Biochemistry Exam Questions Practice Test part 2

Description

Biochemistry is the scientific study of the chemical processes and substances that occur within living organisms. It is a broad field that combines elements of biology, chemistry, and physics to study the complex chemical reactions that take place in living systems. Biochemistry seeks to understand how biological molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates interact with one another to carry out the functions necessary for life. Some of the areas of focus within biochemistry include metabolism, molecular genetics, cell biology, and biotechnology. Research in biochemistry has led to the development of new drugs, diagnostic tools, and treatments for diseases, as well as a greater understanding of fundamental biological processes such as DNA replication, protein synthesis, and cellular signaling. Biochemists often work in a wide variety of settings, including universities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and biotech firms. They may be involved in research, development, testing, and production of a range of products and processes, from new drugs and medical treatments to food and fuel production.

Biochemistry is the central science because it is involved in every aspect of life. Much of what we have learned about organic chemistry thus far is related to how things work chemically, how diseases can be treated at the molecular level

with small molecules, and how we can create new compounds and materials that improve our daily lives. One of the most interesting of the many applications of organic chemistry is its ability to solve critical challenges in identification through DNA matching. Studying the structure of genes and DNA, scientists can determine genetic relationships between different species (and hence the course of evolution) or between people. They can also identify the remains of individuals through DNA matching, a valuable tool if there are no other physical means to make such an identification. In fact, DNA, the genetic material, is the key to all this work. DNA is the chemical fingerprint in every tissue of every individual. With the use of chemistry involving fluorescent dyes, radioactive isotopes, enzymes, gel electrophoresis, and a process called the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that earned its inventor the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, it is now easy to synthesise millions of copies of DNA from a single molecule of DNA, as well as to sequence it rapidly and conveniently. To understand just how this amazing process works, we need to understand this final class of biomolecules in much more detail.

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