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Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. They study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Biochemists study DNA, proteins and cell parts. The word "biochemist" is a portmanteau of "biological chemist."
Biochemists also research how certain chemical reactions happen in cells and tissues and observe and record the effects of products in food additives and medicines.
Biochemist researchers focus on playing and constructing research experiments, mainly for developing new products, updating existing products and analyzing said products. It is also the responsibility of a biochemist to present their research findings and create grant proposals to obtain funds for future research.[1]
Biochemists study aspects of the immune system, the expressions of genes, isolating, analyzing, and synthesizing different products, mutations that lead to cancers, and manage laboratory teams and monitor laboratory work. Biochemists also have to have the capabilities of designing and building laboratory equipment and devise new methods of producing correct results for products.[2]
The most common industry role is the development of biochemical products and processes. Identifying substances' chemical and physical properties in biological systems is of great importance, and can be carried out by doing various types of analysis. Biochemists must also prepare technical reports after collecting, analyzing and summarizing the information and trends found.
In biochemistry, researchers often break down complicated biological systems into their component parts. They study the effects of foods, drugs, allergens and other substances on living tissues; they research molecular biology, the study of life at the molecular level and the study of genes and gene expression; and they study chemical reactions in metabolism, growth, reproduction, and heredity, and apply techniques drawn from biotechnology and genetic engineering to help them in their research. About 75% work in either basic or applied research; those in applied research take basic research and employ it for the benefit of medicine, agriculture, veterinary science, environmental science, and manufacturing. Each of these fields allows specialization; for example, clinical biochemists can work in hospital laboratories to understand and treat diseases, and industrial biochemists can be involved in analytical research work, such as checking the purity of food and beverages.
Biochemists in the field of agriculture research the interactions between herbicides with plants. They examine the relationships of compounds, determining their ability to inhibit growth, and evaluate the toxicological effects surrounding life.
Biochemists also prepare pharmaceutical compounds for commercial distribution.
Modern biochemistry is considered a sub-discipline of the biological sciences, due to its increased reliance on, and training, in accord with modern molecular biology. Historically, even before the term biochemist was formally recognized, initial studies were performed by those trained in basic chemistry, but also by those trained as physicians.
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Transcription
[Roselle]: I'm having a lot of fun here, I have never had so much fun on another job before. Hi, I'm Roselle. I'm a biochemist for Gatorade Sports Science Institute, and this is our biochemistry lab. I decided to become a biochemist because when I was younger I'd always been interested in math and science. As I grew up my passion went into wanting to help people or care for people. So being a biochemist for Gatorade kind of combined both of those passions. [Narrator]: Biochemists like Roselle provide valuable assistance to the research scientists at Gatorade, who study how the human body fuels and cools itself. [Roselle]: I always knew in science there were research jobs in colleges and hospitals but I didn't know that we could actually be here helping athletes and for a company that's amazing - and the teamwork here is amazing too. So that's kind of what made me want to work here. Actually making a difference. And not just a small scale but it's all over the world. [Narrator]: Roselle collects samples of body fluids like blood and sweat from athletes during their various performance trials, and analyzes them to determine how certain ingredients in the test products are perfmorning in the body. [Roselle]: So Beth gives me the sweat patches that are connected to the sticky patch and I would separate it and put it into the centrifuge tube and the cotton will stay up here, and I'll spin it down extremely fast so that the sweat just drips into this chamber here, so that we have a clean sample that we can test for sodium, potassium, chloride‚ all your electrolytes‚ that can help us see the level of hydration of the subject. I have worked with a lot of famous sweat, and saliva. We work with a lot of professional teams and tri-athletes and marathon runners. Basketball, football, soccer, tennis, and golf. The golf one I'm sure you guys know. When I'm not at work or at school I like to work out at the gym, either on the elliptical or on the treadmill. As a biochemist some of the interesting things that I've learned is that your body tells you a lot of different things, you may not even realize it. Your saliva can tell you your hormone levels, your sweat, it's just interesting how you can know how fast your stomach empties or how fast your intestines absorb just from a droplet of fluid that we pull from your stomach and so I find that extremely interesting that science has gotten so far as to be able to tell us what our bodies are trying to tell us. [Narrator]: While she looks at how exercise and hydration affect athletic performance, Roselle has her eyes set on being an athlete herself. [Roselle]: I also like to run outside as much as I can. It helps me train for my next goal the 10K and then a half marathon and my ultimate goal is a triathlon by the end of summer. So we just took the capillary tube out of this centrifuge and the red blood cells are packed all the way down to the bottom. And what's left up top is the serum or the fluid and this can let us know how hydrated the athlete is. The more serum or more fluid there is, the more hydrated the athlete is. This can help us determine whether or not he's ready to go through the rigorous process of the trial. So now I'm going to measure it with the microscope and you guys will be surprised to know you guys will actually use this after high school. No job is perfect; some of the hurdles that I do face are that I'm still kind of new to the field so I'm learning a lot from everybody. The good thing is that there's always someone here to help me out. I still feel like I'm treading on new territory but the more I learn, the more engaged I am in wanting to know more. The most rewarding part is being able to do something that I think definitely benefits the public. I didn't want to do something just for making a living. I wanted to be involved and think about it when I'm off work and just put my whole heart into it. In college, because I have a biology degree I had to take advanced courses in science and that included anatomy, and physiology and biochemistry. And all of that lab work, all the resources that I learned from there helped incorporate the knowledge that I need to do my job here. [Narrator]: Roselle is continuing her education to further her career in science and medicine. [Roselle]: Science used to be a male dominated field, but I believe that there are more women that are coming into this field now, because there are a lot more doors open. When I was growing up I never felt discouraged to go into any field. I had a lot of support from my family and my teachers and there where a lot of resources available for me. So I think that people are realizing that there are no boundaries for girls growing up today. It they want to become a scientist, if they want to become a doctor or anything like that they are more than welcome to and they're definitely able to attain those goals. Hello. Sure I have that data here. You can definitely make a good living doing this type of work. When I first started working here I bought my first car. You can always advance with this kind of career. There's never a threshold that you meet that you can't branch off into doing something else or get an advance degree, and make a living off of that. [Narrator]: Roselle loves her work, but she keeps it all in persepective. [Roselle]: I have been involved in some of the volunteer programs in the Chicago schools. I also like to play the piano and bake. Both of those help me relax, kind of unwind, and just, I think that's it. Scientists make a difference because they're always inventing something, discovering something. Without scientists looking at new avenues of where we could go we would be stuck. Science is definitely cool I can't imagine being in any other field that's not as exciting as this. Honestly there's just so much new research coming out every day in the news and journals and it's just so exciting to be a part of that.
Training
Some of the job skills and abilities that one needs to attain to be successful in this field of work include science, mathematics, reading comprehension, writing, and critical thinking. These skills are critical because of the nature of the experimental techniques of the occupation. One will also need to convey trends found in research in written and oral forms.
A degree in biochemistry or a related science such as chemistry is the minimum requirement for any work in this field. This is sufficient for a position as a technical assistant in industry or in academic settings. A Ph.D. (or equivalent) is generally required to pursue or direct independent research. To advance further in commercial environments, one may need to acquire skills in management.
Biochemists must pass a qualifying exam or a preliminary exam to continue their studies when receiving a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
Biochemistry requires an understanding of organic and inorganic chemistry. All types of chemistry are required, with emphasis on biochemistry, organic chemistry and physical chemistry. Basic classes in biology, including microbiology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, cell biology, and genomics, are focused on. Some instruction in experimental techniques and quantification is also part of most curricula.
In the private industries for businesses, it is imperative to possess strong business management skills as well as communication skills. Biochemists must also be familiar with regulatory rules and management techniques.[3]
Biochemistry Blog publishes high quality research articles, papers, posts and jobs related to biochemistry. Biochemistry 2019, biochemistry papers latest.[4]
Due to the reliance on most principles of the basic science of Biochemistry, early contemporary physicians were informally qualified to perform research on their own in mainly this (today also related biomedical sciences) field.
Employment
Biochemists are typically employed in the life sciences, where they work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry in a research role. They are also employed in academic institutes, where in addition to pursuing their research they may also be involved with teaching undergraduates, training graduate students, and collaborating with post-doctoral fellows.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that jobs in the biochemist, combined with the statistics of biophysicists, field would increase by 31% between 2004 and 2014 because of the demand in medical research and development of new drugs and products, and the preservation of the environment.
Because of a biochemists' background in both biology and chemistry, they may also be employed in the medical, industrial, governmental, and environmental fields. Slightly more than half of the biological scientists are employed by the Federal State and local governments. The field of medicine includes nutrition, genetics, biophysics, and pharmacology; industry includes beverage and food technology, toxicology, and vaccine production; while the governmental and environmental fields includes forensic science, wildlife management, marine biology, and viticulture.
The average income of a biochemist was $82,150 in 2017. The range of the salaries begin around 44,640 to 153,810, reported in 2017. The Federal Government in 2005 reported the average salaries in different fields associated with biochemistry and being a biochemist. General biological scientists in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions earned an average salary of $69,908; microbiologists, $80,798; ecologists, $72,021; physiologists, $93,208; geneticists, $85,170; zoologists, $101,601; and botanists, $62,207.[5]
See also
References
- ^ "Biochemist". Science Buddies. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ "Biochemistry & Biophysicists". My Plan. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ "Biochemistry Training Programs and Requirements". Education Portal. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ "Biochemistry Blog Programs and Requirements". Biochemistry Blog. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ "Biochemistry" American Chemical Society - The World's Largest Scientific Society. ACS, n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2013.
External links
This page was last edited on 23 May 2024, at 08:20