Biochemistry labs study chemical processes in living organisms, including enzyme-catalyzed reactions, signal transduction, and molecular interactions. They require specialized equipment such as spectrophotometers, chromatography systems, and gel electrophoresis units. Molecular biology techniques and familiarity with mammalian cell cultures are desirable skills for jobs in biotechnology and academic research.
A biochemistry laboratory is an area in which a biochemist studies chemical processes in living organisms. Traditional biochemistry examines the chemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, but biochemical research has expanded to cover topics of signal transduction, transport within cells, and molecular interactions. You usually need to have at least an undergraduate science degree to work in a biochemistry lab. Jobs in the biotechnology industry typically pay better than academic positions.
All biochemistry labs will have the basic components of scientific research labs, such as a pH meter, a balance to weigh chemicals, an assortment of buffers and other chemicals, and refrigerators and freezers to store supplies. They will also have a special freezer maintained at -94°F (-70°C) for long-term protein and tissue storage. Such facilities will have centrifuges and access to an ultracentrifuge. An ice machine is often essential for generating ice to keep enzymes and reagents refrigerated and stable. Virtually all biochemistry labs will have supplies of gel electrophoresis for examining proteins, along with equipment for transferring Western blots.
For biochemical research, a spectrophotometer is often needed to measure protein concentrations or enzyme reactions. Generally, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer is sufficient, but some laboratories require a fluorescence spectrophotometer for more specialized applications. More highly specialized laboratories may have more specialized spectrophotometers.
Other biochemistry laboratories may have more specialized equipment, such as specific chromatography equipment. This type of technology separates molecules. For example, the lab may have a high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) system to separate peptides or perform enzymatic assays on small molecules. Another type of instrument that you might have is a gas chromatography (GC) system. This unit separates volatile compounds.
It is likely that a protein biochemistry laboratory will have a high pressure liquid chromatography (FPLC) system to purify large amounts of protein to be studied. It would have a variety of gel matrices, with different chemical properties, to use with the FPLC to separate the proteins. There would be glass columns of varying proportions to hold the matrices. Protein biochemistry labs usually have a cold room, so proteins can be isolated and purified at low temperatures to keep them stable.
Many biochemistry laboratories use molecular biology techniques to aid in biochemical research. Such molecular biochemistry laboratories often combine many of the techniques of biochemistry, such as performing Western blots, with those of microbiology laboratories. Genetic engineering techniques involve the manipulation of DNA or RNA in microorganisms, so sterile conditions are required. Such a laboratory would have a sterile hood that can be wiped down with ethanol and have a germicidal lamp. Blows sterile air across the work surface.
The laboratory would have agar, which forms a gel on which microorganisms grow. There would be a variety of other media supplies and antibiotics for growing genetically altered microorganisms. It would have incubators and shakers that could be heated to grow bacteria or yeast. Access to an autoclave is also required, to sterilize supplies for RNA growth and manipulation, and to destroy recombinant material after completion of experiments.
Additional items would be gel electrophoresis units to separate RNA and DNA. A molecular biochemistry laboratory would have access to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine to perform PCR reactions. It would have a variety of restriction enzymes and various enzymes used in cloning and PCR work.
A medical biochemistry lab would have many of the same items as other biochemistry labs, depending on their specialty. The difference would be in the source of the material to be studied. It would be more likely to use mammalian cell culture techniques or obtain material from stem cell cultures. Recombinant human proteins have been of great value to medical biochemistry laboratories.
Many of these techniques are highly sought after in biotechnology and academic research facilities. Molecular biology techniques and PCR reactions are desirable professional skills, as is familiarity with mammalian cell cultures. Mastering any of the chromatography units is also an advantage when looking for a job in biochemistry. Undergraduate students can take laboratory classes in these areas and, if possible, conduct research in a biochemistry laboratory, which is a good way to start mastering these skills.
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