Biochemical research studies the chemistry of living things, including how chemicals behave in organisms. It can be divided into four sections based on biopolymers: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Academic plans for study programs show the interdisciplinary nature of biochemistry, with areas of specialization including biomedical research and food science.
Biochemical research combines elements of the study of chemistry and the study of biology. It is, therefore, a research that somehow involves the chemistry of living things. More than just the atoms and molecules or component organisms, the field looks at how chemicals behave in a living organism. It can also be called “biological chemistry.” Research may include the identification and characterization of structures and processes; investigation of functions, causes and effects; analysis of relationships other than cause and effect; attempts at synthesis and engineering, etc. There are several ways to characterize the field of biochemistry and describe what biochemical research encompasses.
One way to divide the field of biochemical research is into four sections based on the main biopolymers: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates are compounds that contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, combined to form foods such as sugar and starch which are an important element of the diet of people and animals. Lipids are organic compounds that are insoluble in water and are stored in the bodies of living organisms for energy reserves. Proteins are macromolecules composed of amino acids, especially those that form an important component of human and animal diets, such as meat, eggs, fish, beans, dairy products, etc. You can see how important this categorization is to the field when you look at journals named Carbohydrate Research, Journal of Lipid Research, The Protein Journal, and Nucleic Acids Research.
Other ways of subdividing biochemical research are manifested in academic plans for study programs. Here, the interdisciplinary nature of biochemistry and the interdisciplinary possibilities of the field become apparent. The academic areas of specialization may not aim to provide a comprehensive map of the field under any circumstances, but they help to see how the intersection of biochemistry with other disciplines produces a different view of the field.
Looking at different biochemistry degree programs, you find that biochemical research can be expressed in a variety of terms, often with a focus on biomedical research and food science. Examples of the former include areas such as molecular medicine, cancer biochemistry, neuroscience and aging, pharmacology, toxicology, stem cell development, and immunochemistry. The latter may include categories such as Enzymology, Nutrition and Metabolism; Food Toxicology; Oenological biochemistry; and the biochemistry of beer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
