Biochemistry and Medicine

 
 
Rondang R. Soegianto
 
2020
Biomedical Importance

Significant contribution of biochemistry to:

 
- Cell biology - Microbiology

- Physiology - Pharmacology
- Immunology - Toxicology
- Inflammation
First Discovery of Biochemistry
 
Cell-free extract of yeast can ferment sugar:
process of wine making
 
Controversion:
Louis Pasteur, microbiologist, expressed that:
“Process of fermentation is only possible in
intact cells”
1899 Brothers Buchner discovered
fermentation in cell-free extract
 
They planned to store yeast extract in a
crock of concentrated sugar which was
added as a preservative. Overnight the
contents of the crock fermented and spilled
over the laboratory bench.
 
Enzyme (Greek) = In yeast
Biochemistry and Medicine have Stimulated
Mutual Advances
 
Biochemistry impacts 2 fundamental concerns:
1.understanding and maintenance of health
2.understanding and effective treatment
of disease.
Biochemistry and Medicine is connected by
a Two-way Street
 
Biochemistry  Medicine

Nucleic acids  Genetic diseases

Proteins  Sickle cell anemia
Lipids  Atherosclerosis
Carbohydrates  Diabetes mellitus
Normal Biochemical Processes are the Basis
of Health
 
WHO: Health is a state of “complete physical,
mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease and infirmity”.
 
Similarity with biochemical point of view:
The thousands of intra and extracellular reactions
in the body must proceed with needs of the body
even under pressure of internal and external
challenges.
Nutrition and Preventive Medicine
 
Maintenance of health requires optimal dietary
intake of vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids,
minerals, carbohydrates and water.
Important in preventive medicine.
Most Diseases have a Biochemical Basis
 
Examples of disturbance in human
biochemistry.
Electrolyte imbalance
Defective nutrient ingestion or absorption
Hormone imbalance
Toxic chemicals
DNA based genetic disorders
 
Not included are: infections organisms and
environmental pollution
Summary:
 
•Biochemistry is the science that studies the
various molecules in living cells and
organisms.
Because life depends on biochemical
reactions, biochemistry has become the
“basic language of all biologic sciences”

•Advances in biochemical knowledge have

illuminated many areas of medicine. Study of
diseases have revealed previously
unsuspected aspects of biochemistry.
• Biochemical approaches are often
fundamental to find out cause of diseases
and to design the right therapy.

• All diseases result from disordered

cellular function.

• A sound knowledge of biochemistry and

of other related disciplines is essential for
the rational practice of medicine and
related health sciences.
 Reference
Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry
Lange, 30th Edition, 2015