WHAT IS BIOCHEMISTRY?

Biochemists study the molecules that define the structure and function of living beings.

This sounds a bit dry;  let's follow an example of the kinds of observations a biochemist makes, the questions s/he asks, and the information s/he collects to answer the questions.

A biochemist looks at a forest and asks "Why is that tree green?"

A forester will discuss the fact that it is the leaves of the tree which are green.  A biochemist will ask "why?"

A botanist or cell biologist will refer the biochemist to the cells of the leaf, which contain organelles called chloroplasts ("yellow bodies" in Greek):

This electron micrograph of a chloroplast is from the University of Queensland. 

Take a trip through the chloroplast in The Virtual Cell

"Ok", says the biochemist, "what makes chloroplasts green?"   This is beginning to get to the nitty gritty of life at a molecular level.

Take a look at the chlorophyll molecule as a biochemist would visualize it.c

"How would I go about studying this thing?" a biochemist would ask.

Take a look at Michael Lynch's work at University College, Dublin, on toxic algae.

What is biochemical research on chlorophyll  good for? Take a look at what NASA is doing.

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