Relation of Biochemistry with other Sciences

Relations of biochemistry :

Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. By controlling information flow through biochemical signaling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism, biochemical processes give rise to the complexity of life. Over the last decades of the 20th century, biochemistry has become so successful at explaining living processes that now almost all areas of the life sciences from botany to medicine to genetics are engaged in biochemical research. Today, the main focus of pure biochemistry is in understanding how biological molecules give rise to the processes that occur within living cells,which in turn relates greatly to the study and understanding of tissues,organs, and whole organisms,that is ,all of the biology.

Biochemistry is closely related to molecular biology, the study of the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information encoded in DNA is able to result in the processes of life. Depending on the exact definition of the terms used,molecular biology can be thought of as a branch of biochemistry,or biochemistry as a tool with which to investigate and study molecular biology.

Much of the biochemistry deals with the structures,functions and interactions of biological macromolecules, such as proteins ,nucleic acids,carbohydrates and lipids, which provides the structure off cells also depends on the reactions of smaller molecules and ions. These can be inorganic, for example, water and metal ions ,or organic,for example, the amino acids,which are used to synthesize proteins. The mechanisms by which cells harness energy from their environment via chemical reactions are known as metabolism. The finding of biochemistry is applied primarily in medicine,nutrition,and agriculture. In medicine,biochemists investigate the cause and cures of diseases. In nutrition, they study how to maintain health and study the effects of nutritional deficiencies. In agriculture,biochemists investigate soil and fertilizers and try to discover ways to improve crop cultivation, crop storage, and pest control.

First of all to know the relation of biochemistry with other sciences we have to know the relation of biology with other branches of sciences:

Relation with chemistry:

1. The body of all living organisms made up of organic and inorganic compounds.
2. All the metabolic activities inside the body of living beings involve chemical and chemical changes.
3. Genetic materilasDNA and RNA are also chemicals.
4. Enzymes and hormones produced in the body of living organisms are exclusively chemicals.
5. Acid-base equilibrium in a cell maintains the pH of the protoplasm for functioning.
6. Molecules move in and out of the cells by diffusion and osmosis.

Relations with physics:

1. Biological instruments such as microscopes, X-rays, ECG etc are based on the principles of physics.
2. Light induces various effects on living organisms.
3. Study on the structure and functioning of human eye require knowledge of physics.
4. Physical techniques such as electron microscopy , X-ray diffractions , chromatography etc. have made possible the study of finer details of sub-cellular components.

Relation with Geography:

1. Distribution of plants and animals vary different geographical factors eg; Latitude,altitude,temperature etc.

Relation with Mathematics and Statistics:

Census of wild animals is based on the application of mathematical and statistical applications,such applications are helpful in data compilation and analysis of living organisms.

Relation with sociology:

Study of human behavior ,social relationship, and antisocial relationships needs the idea of biological science. For example , investigation of criminals and terrorists requires the study of human nervous system and study of glands,hormones,etc .It also requires the knowledge of principles of inheritance,pedigree analysis.etc

As we know the biochemistry is the science that deals with the study of chemical constituents of living organisms and the chemical reactions and processes that occur in them.Biochemistry often overlaps with other disciplines of science. In fact,knowledge of biochemistry often forms a basis for understanding other disciplines. The subjects which have a basis in the biochemical knowledge and which are intimately related to biochemistry include physiological,immunological,pharmacological ,pharmacy,toxicology,pathology,microbiology,medicine,molecular biology,genomics, biotechnology etc.

Although biochemistry is a young and recent discipline, the advances, and discoveries in this field has revolutionized all the other related disciplines as well. Medicine has also been greatly benefited from these advances. There is a deep link between biochemistry and medicine.For examples; Study of nucleic acids have revealed many genetic disorders which were hitherto unknown or shrouded in mystery. A deep understanding of the structure and function of proteins has enabled us to discover the etiology of diseases like sickle cell anemia. Biochemical knowledge of lipids has enlightened our understanding of atherosclerosis. The deep biochemical insight of carbohydrate metabolism has further elucidated diseases like diabetes mellitus,and so on. Hence, we can conclude from the above discussion that knowledge of biochemistry is vital for understanding various other biological and medical sciences.

The Spectrum of biochemistry studies spans numerous fields of science . Biochemistry finds roots in the field of physics,chemistry, and biology; though its connotations rest primarily in the fields of chemistry and biology,as the term biochemistry implies.

Physics:

Biochemistry ties to physics as a result of biomolecules abiding by the same physical laws as all other molecules, thus being affected by the laws of thermodynamics and the principles of bio-energetics. Biomolecules undergo reactions which ,like reactions of other molecules,either release energy as they occur spontaneously,or require energy to proceed. Spontaneous reactions generally increase entropy,the disorder of a system,though spontaneity is determined by the Gibbs free energy equations:

ΔG=ΔH-TΔS

Chemistry:

The principles of chemistry are crucial to the field of biochemistry. Bonding and interactions between atoms and molecules are vital to the existence of biomolecules and life in general.

Hydrogen bonding is one aspect of the topic of bonding and interactions in the field of chemistry but has proven incredibly important to biochemistry,as bonds between carbon and oxygen are critical to life. With hydrocarbons being fundamental organic molecules,as well as nitrogen being a major element in amino acids,and thus proteins,hydrogen bonds are key to the stability of biomolecules composed highly of oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Other interactions that are key to biochemistry are covalent bonds (which are general bonds between atoms), Vander Waals interactions ( which are interactions between molecules as they get very near one another), and ionic interactions ( bonding interactions between positively and negatively charged atoms or molecules).

Biology:

Without biology,there would be no purpose for the study biochemistry, since biology is the study of living organisms and biochemistry is the study of the functions of biomolecules and their structures. Biochemistry involves studying the cells ,and the functions of its components since it focuses on biomolecules. Similarly,biochemists must consider genetics,since proteins are a crucial aspect of the processes of life and proteins are composed of amino acids and are major biomolecules to study.

Biochemistry has a legitimate reason to focus on the process of evolution since evolution has been the continuing process of the development of life and biomolecules as a group. Evolution on earth began with a single-celled organism capable of self - replication. There are many theories regarding how the formation of early life occurred,and many scientific experiments and theories are in play at any given time . Recently an old experiment of Stanley Millers was discovered and reanalyzed,with a simulated early Earth scenario, with lighting striking in volcanic eruption situations,yielding numerous amino acids being formed in small groups,As such ,it is possible that the formation of amino acids was one of the earliest steps in the evolution of biomolecules.

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