Biochemistry Topics
The Department of Biochemistry covers a wide range of topics, typically focused on understanding the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. Some common topics include:
Core Biochemical Concepts
Biomolecules
- Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- Enzyme kinetics and catalysis.
- Vitamins and cofactors.
- Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
- Metabolic pathways for lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- Regulation of metabolic pathways.
- Mechanisms of enzyme action.
- Enzyme regulation and inhibition.
- Industrial and medical applications of enzymes.
- DNA replication, transcription, and translation.
- Gene regulation and expression.
- Techniques like PCR, electrophoresis, and sequencing.
- Signal transduction pathways.
- Membrane dynamics and transport mechanisms.
- Bioenergetics and ATP synthesis.
Specialized Topics
Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemical markers of diseases.
- Diagnostic techniques and biomarker analysis.
- Hormonal regulation and disorders.
- Protein structure-function relationships.
- X-ray crystallography and NMR.
- Drug design and molecular docking.
- Neurotransmitters and their pathways.
- Biochemical basis of brain function and disorders.
- Antigen-antibody interactions.
- Immune system signaling pathways.
- Development of vaccines.
- Chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.
- Imaging techniques in biochemistry.
- Omics technologies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
Emerging Areas in Biochemistry
Bioinformatics
- Computational modeling of biochemical processes.
- Sequence alignment and database tools.
- Engineering biochemical pathways.
- Applications in biotechnology and medicine.
- Oxidative stress and aging.
- Telomeres and longevity research.
- Biochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen).
- Bioremediation and climate change impact.