Examples of Biochemistry in Everyday Life

Natural resources are something that comes from nature whether mineral, vegetable, or animal. Every thing, every object consists of substances that are formed from the process of various chemicals . From rocks, water, gas, even living things are basically composed of chemical compounds.

Every life in this world will occur chemical reactions in the smallest part of the composition of the body. In living things chemical process is usually called biochemistry. Biochemistry is an explanation and a combination of two words namely bio which means life or life and chemistry which means the reaction of a substance or element.

table of contents

  • Biochemistry
    • Biochemical Examples
      • Genetic Engineering
      • Photosynthesis
      • Secondary metabolites
      • Respiration
      • Fermentation
      • Coagulation
      • Osmosis
      • Plant Hormones
      • Food Nutrition
      • Composting
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Biochemistry

Biochemistry is a process or phenomenon related to the characteristics of chemical reactions in a cell or living creature. Biokmia itself refers to processes of synthesis such as changes in the composition of matter in living things.

Although biochemical processes occur in things and elements in living things, all these things happen in our daily lives. Such as the formation of energy, manufacturing of drugs and vaccines, agricultural innovation, medicine and much more.

Biochemical Examples

From several things related to biochemistry the following examples and also an explanation of the biochemistry that exists in everyday life include:

  1. Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a process of engineering a genetic structure in an organism by inserting or taking genetic makeup so as to produce a new DNA or genetic makeup.

One way to do DNA engineering is to use Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This process uses enzymes to accelerate the reaction rate of DNA synthesis. Then make a copy of the desired DNA sequence and make a new DNA arrangement.

In daily use the PCR can be applied to forensic medicine to recognize the condition of a body in order to find out its identity, trace its origin through DNA comparison or commonly referred to as fingerprints.

  1. Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a term derived from two words, namely photo, which means light and synthesis which is a combination of two substances. Literally photosynthesis is a process to produce a product in the form of sugars (carbohydrates) and gas O 2 through the merger of two molecules of H 2 O and CO 2 then assisted with light blue and red spectrum.

One of the organisms that can carry out photosynthesis is plants and cyanobacteria or blue algae. Some organisms that are capable of photosynthesis are commonly referred to as autotrophs. Autotrophs themselves are organisms that are able to produce energy needs independently through biochemical processes with the help of light from the incorporation of inorganic material into organic matter.

  1. Secondary metabolites

Every living thing is able to produce metabolites both primary and secondary metabolites. However, there are distinctive differences in each living thing in producing secondary metabolites.

Secondary metabolites are metabolite compounds produced by organisms to support growth and have different characters in each species. The nature of secondary metabolites is not essential or does not have to exist, because of the existence, secondary etabolites based on environmental conditions. Secondary metabolites are not always produced, but will only be available when needed.

Examples in plants are allelopathic compounds. Not allelopate compounds can produce these compounds, but some plants can produce these compounds if there is competition with nutrients from other plant species.

  1. Respiration

Every living thing has the characteristics of experiencing respiration. Respiration is an oxidation reaction to produce energy and occurs in the cells of living things. Respiratory process in the form of oxygen transfer which produces the final product in the form of carbon dioxide and also water vapor.

Living things respire to the combustion process as well as an overhaul of energy for the necessities of life. By doing respiration in the form of carbohydrate material in the body as well as oxygen as a combustion agent can produce ATP which is a high-energy compound.

In the process of energy formation or ATP, respiration is divided into two kinds of aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration. Aerobic respiration is respiration that requires oxygen in its processes. While anaerobic respiration is respiration which in every process does not require oxygen.

  1. Fermentation

Language fermentation can also be called fermentation. According to some experts, in general fermentation is the decomposition of organic compounds carried out by organisms to produce energy in anaerobic conditions and secondary products in the form of gas.

An example of fermentation is the process of making tape on glutinous rice. The fermentation process requires anaerobic conditions so that compounds in bacteria are able to break down sugar into ethanol and lactic acid.

In addition, some fermentation that produces gas products is used in the baking process. In the process of making a cake, it is mixed with fermentation ingredients so that the dough can produce gas and trapped so that the bread can expand.

  1. Coagulation

Coagulation is the process of clumping the colloidal system both in whole or in part due to changes in chemistry. Coagulation usually occurs in colloidal substances where the ions will be close together and then neutralize the charge and form a layer or sheath that causes coagulation.

An example of coagulation is the process of blood clotting that occurs due to the formation of fibrin in the blood which causes blood to clot and the bleeding in the wound can stop. In addition, egg white becomes hard when cooked or cooked. This is caused by denaturation of the protein which eventually becomes solid.

Coagulation waste treatment can also be used to clean ponds. This term is commonly called biofloc. Biofloc is in the form of clumping of organic materials on the surface of the pond with the help of coagulant bacteria to bind particles at the bottom of the pond.

  1. Osmosis

Osmosis is a transfer of solvent molecules through a permiable membrane from a low concentration substance to a high concentration substance. The osmotic transfer process is usually only a solvent without being accompanied by a solute transfer. And membrane is one of the factors influencing the transportation of these substances.

One example of the occurrence of osmosis in everyday life is the osmosis process that occurs from water transportation from inside the cell to outside the cell. The pores on the semipermiable membrane will select every molecule that is missed. Water molecules can pass through pores that are small in size and not large enough for other molecules.

  1. Plant Hormones

Hormone is a substance that can naturally be produced by parts of the body and carried to other parts of the body and has a unique influence on the morphological and physiological functions of living things.

Hormones in plants have a function in helping plant growth. One of them is the auxin hormone which functions to stimulate growth in plants. And also there are hormones in the form of gases such as ethylene which function in the process of cooking fruit.

But there is also a hormone that functions as a wound healing in plants, namely traumalin acid. This hormone is able to regenerate cells in plants so that the tissue will form a callus which is a network that has not been deformed at the site of injury.

  1. Food Nutrition

In nutrition, food content is very important for humans to be balanced and as needed. Nutrition is a process that occurs in every living creature by taking and utilizing substances that are in the food to be useful in survival.

Food in it contains various examples of chemical elements that can replace chemical elements in the body or commonly called nutrients. The function of nutrients is to provide energy to our body so that the body has enough energy to do activities, choose growth, and repair body tissues.

  1. Composting

Composting is a process of decomposition by microbes derived from organic bodies to produce simpler compounds. One example is to break down C-organic and N-organic compounds into simpler C and N compounds.

In the case of composting can be done in various ways, namely by aerobic processes and with anaerobes. The anaerobic process will produce compost faster because the bacterial activity under anaerobic conditions is higher than the aerobic process or with sufficient oxygen supply.

In the field of composting agriculture is very important because it is useful in the process of fertilizing plants so that the soil that has been processed and given compost can be able to supply nutrients in the soil. In addition, composting is more beneficial for processing agricultural waste so that environmental conditions are more maintained and sustainable agriculture can be carried out.

That was a complete description that we can share with all readers. Especially those who need references regarding biochemical examples that are easily found in everyday life. Hopefully able to provide references and literacy for all.

 

by Abdullah Sam
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