. Chemistry of molecular genetics

History of Biochemistry
Karl Scheele
- Swedish founder of biochemistry.
-He studied the chemical composition of matter in mid 1700.

Matthias Schleiden & Theodore Schwann


-formulated the cell theory in 1840.

Walter Flemming
discovered chromosomes in 1875

Carl Newberg
a German scientist who coined the word biochemistry

Hans Kreb
Proposed the Kreb cycle of the TCA in 1937.

Embden & Mayerhoff


described the glycolytic pathway in 1925.

James Watson & Francis Crick


described the double helical structure of DNA in 1953

Edward & Hans Buchner


found that extracts from yeasts could bring about fermentation of sugar into
ethanol in 1897
Paul Boyer and J. Walker
discovered the rotary engine that generated ATP in 1997.

Danish J. Skou
- studied the pump that drives sodium and potassium across membranes

Stanley Prusiner

1
discovered the organism that caused mad cow disease.

Ruska, et.al.
discovered the electron microscope and provided a whole new level of insight into
cellular structure.

Biochemistry in relation to other Sciences


The biochemistry of nucleic acids lies at the heart of Genetics; application of
genetic engineering and cloning
Physiology overlaps with biochemistry almost completely
Immunology employs numerous biochemical techniques/approaches
Pharmacology and pharmacy rest on sound knowledge of biochemistry in the
creation of designer drugs or drug architecture
Invention of new drugs in Pharmacy, Medicine, Agriculture and other fields
Used in Environmental Science
Importance in Biology (zoology & botany) and in microbiology for many scientists
Biochemical approaches are employed in Pathology
Poisons act on biochemical reactions and this is the subject matter in toxicology.

Differences between Living and Non-Living Things


1. They are complicated and highly organized.
2. Each part of a living organism appears to have a specific purpose of function
3. They are able to extract energy from the environment
4. They are capable of reproducing themselves through generations
5. They exhibit common properties of living matter

BIOMOLECULES
Biomolecules are molecules found in living matter.
Two broad types:
Micromolecules (small molecules)
Macromolecules
Importance of Macromolecules:
a) Essential structures for the basis of life
b) Control and regulate these processes
c) Responsible for energy exchanges, irritability, metabolism, mobility and
reproduction

PRIMORDIAL BIOMOLECULES
1. Amino Acids glycine, alanine, serine
2. Nitrogenous bases pyrimidines, purines
3. Sugars glucose, galactose, mannose
4. Sugar alcohol - glycerol
5. Nitrogenous alcohol - choline
6. Fatty acids palmitic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, arachidonic acid

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