introduction to biochemistry

How can we do justice to life itself when studying the life sciences?Biochemistry is the area in the life sciences which pre-eminently offers insight into thecontinuous and manifold changes that occur in organisms. It shows substances to be notstatic but ever changing, in structure as well as function. The cell, including the cellmembrane, as well as tissues and organisms, are structures in flux.The flow of organisms is related to their metabolism. While on the level of tissues andorgans an organism may seem relatively stable, its biochemical compounds are more orless constantly involved in a process of metabolism. Metabolism is the continualconversion of compounds that takes place in cells and tissues. It builds up to largermolecules (anabolism) or breaks down to smaller ones (catabolism). The rate and kind ofmetabolism of tissues varies minute by minute according to tissue function, time of day,time of life, mental state. Biochemistry is concerned with the chemistry of livingorganisms. Organisms function as a whole and biochemical reaction processes areinterrelated as a consequence. If we can relate the individual processes to the whole of theorganism, we remain aware of the coherence of the substance flow and do more justice tothe laws of life.Biochemistry can teach us to see the human body as a standing wave in a creek. Thestanding wave occurs when irregularities in the creek bed (a rock, for instance) cause thewater to form a wave. The standing wave has a more or less constant shape while newwater is flowing through it all the time. The unique pattern of the creek bed and theproperties of water determine the shape of the standing wave. At the same time, the creekbed is changed by the flow of water in the standing wave. The shape of the standing waveand the unique pattern of the creek bed are interdependent.Similar to the interdependence of water flow and the shape of the creek bed, the flow ofmetabolic reaction processes in an organism and the type and shape of the organism areinterrelated. The flow of these processes is unique for each organism. This is true for livingorganisms. Reaction processes in inorganic chemistry can be carried out separately; theystand more on their own.We will try to find if the different groups of compounds in biochemistry and their reactionprocesses have a prototypical place and function, and where and how they fit into thewhole of the metabolic flow. For instance: all living organisms have a carbohydratemetabolism; we will demonstrate where in the human organism and in living naturecarbohydrate processes have been perfected and play a special role.We will find this by making an inventory of the specific reaction processes, appearanceand occurrence of metabolic compounds, and by then characterizing them to indicate thetype of process we are dealing with. To find relations within the metabolic flow we will usethe comparative method, which willdemonstrate how the various processesare integrated within living organisms.The result is a coherent view of the factsand a greater understanding of the flowof metabolic processes. Experience hastaught that an overview of the wholemakes remembering the details easier.Studying this module will makebiochemistry more interesting and easierto remember as well as increase ourrespect for nature.The questions posed within the boxes donot have definitive answers yet. They aremeant to stimulate further research.