BIOCHEMISTRY Course intended for second-year Common Core students

Abstract

Biochemistry is the science that studies the structure and properties of the molecules that make up living organisms (such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids). It also examines the transfor- mation reactions (metabolism) of these molecules, including degradation reactions (catabolism) and biosynthesis reactions (anabolism). This structural biochemistry course is intended for second-year biology students. It aims to help them understand the structure and physicochemical properties of the three main components of living cells: proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. All life sciences require knowledge of biochemistry. The biochemistry of nucleic acids lies at the heart of genetics; conversely, genetic approaches have shed light on many areas of biochemistry. The field of physiology, which studies bodily functions, overlaps almost completely with that of biochemistry. Immunology relies heavily on biochemical techniques, and biochemists often em- ploy immunological approaches. Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences are founded on solid biochemical and physiological principles; for instance, most drugs are metabolized through enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Poisons act on biochemical reactions or pathways, which are the main focus of toxicology. Biochemical approaches are increasingly used to investigate the fun- damental aspects of pathology (the study of diseases), such as inflammation, cellular damage, and cancer. Many researchers in microbiology, animal biology, and plant biology rely almost exclusively on biochemical methods. These interconnections are not surprising, since life as we know it depends on biochemical reac- tions and transformations. Indeed, the traditional boundaries between the life sciences are dis- solving as biochemistry increasingly becomes their common language.