Animal Biochemistry

SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Biochemistry is one of the most fascinating subjects as it deals with the chemical language of life, be it human, animal, plant or microorganisms. No other science subject has as much application as biochemistry to the disciplines of medicine, health, veterinary, agriculture, bioengineering & technology. As a result, biochemistry has become the language of much of biology & medicine; its principles & experimental methods underpin all the basic biological sciences in fields as diverse as they can.The term biochemistry was introduced by CARL NEUBERG in 1903.The scope of biochemistry is to understand the chemical processes that take place in living organisms, and in fact, characterize life itself. The chemical logic of living things includes synthesis and degradation of small organic molecules, use of these simple molecules (building blocks) to construct macromolecules, which in turn acquire functionality such as enzymatic activity or capacity to store information. Much of biochemistry concerns regulation and control of chemical processes of life, as well as AbOUT how living cells produce energy for their processes. There is no exaggeration in the statement, “the scope of biochemistry is as vast as life itself!” Every aspect of life- birth, growth, reproduction, ageing & death, involves biochemistry. For that matter, every movement of life is packed with hundreds of biochemical reactions. Biochemistry is the most rapidly developing & most innovative subject in medicine. This becomes evident from the fact that over the years, the major share of Nobel prizes earmarked for medicine & physiology has gone to researchers engaged in biochemistry. The discipline of biochemistry serves as torchlight to trace the intricate complexities of biology, besides unraveling the chemical mysteries of life. Biochemical research has amply demonstrated that all living things are closely related at the molecular level. Thus biochemistry is the subject of unity in the diversified living kingdom. A sound knowledge of biochemistry is essential to have a thorough understanding of the health & diseases in humans & animals. This in turn will help for effective treatment of diseases. The discipline of Biochemistry today occupies a pivotal position in Teaching and Research of all Biological and Bio-Medical Sciences. The fields of Agriculture, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences are incomplete without a sound knowledge of Biochemistry. Recent advances in Bio-technology and its Industrial applications have been possible only due to a thorough understanding of the underlying principles of Biochemistry. Advances in biochemistry have tremendous impact on human & animal welfare, & have largely benefited impact on human & animal welfare, & have largely benefited mankind, humanity & their living styles. These include the application of biochemistry in the laboratory for the diagnosis of diseases, the products (e.g. insulin, interferon, growth hormone etc.) obtained from genetic engineering and the possible use of gene therapy in the near future.

What is Biochemistry? A. Biochemistry is concerned with structural chemistry. It seeks to determine the structures of molecules found in living systems in order to understand structure-function relationships. B. Biochemistry is concerned with chemical change, this is reflected in the study of metabolic pathways C. Biochemistry is concerned with information which has accumulated through evolution and is preserved in DNA (or sometimes RNA). These nucleic acid sequences code for amino acid sequences, which result in folded proteins. These proteins are often catalysts (enzymes) and some of them are regulated (able to sense the chemical state inside the cell and, in some cases, the outside)

History of biochemistry: (Proteins-enzymes) 1828 : Wohler - synthesized a biological compound (urea) from ammonium cyanate (an inorganic chemical)! NH4+ NCO- 1897: 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) Set stage for Perutz and Kendrew's work on X-ray structure of myoglobin and hemoglobin Nucleic acid polymers (DNA and RNA) Another series of discoveries surrounding nucleic acids: Miescher; Mendel; Avery, McCarty, and McLeod; Watson and Crick; Hershey and Chase

Distinguishing Characteristics of Living Systems A. They are complex that is they are highly organized (cell - nucleus - chromosome - nucleosomes - DNA – Nucleotides- bases). This organization has physical & chemical implications. B. They are capable of self-replication (biochemistry comes from genetics) C. They can transform energy. Energy is required to create order (ΔG = H – TΔS)

Implications of Chemistry for Biology

A. There is an underlying simplicity in the molecular organization of cells (similar proteins are found in E. coli and in humans). B. All living forms have a "common ancestor" (evolution). Biochemists seek a "logical" molecular path upward. C. Identity (phenotype) of organism is determined by its set of nucleic acids (genotype) and proteins (gene products) and the regulation of their expression (interaction with the environment). d. There is a molecular economy in living systems; some molecules appear to have an advantage over many others and are used repeatedly (ATP).