Introduction of biochemistry

动物生物化学课程介绍
（英文）
Introduction of Animal Biochemistry
Biochemistry can be defined as the science concerned with the chemical basis of life (Gk bios “life”), sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes within, and relating to, living organisms. By controlling information flow through biochemical signaling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism, biochemical processes cause the complexity of life. 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. By this definition, biochemistry encompasses large areas of cell biology, of molecular biology, and of molecular genetics.
The aim of biochemistry is to describe and explain, in molecular terms, all chemical processes of living cells. Biochemistry is closely related to molecular biology, the study of the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information encoded in DNA is able to result in the processes of life. Depending on the exact definition of the terms used, molecular biology can be thought of as a branch of biochemistry, or biochemistry as a tool with which to investigate and study molecular biology.
Much of biochemistry deals with the structures, functions and interactions of biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids, which provide the structure of cells and perform many of the functions associated with life. The chemistry of the cell also depends on the reactions of smaller molecules and ions. These can be
inorganic, for example water and metal ions, or organic, for example the amino acids which are used to synthesize proteins. The mechanisms by which cells harness energy from their environment via chemical reactions are known as metabolism.
Knowledge of biochemistry is essential to all life sciences. The biochemistry of the nucleic acids lies at the heart of genetics; in turn, the use of genetic approaches has been critical for elucidating many areas of biochemistry. The findings of biochemistry are applied primarily in medicine, nutrients, and agriculture. In medicine, biochemists investigate the causes and cures of disease. In nutrients, they study how to maintain health and study the effects of nutritional deficiencies. In agriculture, biochemists investigate soil and fertilizers, and try to discover ways to improve crop cultivation, crop storage and pest control. In fact, the old barriers among the life sciences are breaking down, and biochemistry is increasingly becoming their common language.
动物生物化学课程介绍
（中文）
生物化学可以被定义为与化学有关的生命基础科学，有时也被称作生物化工，它研究与生物体有关的化学反应过程。

生物化学过程是通过生化信号传导和化学能代谢来控制信息流通，从而导致生命的复杂性。

在过去40年，生物化学在解释生命活动方面获得了重大的成就，当今，从植物学领域到医学生命科学领域都开始从事生物化学的研究。

根据这个定义，生物化学包括了细胞生物学，分子生物学，分子遗传学这几方面的内容。

生物化学的目的在于在分子方面描述和解释所有活细胞的化学过程。

生物化学
是与分子生物学密切相关的学科，通过遗传信息编码的DNA分子机制，能够研究生命的进程。

根据所用术语的确切定义，分子生物学可以被认为是生物化学的一个分支，或者说生物化学是调查和研究分子生物学的一种工具。

许多生物化学都与生物大分子的结构、功能有关，如蛋白质、核酸、碳水化合物、脂质，这些生物大分子为细胞构成提供物质基础以及执行许多与生活相关的功能。

细胞的化学成分还取决于更小的分子和离子的反应。

这些反应可以是无机的，例如水和金属离子之间的反应；也可以是有机的，例如用于合成蛋白质的氨基酸之间的反应。

细胞通过自身与外界环境之间的化学反应，从而获得的能量的过程，被称为代谢。

生物化学的知识是学习任何生命科学必不可少的。

与核酸相关的生物化学的内容，是研究遗传学的核心内容；反过来，利用遗传学的方法已经阐明许多生物化学领域的关键问题。

生物化学的研究结果被首先应用在医学，营养学和农业上。

在医学方面，生物化学探讨了引起疾病的原因及其治疗方法。

在营养学方面，如何保持健康以及营养缺乏的影响是生物化学的研究内容。

在农业方面，生物化学不但研究土壤和肥料，更试图探索改善作物栽培的方法，以及作物储存和病虫害防治方面的问题。

事实上，生命科学之间的旧障碍正被打破，生物化学将逐渐成为他们之间的共同语言。