Biochemistry

Much of biochemistry deals with the structures, functions and interactions of cellular components such as [|proteins], [|carbohydrates] , [|lipids] , [|nucleic acids] and other [|biomolecules] —although increasingly processes rather than individual molecules are the main focus. Among the vast number of different biomolecules, many are complex and large molecules (called // [|biopolymers] //), which are composed of similar repeating subunits (called // [|monomers] //). Each class of polymeric biomolecule has a different set of subunit types. [|[1]] For example, a [|protein] is a polymer whose subunits are selected from a set of 20 or more [|amino acids]. Biochemistry studies the chemical properties of important biological molecules, like proteins, and in particular the chemistry of [|enzyme] - [|catalyzed] [|reactions]. The biochemistry of [|cell] [|metabolism] and the [|endocrine system] has been extensively described. Other areas of biochemistry include the [|genetic code] ( [|DNA], [|RNA] ), [|protein synthesis] , [|cell membrane] [|transport] and [|signal transduction]. Over the last 40 years biochemistry has become so successful at explaining living processes that now almost all areas of the [|life sciences] from [|botany] to [|medicine] are engaged in biochemical research. Today the main focus of pure biochemistry is in understanding how biological molecules give rise to the processes that occur within living [|cells], which in turn relates greatly to the study and understanding of whole organisms.
 * Biochemistry**, sometimes called **biological chemistry**, is the study of [|chemical] processes in living [|organisms], including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes. By controlling information flow through biochemical signalling and the flow of chemical energy through [|metabolism] , biochemical processes give rise to the complexity of [|life].