Biotechnology in biochemistry

Biochemistry and biotechnology are two fields of life science that are closely related. The former is concerned with studying chemistry in the biological system, whereas biotechnology is concerned with applying technology to research the biological system. Biochemistry is the study of metabolic processes inside the living system and the illnesses that occur as a result of a deficiency in these processes, whereas biotechnology is the study of biological mechanisms that may be observed and modified to aid in the improvement of human lives and health.

Biotechnology is defined as “the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof, and molecular analogues for products and services.” It is defined as “the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof, and molecular analogues for products and services.” The term “biotechnology” was coined by Károly Ereky in 1919 to refer to the manufacturing of products from raw materials with the assistance of living organisms, and it has since been widely accepted.

The study of chemical processes occurring within and linked to live beings is known as biochemistry or biological chemistry. Biochemistry is a sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology that can be separated into three fields: structural biology, enzymology, and metabolism. It is a sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology.

Relationship of Biotechnology with biochemistry

Over the course of the twentieth century, biochemistry has been increasingly successful at understanding life activities via the lens of these three sciences. With the help of biochemical methods and study, almost all fields of the life sciences are being discovered and developed at this time. A major focus of biochemistry is on determining the chemical underpinnings that allow biological molecules to give rise to the processes that occur within living cells and between cells, which has important implications for our understanding of tissues and organs, as well as the structure and function of organisms. A tight relationship exists between biochemistry and molecular biology, which is the study of the molecular mechanisms that underlie biological events.

Even though biochemistry is the study of chemical processes that take place within living organisms, biotechnology is the ultimate product of these discoveries, allowing the identified biochemical processes to be exploited for technological purposes, as well as more effectively observed and analysed on the fly using biotechnological means.

The application of mechanisms discovered in the field of biochemistry for the production of a useful product, as well as the use of biochemical techniques in conjunction with physical analysis methods, for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of biochemistry, are both included in the definition of biotechnology. For example, when a fluorescently tagged molecule is used in conjunction with a fluorescence microscope, researchers are able to determine the precise target of a medicine within a cell, which is extremely beneficial.

Biochemistry and biotechnology are therefore inextricably interwoven, with an understanding of biochemical processes required before they can be applied to technology, and after technology has been produced, it may then enable for more biochemical discoveries to be made as a result of the technology.

Enzymes as biochemical process

It is well known that enzymes are used in industry as a biochemical process that can be applied to biotechnology, with the potential to provide a more environmentally friendly and more efficient alternative to traditional chemical synthesis.

Initially discovered in the 19th century, enzymes were already being used as catalysts in industrial applications by the mid-20th century, such as the creation of glycerol by the fermentation of yeast, or the manufacture of citric acid by the fungus Aspergillus Niger. As researchers began to decipher the mechanisms that underlie the observed activity of enzymes, a broader range of applications became apparent. 

One notable example is the discovery of penicillin acylase, an enzyme found in some bacteria, yeast, and fungi that facilitates the production of several antibiotic precursors, which was previously unknown. The discovery of enzyme immobilisation on a solid substrate around this time allowed researchers to reuse and recycle enzymes without having to spend a lot of time and money isolating, purifying, and repurifying huge numbers of enzymes.

Conclusion

It is the study of chemical substances and processes that occur in plants, animals, and microbes and of the changes that occur during development and life that is referred to as “biochemistry.” It is concerned with the chemistry of life, and as a result, it depends on the techniques of analytical, organic, and physical chemists, as well as those of physiologists who are interested in the molecular foundation of vital activities, to accomplish its goals.