Biochemistry is the study of the chemical process in living organisms. Living organisms all use the same type of biochemicals and they all use energy. It is the knowledge of the structure and function of cellular components such as protein, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids that separates this science from other disciplines.
Chemistry differs from biochemistry by focusing on the composition, behavior, structure and properties of chemical reactions in living and non-living organisms. General chemistry is a broader science that addresses these ideas while biochemistry is more specific to the intimate chemical processes that occur within the cell.
The study of genetics differs from biochemistry by focusing more on heredity and variation and less on the chemical process and function of nucleic acid.
Biology and molecular biology study life and living organisms. They both address structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution and taxonomy; while molecular biology focuses on the molecular level of biology. Biology is a broader term that discusses many combined principles that form the basis of the science. Biochemistry is a more specific niche that focuses on the chemistry that occurs within the cell.
An understanding of biochemistry, along with many other science disciplines, gives us the tools necessary to begin to answer questions regarding the molecular nature of living organisms.
Reference:
• Answers.com (2010), retrieved 2/6/2010 from: http://www.answers.com/topic/biochemistry
• Kutztown Chemistry University (Aug. 2009), retrieved 2/6/2010 from: http://www.kutztown.edu/acad/chem/biochem_home.htm
