Introduction

to
Biochemistry
Designer Baby- is a baby whose genetic makeup has
been selected or altered, often to include a particular gene or to
remove genes associated with disease.
Definition of Biochemistry

 deals with the chemistry of living organisms

 deals with chemical processes which go on in
living matter
 study of the structure, composition, and
chemical reactions of substances in living
systems.
Polymers and Monomers

 Each of these types of molecules are polymers that are

assembled from single units called monomers.
 Each type of macromolecule is an assemblage of a
different type of monomer.
 How do monomers form
polymers?
 In condensation
reactions (also called
dehydration synthesis),
a molecule of water is
removed from two
monomers as they are
connected together.
 Anabolic
 Building block  Macromolecule
 Simple sugar  Polysaccharide
 Amino acid  Protein (peptide)
 Nucleotide  RNA or DNA
 Fatty acid  Lipid

Catabolic
Macromolecule Monomer

Carbohydrates Monosaccharide

Lipids Not always polymers;

Hydrocarbon chains
Proteins Amino acids

Nucleic acids Nucleotides

FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
 There are certain groups of atoms that are
frequently attached to the organic molecules we
will be studying, and these are called functional
groups.
 These are things like hydroxyl groups which
form alcohols, carbonyl groups which form
aldehydes or ketones, carboxyl groups which
form carboxylic acids, and amino groups which
form amines.
History and development of
Biochemistry

1903, Carl Neuberg

(German): “Biochemistry”

“Father of Modern
Biochemistry”
Discovereved carboxylase

-it is an enzyme that catalyze the

incorporation og a CO2 molecule into an
organic substrate
Two notable breakthroughs

(1) Discovery of the role of enzymes

as catalysts
(2) Identification of nucleic acids as
information molecules

Flow of information: from nucleic acids to proteins

DNA RNA Protein
Some historic events
 In 1937 ， Hans Krebs for the discovery of the
Citric Acid Cycle-won the Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine in 1953
 In 1953 ， James Watson & Francis Crick for the
discovery of the “DNA Double Helix” -won the Nobel
Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962
 In 1955 ， Frederick Sanger for the determination
of insulin sequence- won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 1956

 In1980 ， Frederick Sanger & Walter Gilbert for

Sequencing of DNA-won the Nobel Prize in
Chemistry in 1980
Importance of Biochemistry

Biochemistry serves as a central

component of all health sciences
including microbiology, genetics,
physiology, nutrition, and medicine.
Application of Biochemistry to
Medicine
 Prevent and treat health related problems
It will set the pace in the search for
prevention and treatment of heart disease,
cancer, genetic diseases, peridontal disease,
nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases and
other health disorders.
Structureof corona virus
Down syndrome
Application of Biochemistry to
Medicine
 It explains the mechanisms on how enzymes
catalyze chemical reactions, how cholesterol
contributes to heart disease, and how aspirin
lowers body temperature.
 It can manipulate and modify life forms
(genetic engineering)
Genetic
Engineering

Involves taking a gene

from one organism and
placing it into another.
The recipient may be
bacteria or a plant or an
animal
Genetically modified animals
Agriculture

1. Development and
exploitation of
better genotypes.

2. pest resistance
10 Attributes of Life
 Adaptation
 Growth and repair
 Reproduction
 Metabolism
 Complexity and organization
 Regulation
 Possess characteristic size and shape
 Responsiveness to stimuli or sensitivity
 Locomotion
 Variation and change
ADAPTATION or the presence of
body structures that make living things fit to live
in its habitat.
Adaptation
Polar bear camel
Attributes of life

Growth – ability to add new tissue

Repair – ability to replace damaged parts
Growth and repair
Attributes of life

Reproduction – ability to beget offsprings, ensuring

propagation and continuance of species.
2 TYPES OF REPRODUCTION
SEXUAL
- requires two (2)
reproductive cells, the
egg and the sperm cell

ASEXUAL
- involves the vegetative
parts to reproduce
Attibutes of life

Metabolism- biological and chemical

activities or functions that provide
energy
Attributes of life

Complexity – refers to elaborate structures

needed to carry out laborious functions

Organization – is putting the different

body structures into order so that the
organism can function effectively and
efficiently.
 COMPLEX ORGANIZATION
CELL

TISSUE

ORGAN

SYSTEM

* Many living things are studied at many levels of

structural organization.
Attributes of life

Regulation – ability to keep the functions

under control through the use of hormones
and enzymes.

Possess characteristic size and shape

REGULATION
The ability to keep the
functions under control
through the use of
substances like hormones
and enzymes

Maintaining a stable
internal environment is
called homeostasis (Greek,
same condition).
Attributes of life

Responsiveness to stimuli or sensitivity

– ability to respond favorably or
unfavorably to its environment

.
Living things respond to
their environment.
a)Organisms detect and respond
to stimuli from their
environment.
b)A stimulus is a signal to which
an organism responds.
c)External stimuli include
temperature and light.
d)Internal stimuli come from
within, such as blood sugar level
or feeling thirsty.
Attributes of Life
Locomotion – ability to move on its initiative
under its control
Attributes of Life

Variation and change – explain why no two

organisms are exactly alike and no organism
remains unchanged forever
variation
 Biomolecules
 Just like cells are building blocks of tissues,
biomolecules are building blocks of cells.
 Water constitutes 50-95% of cells content by weight.
 Ions like Na+, K+ and Ca2+ may account for another
1%.
 Almost all other kinds of biomolecules are organic
(C, H, N, O, P, S).
 Organic compounds are compounds composed
primarily of a Carbon skeleton.
Chemicals of life

1. Water
2. Organic compounds
a. Nucleic acids
b. Proteins
c. Carbohydrates
d. Fats and lipids
3. Inorganic elements
a. Bulk elements – N, Na, Mg, P, S, Cl,
K, and Ca
b. Trace elements – Fe, Zn, I