Biological Chemistry

BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY

Carbohydrates	Enzymes
Food Chemistry	Proteins

 

Biological chemistry is the study of the chemistry of living cells, tissues, organs and organisms. Biological chemistry is at the core a fundamental and rigorously molecular study of synthesis, mechanism, and structure of the macromolecules and minimolecules of life. As one focuses still further on how ensembles of these biomolecules interact to make a living cell, one enters into the realm of biochemistry. Much of biological chemistry deals with the structures, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids, which provide the structure of cells and perform many of the functions associated with life.

However, this simple definition encompasses an incredibly diverse field of research that touches nearly all aspects of our lives. The findings of biological chemistry are applied to diverse fields such as medicine, nutrition, and agriculture. In medicine, biological chemists investigate the causes and cures of diseases (cancer, infectious diseases,muscular dystrophy) and study a wide array of other biochemical subjects such as aging and cell development. In nutrition, they study how to maintain health and study the effects of nutritional deficiencies. In agriculture, biological chemists investigate fertilizers and soil, and try to discover ways to improve crop cultivation, crop storage and pest control.

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References

1. D. E. Metzler, C. M. Metzler,  “Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells”, Academic Press. , 2001
2. E. P. Solomon, L. R. Berg, D. W. Martin,“Biology”, Thomson Brooks/Cole , 8th Edition, 2007
3. S.M. Khopkar, “Basic Concepts of Analytical Chemistry”, New Age Int. Ltd. Publishers, 2nd Edition,  1998

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