Yomaira Nor K. Asip.

Biochemistry
GS31 Prof. Evangeline Martinez

Answer the following, use google docs

1. Define biochemistry.

Answer :It is the study of the vital chemical processes occurring within living organisms, hence
coping with interactions between living organic cells and their surrounding fluids/matter. It is the
application of chemistry to the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. It
emerged as a distinct discipline around the beginning of the 20th century when scientists
combined chemistry, physiology, and biology to investigate the chemistry of living systems.

2. Give the scope of biochemistry.

Answer : Based on what I've seen in the web Biochemistry is the language of biology. It is a
combination of both biology & chemistry. But if we comprehend it under educational, practical, or
technical terms, biochemistry is defined as: A distinct branch of chemistry deals with the study of
chemical composition in living organisms including synthesis and metabolism of bio-molecules
like carbohydrates, proteins and fats.Its is as wide as life itself. Wherever there is life, chemical
processes are occurring. Biochemists study the chemical processes that occur in
microorganisms, plants, insects, fish, birds, mammals and human beings.

3. Give at least five (5) applications of biochemistry and explain.

The applications of biochemistry that I choose to elaborate are ;

Increases Fertility
Here it says that biochemistry can help enhance plant fertility. In the field of agriculture an
agriculturist applies biochemistry tools to recognize plant conditions and experiment accordingly
to improve its .Where it can help in the production of food in the market.

Increases Growth
Biochemistry also help a biochemist to analyzes the reaction between pesticides and crops in
the cells. Thus, contributes to raising plants’ growth like what it does in increasing the fertility.

Blood Test
Biochemistry plays a crucial role in several blood tests, such as serum test is for diagnosing
hepatitis. It usually concerns the qualitative and quantitative analysis of liver function. Moreover,
a blood glucose level test is for people with diabetes. A urine test checks for ketones, whereas
CBC (Complete Blood Count) helps examine a patient’s overall health. All these tests are
indirectly related to the field of biochemistry.

Pregnancy Test
Doctors can easily detect pregnancy with the help of biochemistry tests and techniques. An
average human body produces gonadotropin hormone, which is checked through a urine test.
Furthermore, a particular blood hCG test helps to diagnose early pregnancy. It is the level of
human chorionic gonadotropin which rises in early pregnancy.

Disease Control
Biochemistry, with its versatility, provides multiple relevant treatments to help control plant
diseases. A few of such techniques are exclusion and eradication of diseased plants.

5. Characterize a cell.

Answer : Based on my previous knowledge, Cell is the fundamental membrane-bound entity

that houses the essential molecules of life and is the building block of all living things. The
human body is composed of trillions of cells. They provide structure for the body, take in
nutrients from food, convert those nutrients into energy, and carry out specialized functions. It
has 3 part which is the cell membrane, the nucleus, and the cytoplasm also it contain the
body’s hereditary material and can make copies of themselves.

6. Give the cell requirements and explain.

Answer : Cells is dependent so it need variety of elements to survive .Even though they don't
have mouths or stomachs, single-celled organisms still need to eat. While different types of cells
might need different specific nutrients, all living things require the same basic elements.The four
most abundant elements in living things are: Carbon, hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen. By taking
them in from their environment. They can come from a variety of different food sources, some of
which are small molecules, like salts and water. Other elements come from larger
macromolecules, like starches, proteins, and fats.

7. Give the properties of water and explain.

Answer: Water has physical and chemical properties. Water is a solvent that has physical
properties of colourless and tasteless liquid. The molecules of water have extensive hydrogen
bonds resulting in unusual properties in the condensed form. This also leads to high melting and
boiling points. As compared to other liquids, water has a higher specific heat, thermal
conductivity, surface tension, dipole moment, etc. These properties form the reason for its
significance in the biosphere. Water is an excellent solvent and therefore it helps in the
transportation of ions and molecules required for metabolism. It has a high latent heat of
vaporization which helps in the regulation of body temperature. In chemical properties, water
reacts with lot of substances to form different compounds such as Amphoteric nature where the
water can move as both acid and base, then Redox reaction where Electropositive elements
reduce water to hydrogen molecule and lastly the Hydrolysis where here the water has a very
strong hydrating tendency due to its dielectric constant. Where It dissolves many ionic
compounds and some covalent and ionic compounds can be hydrolyzed in water.

8. Explain the importance of buffer.

Answer: Based on what I've seen in the internet ,a buffer is a solution that can resist pH change
upon the addition of an acidic or basic components . And based on my own understanding It is
able to neutralize small amounts of added acid or base, thus maintaining the pH of the solution
relatively stable. This is important for processes and/or reactions which require specific and
stable pH ranges because the guffer solutions have a working pH range and capacity which
dictate how much acid/base can be neutralized before pH changes, and the amount by which it
will change.

Reference:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/nutrional-requirements-for-cells-elements-roles.html

https://byjus.com/chemistry/physical-and-chemical-properties-of-water/#:~:text=Physical%20pro
perties%20of%20water,-Water%20is%20a&text=The%20molecules%20of%20water%20have,te
nsion%2C%20dipole%20moment%2C%20etc.

https://www.biomadam.com/scope-and-application-of-biochemistry

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/
Supplemental_Modules_(Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry)/Acids_and_Bases/Buffers#:~:te
xt=A%20buffer%20is%20a%20solution,specific%20and%20stable%20pH%20ranges.