Science

Biochemistry is a branch of science which deals with chemical basis of life in plants and animals. It is used in clinical diagnosis, manufacture of various biological products, treatment of diseases, in nutrition, agriculture, etc.
A biochemistry degree opens up a range of highly-skilled careers that incorporate aspects of both biology and medicine.
Area or fields in biochemistry:
- Environmental Chemistry & Toxicology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Immunodiagnostics
- Enzymology
- Techniques in Biotechnology and their applications
- Recombinant DNA technology
- Plant biochemistry
- Advances in vitamins and hormones
Career objective:
Biotechnology companies employ biochemists in research quality control, clinical research, manufacturing, and information systems with applications to the environment, energy, human healthcare, agriculture, and animal health. Some biochemists work in hospitals.
The potential job profiles for a Biochemistry graduate/ postgraduate include Analytical chemist, Biomedical scientist, Healthcare scientist, clinical biochemist, Clinical research associate, Forensic scientist, Physician associate, Research scientist (life sciences), Scientific laboratory technician, Toxicologist, etc.
Biochemistry is applied to medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. In food science, biochemists research ways to develop abundant and inexpensive sources of nutritious foods, determine the chemical composition of foods and develop methods to extract nutrients from waste products, or invent ways to prolong the shelf life food products.
In agriculture, biochemists study the interaction of herbicides with plants. They examine the structure-activity relationships of compounds, determine their ability to inhibit growth, and evaluate the toxicological effects on surrounding life.
Other industries offer unlimited opportunities for biochemists in the areas of basic research, quality assurance, pollution monitoring and control, regulatory affairs and the application of technology.
Top universities which offer biochemistry courses:
- Delhi Technological University, Delhi
- Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
- SASTRA University, Thanjavur
- Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam
- Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi