In medical biochemistry also known as molecular biology , biochemical techniques are applied to human health and disease. The typical scope of medical biochemistry can encompass the following:. Much of biochemical inquiry deals with the structures, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules — large molecules such as proteins which provide the structure of cells and perform many of the functions associated with life.
The chemistry of the cell also depends on the reactions of smaller molecules and ions. These molecules can be organic e. Medicine is just one area that has benefited from biochemistry. The discipline has made vital contributions to the fields of including cell biology, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, immunology, nutrition, forensic medicine, and toxicology, as well as the fields of inflammation, cell injury, and cancer.
Aside from medicine, biochemical research is also applied in industry, agriculture and food production. On a day-to-day basis, biochemists typically carry out research projects, manage laboratory teams, prepare technical reports and present research findings to scientists and key stakeholders. Using electron microscopes, lasers and state-of-the-art laboratory instruments, they conduct experiments by analysing enzymes, DNA and other molecules.
These laboratory experiments cover a range of subjects, from extracting cell samples from plants and animals for genetic research to developing effective new medicines for the pharmaceutical industry. Once complete, the results are then analysed in an office environment using advanced data modelling software.
Working in research teams alongside experts from other scientific fields, biochemists are predominantly employed across the life sciences sector including pharmaceuticals, biotech, toxicology, food technology and vaccine production.
They are also frequently employed in research roles in academic and government institutions. For anyone working in medicine or a related field, accruing sufficient biochemical knowledge is needed in order to properly understand the metabolism , function and growth of a healthy human body. In physiology, the study of body function, biochemistry has broadened our understanding of how biochemical changes relate to physiological alteration in the body. It helps us understand the chemical aspects of biological processes such as digestion, hormonal action, and muscle contraction-relaxation.
In pathology, the study of how aberrant biochemistry relates to disease conditions in the human body, physicians can use biochemical analysis to confirm predictions based on patient testimony. For example, if a patient complains of sudden, severe pain in one or more joints, the physician may predict the problem to be gout — a form of arthritis caused by an excess of uric acid in the bloodstream.
By measuring uric acid levels, biochemistry can then confirm whether gout is the root of the problem. All diseases have a molecular basis, so biochemistry enables us to understand the chemical processes involved in conditions as varied as:. Wit information gleaned from the chemical nature of pathologies, biochemists working in medicine are able to investigate potential treatments for diseases.
At its most basic, biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes occurring in living matter. However, this simple definition encompasses an incredibly diverse field of research that touches nearly all aspects of our lives. One of the most pressing issues in our society, environmental degradation, is being addressed by biochemists.
A few examples of work currently being performed include improvements in the efficiency of photosynthesis to increase crop yields, bioremediation of polluted soils, development of new feed-stocks, chemistries for the production of biofuels, genetic mapping of ecosystems to monitor biodiversity, and methodologies for boosting biological capture of carbon.
These and other biochemical technologies may play a crucial role in our efforts to find a sustainable means of living. Perhaps the most obvious application of biochemistry in our everyday existence is in the field of health research. Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. The practical and technical skills you develop during your biochemistry degree - through laboratory-based work and your final year research project - prepare you well for a research or technical position.
Obtaining some work experience, for example a summer internship in a research laboratory or company, will help to boost your chances of finding a job. This is usually undertaken in the pharmaceutical or biotechnical industries or a research institute.
Opportunities also exist to take a placement abroad, expanding your career prospects. Work placements help develop key skills further and provide opportunities for building contacts and networking. Whatever your career plans, it's important to enhance your degree with extra skills and experiences, which show that you are a proactive person engaging with the world around you.
Opportunities exist in public health laboratories such as Public Health England and in the laboratories of companies such as Fera. Biochemistry graduates are also employed in industry. Typical employers include pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, water and agricultural companies.
Small companies employ biochemists to provide specialist services, such as toxicological studies. Other employers include scientific and medical publishers and the Intellectual Property Office as patent examiners. You can also use your biochemistry skills and knowledge in areas such as sales and marketing, where you could be selling the latest technology, and law firms dealing with scientific cases. Find information on employers in science and pharmaceuticals , healthcare , teacher training and education and other job sectors.
You can demonstrate your experience in these areas by giving examples from the practical work and group projects included in your degree course, as well as any work experience you've done. Some undergraduate courses integrate three years of undergraduate study with a further fourth year of study at postgraduate level, leading to a Masters qualification.
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