1.

What is biochemistry
Biochemistry is the branch of science that explores the chemical processes within and related to
living organisms. It is a laboratory based science that brings together biology and chemistry and
helps one understand the actual chemical concepts of biology.
The study of biochemistry focuses on the functioninf various body processes and physiology at a
molecular level, by using biomolecules.
It focuses on what’s happening inside our cells, studying components like proteins, lipids and
organelles. It also looks at how cells communicate with each other, for example during growth or
fighting illness.
http://www.biochemistry.org/?TabId=456

2. Cite 5 importances of biochem

 Health:
 Pathology of any disease is studied through biochemical changes. Based on the
symptoms described by the patient, the physician can get a clue on the biochemical
change and the associated disorder. There are many disorders due
to hormonal imbalance in especially women and children. The formation, role
of hormones in the normal body function is taught in biochemistry by which the
physician can understand the concerned problem during treatment.

Medical Tests:
Biochemistry is helpful for clinical tests such as
- Kidney function test- urine test help understand the extent of excretion of drugs
or other metabolites, the change in pH, the color of urine etc.
- Blood test - biochemical analytical test for blood glucose level helps one understand
the severity of diabetes disorder.
- Liver function tests help understand the type of disease or damage to the liver, the
effect of any medication on liver etc.
- Serum cholesterol test: Evaluation of blood cholesterol level and other lipoproteins
helps understand the proneness of the patient to cardiovascular diseases.

Food chemistry gives an idea of what we eat, i.e. it’ s components like carbohydrates, proteins,
fats,etc, and its importance. The nutrients value of food material can also be determined by using
biochemistry

 Pharmacy and Drug Constitution: Biochemistry gives an idea of the constitution of the drug, its
chances of degradation with varying temperature, half- life , drug storage , its efficiency, how to
minimize side effects , and how it is digested in the body

 Agriculture It helps for prevention, treatment of diseases and also increases the production or
yield of plants. Biochemistry gives an idea of how the use of fertilizers can increase plant growth,
flowering, fruit formation, their yield, quality of food etc.. It also helps us understand the use of
 substances to promote fish growth, their reproduction etc can be understood. It also helps diagnose
any disease condition in animals and birds.

http://www.rajaha.com/importance-biochemistry/
3. Choose 1
I think that among the importances of biochemistry, its use in the field of nutrition and health
will help me the most in the career that I want to pursue in the future, since I want to become a
Medical Doctor someday. It will be imporaant for me to understand biochemical concepts to
diagnose my patients and treat them well.
Define
1. Carbohydrates
A large class of natural organic substances that includes sugars, starches, and cellulose
are made exclusively of the atoms carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The general formula
Cx(H2O)x is commonly used to represent many carbohydrates, which means “watered
carbon.”
The presence of the hydroxyl groups allows carbohydrates to interact with the aqueous
environment and to participate in hydrogen bonding, both within and between chains.
Derivatives of the carbohydrates can contain nitrogens, phosphates and sulfur
compounds. Carbohydrates also can combine with lipid to form glycolipids or with
protein to form glycoproteins.

https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate

2. Lipids
any of a diverse group of organic compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and certain
components of membranes that are grouped together because they do not interact
appreciably with water. One type of lipid, the triglycerides, is sequestered
as fat in adipose cells, which serve as the energy-storage depot for organisms and also
provide thermal insulation. Some lipids such as steroid hormones serve as chemical

https://www.britannica.com/science/lipid

3. Proteins

Protein, highly complex substance that is present in all living organisms. Proteins are of great
nutritional value and are directly involved in the chemical processes essential for life.
Proteins are species-specific; that is, the proteins of one species differ from those of another
species. They are also organ-specific; for instance, within a single organism, muscleproteins
differ from those of the brain and liver.
The common property of all proteins is that they consist of long chains of α-amino (alpha amino)
acids. The α-amino acids are so called because the α-carbon atom in the molecule carries an
amino group (−NH2); the α-carbon atom also carries a carboxyl group (−COOH).

https://www.britannica.com/science/protein
4. Enzymes
a substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms, regulating the rate at
which chemical reactions proceed without itself being altered in the process.
All enzymes identified thus far are proteins. Enzymes, which are the catalysts of all
metabolic reactions, enable an organism to build up the chemical substances necessary
for life—proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids—to convert them into other
substances, and to degrade them. Life without enzymes is not possible.
A large protein enzyme molecule is composed of one or more amino acid chains called
polypeptide chains. Bound to some enzymes is an additional chemical component called
a cofactor, which is a direct participant in the catalytic event and thus is required for enzymatic
activity.