Introduction to Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the science that combines both biology and chemistry, focusing on the chemical processes occurring within and related to living organisms.
It provides a molecular view of life, understanding how a sequence of genetic information encoded in DNA leads to the various life processes.

Biochemical processes often involve breaking down large, complex molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids into their simpler units.
Amino acids are small molecules that combine to form proteins - a diverse group of molecules that perform a large variety of functions within the organism.
Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids - DNA and RNA.
Sugars and fatty acids are mainly used by organisms for energy storage and metabolism.

Enzymes, which are proteins, act as biocatalysts to speed up biochemical reactions in an organism.
They lower the activation energy of reactions and increase reaction rates.
Metabolism, a crucial part of biochemistry, is comprised of two counter-balancing processes: anabolism, where complex molecules are built from simpler ones, and catabolism, where complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones.
The Citric Acid Cycle (or Krebs cycle), a central metabolic pathway, converts acetyl CoA, derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, into ATP, the main energy currency in biological systems.

Biological pigments or biochromes give colour to living organisms, and play a key role in various life-enabling processes such as photosynthesis and vision.

Vitamins are essential micronutrients which support normal metabolism but cannot be synthesised by the body in sufficient amounts.
They often act as cofactors or coenzymes, aiding enzymes in their functions, and facilitating metabolic reactions.

DNA and RNA, the genetic materials found in all living cells, encode instructions for life and its processes.
DNA’s primary function is to store and transmit the genetic information that controls cellular structure and function.
RNA translates the genetic information in DNA to produce proteins, enabling various cellular activities.