Biochemistry explores how organisms function from a cellular perspective. It combines the sciences of biology and chemistry to examine the processes that both enable and hinder survival. Biochemists study topics such as the breakdown of food during digestion, the effects of bacteria on various biological processes, and the efficacy of pharmaceuticals on the immune system.
By studying the individual processes that occur within different organisms, biochemists can uncover cause and effect relationships, leading to important developments within the fields of pharmacology, immunology, nutrition, genetics, agriculture, and more. One of the most famous discoveries within the field was the double-helix structure of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick, which led to breakthroughs in genetic testing and engineering, including the completion of the Human Genome Project.
From understanding caffeine?s effects on the nervous system to examining bacterial reactions to antibiotics, the applications of this field are vast, and can even be life-changing.1 Start learning biochemistry today.