Tuesday, January 26, 2010

What is biochemistry, and how does it differ from the fields of genetics, biology, chemistry, and molecular biology?

Biochemistry is the study of the molecular development that occurs in living beings. It involves substances such as carbohydrates, protein, enzymes, RNA and DNA. It describes the breakdown process of sugar, water, protein and fats in order for the organisms to consume energy such as ATP. This method is called oxidative phosphorylation. It also elaborates in more detail on the enzyme structures and how they function, the interaction among DNA and protein. It explains the process of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Overall, it gives us a better understanding of life.

Biochemistry is different from genetics, biology, chemistry, and molecular biology because it includes much broader categories. However Biology, chemistry, and molecular biology are more focus on their area. For example, Genetics is more associated with gene and mutation, Biology deals with living organisms (structures, functions etc.), chemistry involves in chemical reaction(atom, compound, oxidation reaction etc.), molecular biology explains the interaction of genetic substance( RNA, transcription etc.). Nevertheless biochemistry is a combination of the pieces from each of these subjects that lead us to comprehend more in dept of how life process.
Source:
http://www.answers.com/topic/biochemistry