INTRODUCTION

TO
BIOCHEMISTRY
What Is Biochemistry?
The word ‘BIOCHEMISTRY’-
means -Chemistry of Living
beings or Chemical Basis of
Life.
“Life” in Biochemistry point of
view is:
Hundreds of Biochemical
reactions and Biochemical
processes

Occurring in sub cellular

organelles of a cell in an
organized manner.
Biochemistry is a
branch of life science:
Which deals with the
Study of Biochemical
Reactions and Processes
Occurring in living cells
of organisms.
Branches of Biochemistry
Medical Biochemistry-Deals
with chemical basis of human
body.

Clinical Biochemistry-Deals with

clinical diseases/pathological
conditions of human body.
Clinical Biochemistry
supports:

Diagnosis, Therapy and

Research of Medical field.
Bacterial Biochemistry-Deals with Microbes.

Plant Biochemistry- Deals with Plants.

Animal Biochemistry-Deals with animals.

Industrial Biochemistry-Deals with

industrial products involved with
microorganisms.
Historical Developments
of
Biochemistry
Biochemistry emerged in the late 18th
and early 19th century.

The term Biochemistry was first

introduced by the German Chemist Carl
Neuberg in 1903.

In the 1940s Clinical Biochemistry

evolved, as an autonomous field.
 S.No Pioneer Workers Discovery/Work

1 Berzilus Enzymes Catalysis

2 Edward Buchner Enzyme Extraction

3 Louis Pasteur Fermentation Process

4 Lohmann Role of Creatine PO4 in

muscles
5 Hans Kreb TCA Cycle

6 Banting and Macleod Insulin

7 Fiske and Subbarow Role of ATPs

 S.No Pioneer Worker Discovery/Work

8 Watson and Crick Double Stranded

DNA
9 Landsteiner Protein Structure
10 Peter Mitchell Oxidative
Phosphorylation
11 Nirenberg Genetic Code on
mRNA
12 Paul Berg Recombinant DNA
Technology
13 Karry Mullis Polymerase Chain
Reaction
14 Khorana Synthesized Gene
Aim And Objectives
To Study
Biochemistry
To know the various
Biomolecules composed in
Human body:
 Chemistry/Structure
 Occurrence/Location

 Functions/Role
Determination of mode of
action of Biomolecules is by:

Isolation and Structural

elucidation of Biomolecules.
Understand completely
all the organized
Biochemical processes
Occurring in living cells at
the molecular/sub
cellular level .
Identification of disease
mechanisms:

Study of Inborn Errors of

metabolism.

Study of Oncogenes in cancer cells.

Syllabus Of Biochemistry
 Medical Biochemistry
Medical or Human Biochemistry is a
branch of Biochemistry which deals with:
Biochemical constituents of human
body
Their interactions in body cells
To maintain normal health, growth and
reproduction and related diseases.
Chemical Composition of Human body
Study of Biochemical
aspects of Cell and its
sub cellular organelles.
Study of various Biochemical constituents of
cell:
(Chemistry, properties , functions, metabolism
and related disorders).
① Carbohydrates
② Lipids
③ Proteins
④ Vitamins
⑤ Minerals
⑥ Water
Nutrition and Metabolism of
Biomolecules
Study of Food and its
constituents
Dietary Nutrients
builds human body
and maintain health
Major prerequisite for the
maintenance of health is that

There should be optimal

dietary intake of
constituents with good
quality and appropriate
quantity.
Biochemical research
has impact on Nutrition
& Preventive Medicine.
 Metabolism of Biomolecules
Ingestion
Digestion
Absorption
Transport
Uptake and
Assimilation of food constituents in
human body.
Catabolic and Anabolic
pathways related to
Biomolecules for Human
vitality:
Energy rich biomolecules get
catabolized in body cells to liberate
chemical form of energy ATP used for
various body activities.

Various biomolecules are

biosynthesized to perform vital
functions of human body.
To maintain normal health
of a human body:
Biomolecules in human
body work
Cooperatively with good
coordination ,Regulation and
Interrelationship.
Roles Of Important Biomolecules
Carbohydrates serves as primary
source of energy.
Lipids serves as secondary source
of energy.
Proteins are structural and
functional units of human body
which are of prime importance and
survival of human beings.
Vitamins: Fat soluble and Water soluble
vitamins have specific functions which
serve as accessory growth factors.

Minerals: Inorganic elements major and

minor type has important role in
building and functioning of human
bodies.
Enzymes are biomolecules which are
Biocatalysts catalyzes specific biochemical
reactions of metabolic pathways and
considered as functional units of
metabolism.

Hormones the Endocrine substances,

chemical messengers of human body.
They bring good coordination and regulate
enzyme activities of metabolism.
 Elements of Molecular Biology
Nucleic acids and Molecular
Genetics
DNA, RNA and Protein
synthesis
Regulation of gene expression
Recombinant DNA technology
Biochemical Processes
of
Human Body
Membrane transport mechanisms and signal
transduction

Biochemical mechanisms of hormone action-Cellular

Homoeostasis

Functions of Neurotransmitters

Oxygen transport, Bioenergetics, Mitochondrial

Respiratory chain

The Immune response

Interrelationships Of Biochemistry
Biochemistry Is A Fundamental Subject Of
Medicine/MBBS
Biochemistry is
related to almost
every Subject of
Medicine.
There is relationship of Biochemistry with
Many subjects of MBBS Course.
Physiology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Immunology - Microbiology
Toxicology
Medicine and Allied Subjects
Community Medicine-Nutrition
Principal driving force in
Clinical Biochemistry.

New emerging techniques

and methodologies to study
new Biomarkers
The scope of Biochemistry
is to understand

The functionality of the

living cells, tissues and the
entire living system.
Clinical Biochemistry
Biochemical Aspects
of
Health and Disease
 Healthy body
Healthy body in biochemical
point of view is with-
Normal metabolic functions in
the body cells.
Balanced levels of all the
biochemical constituents
 Unhealthy/Diseased body
Unhealthy/Diseased body
in biochemical point of view
is with:
Derangement in their
metabolic functions.
Imbalanced levels of
biochemical constituents
Health depends on a harmonious
balance of biochemical reactions
occurring in the body
Disease reflects abnormalities in
biomolecules, biochemical
reactions, or biochemical
processes in a human body.
 Types Of Diseases
Due to Biochemical Alterations
Nutritional Disorders
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Endocrine/Metabolic
Disorders
Genetic/Molecular Disorders
Immunological Disorders
List of Biochemical Disorders
 Nutritional Disorders

These are disorders caused

due to defect in pattern of
nutrition:
Over Nutrition
Under Nutrition
 Examples Of
Nutritional Disorders

Kwashiorkar and Marasmus. (PEM)

Obesity
Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Tetany
Pellagra
Beri Beri
Scurvy
 Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
These disorders are due to defect in
Endocrine system.
Hypo and Hyper activity of Endocrine
organs.
Derangement in Hormones which affect
the Enzyme activities of metabolic
reactions .
This in turn causes derangement in
metabolism.
Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes Insipidus
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Addisons Disease
Cushings Syndrome.
 Genetic/Molecular Disorders
These disorders are due to defect in DNA
molecule.
Gene mutations in structural or regulatory
genes
Mutated genes on expression leads to structural
defective Proteins.
Defective structural Proteins in turn affect the
functionality of the Proteins leading to
disorder.
 Genetic/Molecular Disorders
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Cancer
Sickle Cell Anemia
Thallasemias
Xeroderma Pigmentosa
Hyperlipoproteinemias
Chromosomal Defects
 Inborn Errors Of Metabolism
Disorders due to congenital defect in
Enzymes.
Caused due to defective/mutated genes
of Enzymes.
Since Enzymes are functional units of
metabolism, their congenital defect leads
to inborn errors in Metabolism.
 Inborn Errors Of Metabolism
Primary Gout
Glycogen Storage Disorders
Phenylketonuria.
Albinism
Gauchers Disease
 Immunological Disorders

Caused due to defective Immune

System
Hypersensitivity
Auto immune Disorders-
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Multiple Myelomas
Role Of Clinical Biochemistry In Diagnosis
Of Diseases
Role Of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory
Biochemistry and Medicine
are Intimately related
In a specific diseased condition there
occurs derangements in the hormonal
actions
Which affects, homeostatic
mechanisms and metabolic processes
Which in turn alters the normal
concentrations of biochemical
constituents in body cells and their
fluids.
Metabolic changes associated with specific
disorders may give rise to a changes in the body
fluids.
Biochemical profile of a particular body fluid
is analyzed for example
 Blood Glucose in Diabetes mellitus;
 Glucose levels in the cerebrospinal fluid in
bacterial meningitis (which are greatly reduced).
Hence, specific parameters are looked for in a
specific body fluid when a disease is suspected
Suspected diseased cases by a
physician are investigated for the
levels of biochemical parameters
In various collected biological
specimens viz
Blood/plasma/serum/urine/CSF
/other body fluids
The collected specimens are analyzed
in a Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory
using various analytical methods to
obtain the results.
The obtained results are compared
with the values with respective
normal/reference range.
Results are reported to a physician
for confirming the diagnosis and
treatment of the patient.
Role Of Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory
Role of a Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory
is to find out
The concentration of biochemical
parameters from various biological
specimens,
Using specific methodologies ,reagents,
instruments and equipments ,glasswares
and plastic wares.
The result values obtained are compared
with reference range and interpreted.
Thus Clinical Biochemistry, is
an applicative arm of medical
Biochemistry,
To support diagnosis ,
treatment and prognosis of
human diseases or pathological
conditions.
Scope of Clinical Biochemistry
Clinical Biochemistry includes two
main components:
Methodological and Interpretative.

Which is driven by the discovery of

biomarkers, and the availability of
appropriate measurement methods.
Biochemistry Instruments
Biochemists should have knowledge of important
instruments their uses and working principles.
1. Photoelectric Colorimeter, Spectrophotometer,
Flowcytometers, AAS.
2.SemiAutoanalyzers,Fully Automated Analyzers.
3.Electrolyte Analyzers
4.ELISA reader
5.ECiQ
6.Electrophoretic and Chromatographic Units.
7. Real Time PCR
8.Distillation Plant, Balances, Centrifuges, Water
baths, Incubator, Oven, Coolers, Refrigerators etc.
Biochemistry Depend Upon Chemicals and
Reagents
 Biochemistry Chemicals and Reagents
Use of Analytical Grade/Ultra pure
chemicals for reagent preparations.
Use of ready made reagent kits.
Use of standards, controls and
calibrators.
Quality control specimens (Internal
and External Q.C)
 Biochemistry Glasswares/Plasticwares
Use of Borosil made Glasswares/Tarsan
Test tubes
Pipettes: Glass , Fine pipettes
Flasks
Beakers
Measuring Cylinders
Reagent Bottles
Diagnostic Investigations
of
Clinical Biochemistry
Types Of Biochemical Investigations
Routine Investigations
Stat Investigations-24x7 hrs
Special Investigations
Biochemical Profiles
Organ Function Tests
Individual laboratory tests are
rarely ordered and reported
singly; usually combinations of
lab tests are used.
The physician should however
be judicious in selecting the tests
that really give a clue to the
diagnosis of a disease.
 Routine Biochemical Investigations
Blood Glucose {Fasting, Post prandial and Random}
Non Protein Nitrogenous Substances -Blood Urea ,Uric
Acid, Creatinine.(KFT)
Serum and urinary Proteins-Total Proteins, Albumin (LFT)
Lipids-Tri Acyl Glycerol, Cholesterol, Lipoproteins.
Enzymes-AST,ALT,GGT,ALP,ACP (LFT)
Bilirubin-Total ,Direct, Indirect (LFT)
Electrolytes- ( Na, K)
Minerals-( Ca, P)
Blood- pH, Anion Gap,pO2,pCO2,Bicarbonates.
 Special Investigations
Glucose Tolerance Test
Vitamins
Hormones
Minerals(Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, I)
Drugs
Bence Jones Proteins
Electrophoresis
Chromatography
 Organ Function Tests
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
Cardiac Profile (CFT)
Pancreatic Function Tests (PFTs)
Renal Function Tests/Kidney Function Tests
(KFTs)
Gastric Function Tests (GFTs)
Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs)
Adrenal Function Tests (AFTs)
Reproductive Function Tests
 Biochemical Test profiles
And Biomarkers
Lipid Profile
Cardiac Profile
Diabetic Profile
Bone Markers
Anemia Markers
Tumor Markers
 Importance of Laboratory Tests
Qualitative and Quantitative analysis
of biochemical constituents from the
biological specimens are carried out in
Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory.

Results obtained of quantitative

estimations are interpreated comparing
with normal or reference range of
laboratory.
Biochemical Investigation
results help in diagnosis of the
disorder with severity of the
disease.
The report values helps the
clinician to better manage and
treat the patients under his
care.
Thus Results of
Biochemical investigations
plays important role in
screening, diagnosis,
prognosis and treatment of
disorders.
 Precautions During Tests
Proper Use of Reagents
Standardization and Calibration of Instruments
SOPs to be followed
Carefully and Strictly follow the protocols
Accurate pipetting
Proper reading of O.D values/ Results
Interpreate results with right units with normal or
reference range of laboratory
Run Quality Control Programmes
A good understanding
Knowledge of Biochemistry
related to health and disease at
molecular level
Makes a true and good Doctor
for his/her Clinical Practice.
Biochemistry Practical Syllabus
Instrumentations
Qualitative Experiment-Abnormal Urine Analysis
Quantitative Experiments- Glucose, Urea, Bilirubin etc
Organ Function Tests-LFT,KFT,GFT
Biochemical Profiles
Fluid Analysis-CSF, Amniotic Fluids
Glucose Tolerance Test
Clinical Cases-Liver, Carbohydrate, Lipds , Proteins
Immunological Techniques
Molecular Biology Techniques
Biochemistry Manual
And Its Checking
 Biochemistry
Practical Exam Pattern
 Practical Exam 75 Marks
Questions Internal Exam Professional
Pattern Exam Pattern

Spott Questions 10 spots 20 Marks

2x10 =20 Marks

Qualitative 15 Marks 15 Marks

Experiment

Quantitative 15 Marks 15 Marks

Experiment

Grand Viva 20 Marks 20Marks

Manual 05 Marks 05 Marks

Way To Live Life
Be Balanced in all the life activities
Work as per your priorities
Try to adjust as per the need and condition of life
Try your best to survive
Live simple and natural Life
Know your Do’s and Don'ts of Life
Do Right Judgements
Work with Focus and Time Management
Never Go Against the Nature
Admire and Feel the Natures Life
Think ,Thank and Praise the creator of Nature
Imbibe Natural processes within ourselves
Practice life like Natural processes
S. Human Body Activities Human Practical Life
No

1 Processes/Mechanisms Actions/Character/Nature

2 Analyzed/Sensed Analyzed/Sensed
Neurotransmitters Self Logic ,Thought
Hormones process , ,Good Advice and
Experience

3 Homeostasized- Regulated-
Homeostatic Mechanisms Trust , Obedience, Respect
Implementation
4 Balanced Processes Limited Activities

5 Healthy Human Life Success in Human Life

Thank You