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The Charm of Biochemistry: How to Unravel the Chemical Mysteries of Life?
Biochemistry, as a discipline integrating biology and chemistry, focuses on the chemical processes within and associated with living organisms. Since the end of the 20th century, biochemistry has made remarkable achievements in explaining life processes, especially in the three major fields of structural biology, enzymology and metabolism. Nowadays, almost all fields of life sciences have been developed and enriched by the methodology and research of biochemistry.
Biochemistry focuses on understanding the chemical basis of biological molecules, which allows them to trigger processes that occur within and between living cells.
This research not only provides an understanding of tissues and organs, but also promotes the revelation of the structural and functional complexity of living organisms. Biochemistry is closely related to molecular biology, which studies the molecular mechanisms of biological phenomena. Therefore, understanding the structure, function and interactions of various biological macromolecules, especially the roles of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids, is a core task of biochemistry.
These important macromolecules not only provide structural support to cells but also perform many functions associated with life. Chemical reactions within cells rely on reactions between small molecules and ions. These small molecules may be inorganic, such as water and metal ions, or organic, such as amino acids used in protein synthesis. The mechanism by which cells obtain energy from the environment is called metabolism, and it plays a pivotal role in the resolution of health and disease in organisms.
Discoveries in biochemistry are widely used in fields such as medicine, nutrition, and agriculture. In medicine, biochemists study the causes and treatments of disease, while in nutrition, how to stay healthy and the effects of nutritional deficiencies are studied. In agriculture, biochemists study soil and fertilizers to improve crop cultivation, storage, and pest and disease control.
In recent decades, the principles and methods of biochemistry have been combined with problem-solving methods in engineering to form a new discipline - biotechnology, which has further promoted the operation and application of living systems. .
Historically, the exploration of biochemistry can be traced back to ancient Greece, but as a specific scientific discipline, biochemistry gradually took shape in the 19th century. From the discovery of enzymes in the early 19th century, to the theoretical framework of animal chemistry, to the demonstration of alcoholic fermentation, this journey has witnessed scientists continue to explore the chemical mysteries of life.
For example, Friedrich Weller's synthesis of urea in 1828 is widely regarded as one of the examples of the revolution in organic chemistry led by biochemistry, which completely overturned the belief in the "principle of life" at the time. With the advancement of chemical separation and analysis technology, biochemistry has entered a new era, especially breakthroughs in deciphering the structure and function of DNA.
In the 1950s, the work of James D. Watson, Francis Crick and others not only revealed the double helix structure of DNA, but also allowed us to begin to understand how genes transfer information in cells.
A deeper understanding of the chemical processes of life requires recognition of the basic chemical elements required for life. About twenty elements are crucial to biological life, of which six elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, calcium and phosphorus account for almost 99% of all living cells. In addition, various biological molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, are basic components of life and play critical functions.
Biochemistry has a profound impact on our daily lives, such as the digestion of food, the development of drugs, and the prevention and treatment of disease. With mankind's in-depth exploration of the field of biochemistry, we are increasingly able to control these complex systems in nature and technically develop new biological products and therapies.
The charm of biochemistry is that it not only reveals the mysteries of life, but also provides humans with opportunities to improve health and quality of life.
However, in the face of such a rapidly developing field of biochemistry, we need to reflect on whether we can really make full use of these scientific results to improve our lives in the future?
