Interacting with cells

Around the globe biochemistry holds great importance, says Sunit Dhawan

WHEN Dr Sunita Jain, a senior faculty member at the Department of Biochemistry, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, had gone abroad for some specialised training, she was required to understand a complex biotechnological matter.

While discussing the matter with her, her trainer came to know that she was from biochemistry background. On knowing this, she remarked that it would not be difficult for her at all.

This is the kind of importance attached to the discipline of biochemistry by senior scientists across the globe. No wonder, many illustrious scientists in the country as well as abroad come from this field.

Biochemistry may be defined as the science which attempts to know how the inanimate molecules found in living cells interact with each other to constitute, maintain and perpetuate living state.

A sound knowledge of biochemistry is of utmost importance to understand the biological systems in molecular terms. It is even referred to as the mother of all biological sciences. The application of biochemical techniques and use of enzymes as tools and reagents have led to fast development of cell and molecular biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, nano-biotechnology, protein engineering, genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.

Because of its fundamental nature and vital significance, biochemistry is expected to generate basic information for use in all applied sciences.

A number of universities and other institutes offer undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral study programmes in the discipline. The premier educational and research institutes in the field are International Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, Centre of Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, IISc, Bangalore, ICAR and CSIR, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, besides Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Punjab Agricultural University, Haryana Agricultural University, Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University and others.

The students of biochemistry are taught structure and functions of biomolecules, enzymology, metabolism, biochemical techniques, molecular biochemistry, plant and animal biochemistry, immuno-biochemistry and nutritional biochemistry.

The emerging thrust areas in the discipline include carbon-nitrogen metabolism in relation to crop productivity, diagnosis of biotic and abiotic stresses in molecular terms, biochemistry of fruit ripening and processing, environmental pollutants, development of biosensors, production of industrial enzymes, etc.

Trained biochemists can venture into a number of diverse fields, including agriculture, health, medicine, pharmacology, food and processing industry and so on. There is a great demand for biochemists in the pharmaceutical arena. Trained professionals are also required in food-processing and fruit-processing industry. After acquiring a degree in biochemistry, the young graduates and postgraduates can get a decent placement in research and development wing of some industrial unit. They can also serve on faculty positions in specialised biotechnology courses like engineering degrees. There is ample scope for young pass-outs to go abroad for higher studies, research fellowships and jobs.

Biochemistry Dr D.S. Chopra, professor and head, Department of Biochemistry, HAU, Hisar, answers some queries on the subject What are the desirable qualities for a student aspiring to become a biochemist? The discipline of biochemistry beckons hardworking students having good patience and scientific temperament. They should also have a sound mathematical acumen and research aptitude. What practical problems are you confronted with as a teacher of biochemistry? The declining preference for science subjects among students is a cause of concern. Majority of sincere and hardworking students usually opt for a professional degree in medical, engineering or management. Other bright students go in for the civil services. A scientific temperament, thus, needs to be inculcated at an early stage. And how is the placement scene? Biochemistry continues to be a promising field by virtue of its vital significance in the study of other sciences like biotechnology, environment, life and health sciences. The bright scope in the discipline can be gauged from the fact that many of our students have to abandon their PhD in between in view of lucrative job offers. In a nutshell, the field holds the promise of a bright future for the students ready to devote themselves to it.