Biochemistry Lecture Notes

What is Biochemistry?

• Intersection of biology and chemistry.
• Focuses on large biomolecules (proteins, DNA) and their functions.
• Sits between chemistry (small molecules) and biology (cells).

Importance of Biochemistry

• Essential for understanding nutrition, medicine, and health.
• Nutrition involves metabolism: the chemical processes that break down food.
• All diseases have a molecular basis; understanding molecules is key to health.

Misunderstandings and Misinformation

• Many misconceptions exist regarding biochemistry.
• Diet fads and pseudoscience can mislead individuals about health.
• Importance of understanding biomolecules (enzymes, receptors, DNA).

Relationship Between Chemistry and Biochemistry

• Cannot fully grasp biochemistry without basic chemistry knowledge.
• Large biomolecules operate based on foundational chemistry principles.
• Understanding chemical reactions is crucial.

Recommendations for Students

• For those supplementing an undergraduate biochemistry course: remember basic chemistry concepts.
• If lacking chemistry background, refer to general and organic chemistry tutorials prior to this series.
• Understanding these basics will facilitate comprehension of biochemistry.

Visualizing Enzymes

• Enzymes often represented as complex shapes to simplify their structure.
• Important to understand molecular structure and functional groups.

Goals of the Series

• Highlight basic concepts of biochemistry.
• Simplify complex biochemical processes for better understanding.
• Encourage viewers to grasp the big picture of biochemical interactions.

Final Notes

• Don’t get discouraged; repetition is encouraged for understanding.
• Questions can be directed to the professor via email.
• Aim for a holistic understanding of biochemistry to appreciate the complexity of life.