Biochemistry, sometimes called
biological chemistry, is the study of
chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. By controlling information flow through biochemical signaling and the flow of chemical energy through
metabolism, biochemical processes give rise to the complexity of
life. Over the last decades of the 20th century, biochemistry has become so successful at explaining living processes that now almost all areas of the
life sciences from
botany to
medicine to
genetics are engaged in biochemical research. Today, the main focus of pure biochemistry is on understanding how
biological molecules give rise to the processes that occur within living
cells, which in turn relates greatly to the study and understanding of whole
organisms.
