Biochemistries

Biochemistries, in the plural, refers to the diverse chemical systems that enable life. The term is sometimes used to describe the array of biochemical processes across organisms or to emphasize differences in how various organisms execute similar tasks. At its core, biochemistry studies the structure, function, and interactions of biological macromolecules and the chemical reactions that sustain cells.

Key biomolecules include proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Enzymes catalyze most cellular reactions. Metabolism comprises anabolic and catabolic pathways that extract energy from nutrients and build cellular components. Central metabolism includes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Cells also manage redox balance, signaling, gene expression, and membrane transport.

Biochemical research relies on methods from chemistry and biology, including spectroscopy, chromatography, electrophoresis, X-ray crystallography, NMR, mass spectrometry, and genetic and proteomic analyses. Computational approaches and systems biology model how networks of reactions produce emergent properties.

Applications span medicine, agriculture, and industry, including drug design, diagnostics, enzyme engineering, and fermentation processes. Studying biochemistries also illuminates evolutionary biology, revealing conserved mechanisms and organism-specific adaptations. The field recognizes that life exhibits a continuum of biochemical strategies, reflecting adaptation to environment and phylogeny.