 It is central to all areas of the Biological or Life Sciences. The aim is to provide an understanding of every aspect of the structure and function of living things at the molecular level. It is a practical laboratory science that applies the molecular approaches of chemistry to the vast variety of biological systems. Biochemists work at all levels and with all types of biological organisms, ranging from bio-molecules to man. There are close links with other specialist life sciences, such as Cell Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Physiology and Pharmacology. In fact, in many cases the distinctions between these disciplines are becoming increasingly blurred. They use biochemical techniques and biochemists work in all these areas.
Biochemistry offers the tremendous challenge of seeking to understand the most fundamental of life's processes at the molecular level, and to utilize this knowledge for the benefit of mankind. For example, how biochemists, working with colleagues in other disciplines, have developed the new technologies of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering. These have enabled the production of therapeutically important human proteins such as insulin and blood clotting factors by cloning procedures, thus avoiding costly, time-consuming and inefficient isolation of these molecules from biological sources; the identification and possible remedying of genetic problems; and the use of DNA fingerprinting in forensic science. |
