Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the study of chemical reactions involved with living beings. It is important to cell biology and physiology. The study of biochemistry involves enzymes, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins, and lipids.
Enzymes are special types of protein that act to speed up a chemical reaction in a living thing. The function of enzymes is to start, speed up and help chemical reactions, and lower the activation energy. There are a few enzymes that are not proteins but ribonucleic acids, which are called ribozymes.
Nucleic acids are long-chain molecules. Nucleotides are made They are the building blocks for living organisms. DNA is a common type of nucleic acid, which is usually join up together into a chain called a double helix. It's the substance of heredity and contains huge amount of information that direct life activities. RNA is another common type of nucleic acid, also having important roles in living organisms.
Carbohydrates include sugars and starches. The simplest carbohydrate are the monosaccharides, meaning "single sugar". Examples of monosaccharides are glucose and fructose. Monosaccharides can be combined into chains by dehydration synthesis. Polysaccharides are long molecules made from many units joined together. Examples are starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids. There are twenty different common types of amino acid.
Lipids are fats, and waxes. Saturated lipids contain single bonds, and are found in butter and lard. They are often solid at room temperature. Unsaturated lipids have one or more double bonds. The human body stores lipids as an energy source. When the body needs a large amount of energy, lipid molecules are broken down to release that energy.
