Introduction to Biochemistry AudioLearn Follow-Along Manual

In this ebook you will be given an overview of the field of biochemistry. The following sections will take you through the fundamentals of biochemistry, starting with a short background to the field, an overview of the types of cells that are studied by biochemists and the organisation of structures within them.
This will be followed by an introduction to the types of molecules in which biochemists interest themselves – proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids.

We begin to take a deeper look at the roles of these molecules in the structure and function of the cells, beginning with biological membranes, then the types and functions of some major classes of proteins, and completing the round up with a more detailed look at the nucleic acids and how they are involved in the processes of cell division and production of proteins.

There then follows a short section describing some of the major techniques that have been used by biochemists to gather their knowledge on the structure and function of biological macromolecules. In the next section, we take a look at the processes that drive all of these biological reactions, the heart of biochemistry – the metabolic reactions including glycolysis and the Krebs or citric acid cycle, with a brief look at how the fuel consumed by the body is used to produce this energy.

The final sections show some of the applications of biochemistry, including a look at how biochemists have contributed to the understanding of some of the most common human diseases, the uses of biochemical reactions in industry, and finally a quick look at the types of careers that are pursued by biochemists.