Brief Summary
This video provides an introduction to physiological and pathological chemistry, focusing on biochemistry. It covers the definition of biochemistry and medical biochemistry, highlights major breakthroughs in the field, explains the relevance of medical biochemistry to other life sciences, and describes various branches of biochemistry. Key takeaways include understanding the role of biochemistry in fighting diseases at a molecular level and its foundational importance in fields like nursing, pharmacy, and microbiology.
- Definition of biochemistry and medical biochemistry.
- Key breakthroughs, including the discovery of DNA.
- Relevance to other life sciences and various branches of biochemistry.
Introduction to Biochemistry
The video introduces biochemistry as the study of chemical processes in living organisms, or the application of chemistry to study biological processes. Medical biochemistry is defined as a branch focusing on biochemical processes within the human body and their application in medicine. It highlights the complex chemical reactions occurring in the human body, such as endocrine system balance and glucose utilisation. Understanding these reactions allows medical biochemists to combat infections and diseases at a molecular level. The field deals with the structure and function of biomolecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, focusing on how these molecules give rise to processes within living cells, relating to the study of the entire human organism.
Breakthroughs in Biochemistry
The video discusses major breakthroughs in biochemistry, particularly the discovery of the DNA model by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. It clarifies that DNA was first identified in the late 1860s by Swiss chemist Frederick Miescher, who discovered nucleic acid, initially called "nuclein." Subsequent work by Phoebus Levene identified the three major components of a single nucleotide: phosphate, sugar, and base. Levene also discovered the carbohydrate components of RNA (ribose) and DNA (deoxyribose) and how RNA and DNA molecules are assembled. Erwin Chargaff's rule states that the total number of purines in a DNA molecule equals the total number of pyrimidines. Watson and Crick discovered DNA as a double-stranded helix, typically right-handed and anti-parallel. This discovery and the subsequent Human Genome Project, completed in 2003, have provided vital genetic information, enabling manipulation within cells and methods to shut down harmful traits before manifestation. The Human Genome Project was an international effort to determine the base pairs of human DNA, mapping and sequencing all genes from physical and functional perspectives.
Relevance to Other Life Sciences
Biochemistry serves as a foundation for other life sciences, including nursing, pharmacy, zoology, and microbiology. Biochemists use various methods to isolate, purify, characterise, and study cellular components' reactions. They have significantly contributed to discovering new drugs for chronic diseases like cancer, viral infections, and metabolic disorders.
Branches of Medical Biochemistry
The video outlines several branches of medical biochemistry. Toxicology studies the adverse effects of toxic or foreign chemical substances on organisms and the environment, including environmental and food toxicology. Enzymology focuses on enzymes, their functions, deficiencies, and the consequences of these deficiencies in diseases. Molecular biology and biotechnology evolved from the discovery of DNA and involve DNA manipulation to improve drug research and solve health problems, with applications in cancer research. Lipid and carbohydrate chemistry studies the biochemical bases of metabolic disorders like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Natural product biochemistry, a newer area, explores natural products for new drugs, such as quinine and artemisinin, which were isolated from plants and used as antimalarial drugs.
