Biochemistry Scope in Health and Disease

Biochemistry Scope in Health and Disease

• Biochemistry is the chemistry of living beings, focusing on the hundreds of biochemical reactions occurring in subcellular organelles.
• It's a branch of life science studying biochemical reactions and processes in living cells.
• Branches include:
  • Medical Biochemistry: Examines the chemical basis of the human body.
  • Clinical Biochemistry: Deals with clinical diseases and pathological conditions.
  • Bacterial Biochemistry: Focuses on microbes.
  • Plant Biochemistry: Focuses on plants.
  • Animal Biochemistry: Focuses on animals.
  • Industrial Biochemistry: Deals with industrial products involving microorganisms.

Introduction to Biochemistry

• Biochemistry is the chemistry of living things, or the chemical basis of life.
• Biochemistry studies hundreds of biochemical reactions occurring in an organized manner within subcellular organelles.
• Biochemistry is a life science that studies biochemical reactions and processes in living cells.

Clinical Biochemistry

• Clinical biochemistry supports diagnosis, therapy, and research in medicine.
• It involves understanding the chemical basis of diseases and related processes in a medical setting.

Biomolecules and Disease Mechanisms

• To understand biomolecules in the human body, their chemistry, structure, locations, and roles must be known.
• Determining how biomolecules act and function is done by isolation and structural elucidation.
• Understanding completely the organized biochemical processes occurring in cells at the molecular and subcellular level is key.
• Identifying disease mechanisms, such as inherent metabolic errors and oncogene study in cancer cells, is important.

Biochemical Constituents of Human Body

• Human biochemistry involves studying the chemical building blocks of the human body, their interactions within body cells, and how these interactions are geared to maintain normal health, growth, and reproduction.
• Components of study include (with related processes):
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals
  • Water
• The metabolism of these biomolecules must be studied, including digestion, absorption, transportation/uptake, and assimilation.

Catabolic and Anabolic Pathways

• Energy-rich biomolecules are broken down (catabolized) in body cells to release energy in the form of ATP; this energy facilitates various body functions.
• Biomolecules are synthesized (anabolized) to perform vital body functions for normal function.
• Biomolecules in the human body function cooperatively with good coordination, regulation, and interrelationship to preserve health.

Roles of Important Biomolecules

• Carbohydrates: Main energy source.
• Lipids: Secondary energy source.
• Proteins: Structural and functional units.
• Vitamins: Serve as accessory growth factors.
• Minerals: Important for building and functioning of the body.
• Enzymes: Act as biocatalysts for specific biochemical reactions.
• Hormones: Endocrine substances which coordinate and regulate metabolic enzyme activities.
• Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA): Related to genetic information, protein synthesis, and gene expression, including recombinant DNA.

Biochemical Aspects of Health and Disease

• A healthy body, biochemically, features normal metabolic functions and balanced levels of all biochemical components.
• Health depends on a harmonious balance of biochemical reactions in the body.
• Diseases are characterized by abnormalities in biomolecules, biochemical reactions, or biochemical processes.

Types of Diseases due to Biochemical Alterations

• Nutritional Disorders (over/under nutrition)
• Inborn Errors of Metabolism
• Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
• Genetic/Molecular Disorders
• Immunological Disorders

Nutritional Disorders, Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders

• Nutritional disorders arise from deficiencies or excesses in dietary nutrients. Examples: Obesity, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Tetany
• Endocrine/Metabolic disorders stem from deficiencies or excesses in hormone activity, affecting enzyme function and cellular metabolism. Examples: Diabetes Mellitus, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Addison's Disease, Cushing's Syndrome

Genetic/Molecular, Immunological Disorders

• Genetic/Molecular disorders arise from DNA defects, resulting in faulty protein production. Examples: Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Cancer, Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia
• Immunological disorders arise from immune system problems. Examples: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Multiple Myeloma, Hypersensitivity

Role of Clinical Biochemistry in Disease Diagnosis

• In diseases, hormonal actions and metabolic processes are disrupted, affecting biochemical constituents in body cells and fluids.
• Biochemical profiles (e.g., blood glucose, cerebrospinal fluid glucose) of specific body fluids analyze metabolic changes to diagnose diseases.
• Laboratory analysis of biological specimens (blood, urine, etc.) compares results with normal ranges, enabling effective diagnosis and treatment.

Explore the vast domain of biochemistry and its implications in health and disease. This quiz covers various branches such as medical, clinical, bacterial, plant, animal, and industrial biochemistry. Gain a deeper understanding of how biochemical processes influence living organisms.