Reflecting back on the course, what are the three major themes you would identify that connect the various topics discussed in this course – how are t

As discussed earlier in this blog, the subject of Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes in living organisms. This knowledge along with other science disciplines gives us the tools we need to fully understand the biological processes and their purposes. This course focused on the three major themes of the structure, the function and the connection between biomolecules.

With each biomolecule we studied we began with the structure of each one individually. If there is one thing that I know that I will always remember from Dr. K’s lectures, it is that “structure determines function”. She said this many times in organic chemistry and she repeated it in biochemistry. So clearly, an understanding of structure is necessary for the understanding of function. Proteins were discussed in detail because proteins make up many of the biomolecules that are important in many of the biological processes. The structure of a protein is very important in the way that it will react with other molecules. In fact it is the way that these molecules react with each other that give us the chemical reactions necessary for life. We also discussed carbohydrates and sugars. The structure of these molecules is different and the different structures are important in how they will provide energy for the cell.

Function was also discussed in detail. We studied how enzymes catalyze reactions and how the structure of an enzyme determines what it will catalyze. We studied how DNA holds genetic code, replicates and translates. The function of DNA is important in relaying information necessary for life to proceed. Lipids were discussed as well. These molecules have an important function of providing energy and storing it in a way that allows the organism to be still mobile and productive.

Finally we studied the connection between all of these biomolecules. The metabolic processes took all of these biomolecules and showed how they proceed through many chemical reactions to provide energy and store energy necessary for life. When we were discussing ATP Synthase in oxidative phosphorylation it was stressed that F0 and F1 were both necessary for ATP production to be successful. Like F0 and F1 it is necessary for all of these biomolecules to be present and react with one another for life to continue. It is when one of these processes is not functioning properly or its structure has been modified that we develop disease or death of an organism. It is true that all systems affect one another from the top of your head all the way to your toes.

Biochemistry showed us what these biomolecules look like, how they behave and how they work together to provide the necessary reactions for life. This understanding and knowledge will be valuable when we continue our journeys into the scientific world that we are all heading for.