This document provides an introduction to biochemistry. It defines biochemistry as the study of the structure, composition, and chemical reactions of substances in living systems. Biochemistry examines the organic compounds that make up living organisms and the processes involved in their metabolism and breakdown. The document outlines the main divisions of biochemistry including structural, dynamic, and functional biochemistry. It also discusses key biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and how they give rise to cellular structures. Finally, the document explores some of the applications and scope of biochemistry in areas like medicine, nutrition, agriculture, and environmental science.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
BIOCHEMISTRY
MAN BAHADUR RANA
BPH
ACAS,NEPAL

2. • Biochemistry
• The term Biochemistry (biosG = life) was first
• introduced by a German chemist Carl Neuberg in
• 1903.Biochemistry can be defined as STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION, AND CHEMICAL
REACTIONS OF SUBSTANCES IN LIVING SYSTEMS
• Biochemistry is the science that studies organic substances that compose living organisms, their
transformation underlying life activities in plants, animals, humans, and microorganisms.
• It is the chemistry of those compounds that occur in living organisms, and the processes that
occur in their metabolism and catabolism
• Main dividion of biochemistry
 Structural BiochemistryStructural Biochemistry
Studies the analysis of structures of organic compound composing living organisms. eg
Polysaccharides, Protein, Nucleic acids, Lipids.
 Dynamic BiochemistryDynamic Biochemistry
Studies the metabolic pathways of organic molecules. eg. Glycolysis, TCA cycle.
 Functional BiochemistryFunctional Biochemistry
Studies the functions of organic compounds underlying life activities

3. • Biomolecules
• Biomolecules is an organic compound which is present in
living organisms as an essential component. They have
extraordinary attributes in existence of life.
Biomolecules are composed of 27 Chemical elements out of
92 natural chemical elements. These are essential for
different forms of life and most of them have atomic
numbers less than 35.
The most abundant elements in living organisms are
hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen; together they
make up over 99% of the mass of the most cells.
Carbohydrate, proteins, lipids, Nucleotides are the main
fundamental biomolecules which give rise to
supramolecular structures leading to different cell
organelles

4. Scope and applications of Biochemistry

5. Medical aspects
the biochemistry helps us to understand the
biochemical changes and related physiological
alteration in the body.
The pathology of any disease is studied through
biochemical changes.
To understand the chemistry of inheritance, one should
go through the biochemistry of nucleic acids.
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

6. Medical aspect:
there are many disorders due to hormonal imbalance in
specially women and children
the formation of hormones in the normal body function
is taught in biochemistry by which the physician can
understand the concerned problem during treatment
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

7. Nutritional aspect:
One of the significant public health problems in
developing countries are unbalanced diet resulting
to deficiency in the diet of a particular vitamins or
minerals. Like scurvy (deficiencey of vit C, Rickets
deficiency of vitamin D). These nutrition
deficiency diseases can be understood by proper
function of these biomolecules and remedy may be
the supplement of these biomolecules
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

8. Many people consume multivitamin and minerals for
better health. The function and role of the
vitamins and minerals can be best explained by
only biochemistry.
Now a days, people had begin to alert with the
consumption of food products and their nutrienal
value, which can also be determined by
biochemical test.
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

9. Medicinal aspects
One of the important aspect the public health
officers need to go through is medicine and its
proper application.
The European Federation for medicinal chemistry
has defined the biochemistry as a guide to drug
discovery and its application.
For instances the morphine is the drug to reduce the
pain in terminal cancer. Similarly steroids in case of
autoimmune diseases.
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

10. Agricultural aspect
Organic matters are formed, transformed and
degraded in any living organism (Plant, animal, or
microorganism. The mechanisms can be explained
only through biochemistry.
Scope and applications of Biochemistry

11. Environmental Aspect:
The The pollutants sometimes referred to as
xenobiotics can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed
through the skin, Through biochemistry we have
been able to determine that some xenobiotics like
PCB, Dioxins and DDT once in the body mimic
hormones disrupting the body’s normal function.
Biochemistry has made enable the environmental
science to identify the biomarkers present in genes,
blood, or urine. Identification of these biomarkers
helps to determine the exposure, toxic effect and
susceptibility to certain classes of xenobiotics.
Scope and applications of Biochemistry