Department of Biochemistry

Department of Biochemistry

History

Biochemistry is a very young branch of science and a short period of time such as 150 years has passed since its beginning. The term biochemistry, which was never used until 1903, was used for the first time in these years by the German chemist Carl Neuberg. However, the beginning of studies in the field of biochemistry coincides with the years before this date. Countless very valuable scientists have contributed to the development of the science of biochemistry. We can list only some of them as follows; Carl NEUBERG, Karl SCHEELE, WOHLER, HARDEN, YOUNG, EMBDEN-MAYERHOF and KREBS. WOHLER's synthesis of urea in the chemistry laboratory in 1820 marked a turning point in the history of biochemistry. Because this invention has led to the destruction of the belief that organic molecules will be synthesized by a force called vital forces, which is believed to exist only in living things. In the beginning, biochemistry developed as an independent science with the collection of piecemeal and simple information. The studies of HARDEN and YOUNG and EMBDEN MAYERHOF on the intermediate metabolism of carbohydrates were the most successful examples of biochemistry of this period. The discoveries of KREBS et al. on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the classical studies of W.CROSE on amino acids are notable researches of this period. In the years after the Second World War, incredible progress has been made in the field of biochemistry. After these periods, it is accepted that the knowledge in the field of biochemistry increases one hundred percent every eight years. The great interest of the scientific world in studies at the molecular level has made biochemistry the most dynamic and innovative field.

About Department

Dicle University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, which started education in 1993-1994, in the Department of Biochemistry, theoretical and practical undergraduate and doctoral program courses are given by 3 Professor doctor faculty members.

Courses given to undergraduate students in our department: Biochemistry I, Biochemistry II, Medical Chemistry, Clinical Biochemistry, Basic Biochemical Techniques and Application Areas in Biotechnology, and Molecular Metabolism of Metabolic Diseases.

In the Department of Biochemistry, there is an application laboratory for student practice courses and 2 research laboratories for scientific research, and 4 doctoral students have graduated from the doctoral program so far.

Mission of our Department; To follow the latest developments in science and technology, to provide basic and clinical biochemistry information to veterinary candidates and to contribute to the formation of these candidates to integrate them with veterinary clinical sciences, to provide routine clinical biochemistry laboratory services and to conduct research on the solution of livestock problems in the region.

Our vision; to establish a reference clinical biochemistry laboratory, to popularize the use of clinical biochemistry in the veterinary field, to conduct model experimental studies that will contribute to universal science by collaborating with units abroad, and to share our knowledge and skills at an international level.

Working Areas

Biochemistry is based on laboratory studies. For this reason, biochemists make use of very advanced laboratory techniques and instruments. For example, special devices such as spectrometer and chromatography, which can detect and separate all chemical substances in tissues, are the basic tools of biochemistry. Thus, hormones in the body or toxic substances trapped in the tissues can be detected with these devices, even in small amounts that cannot be detected by any other method. Biochemists also have important duties in hospitals biochemistry laboratories, forensic medicine institutions, large agricultural enterprises, stud farms and quarantine stations. In particular, the examination of samples such as blood, urine, feces and cerebrospinal fluid taken from patients by biochemistry methods provides invaluable clues in the diagnosis of diseases. Biochemistry, which helps pharmacology by investigating the effects of new drugs and vaccines on the human body, plays an important role in many areas of daily life. As a result, the science of biochemistry is a science that deals with and examines the chemical structure of the cell, the smallest unit of life, and the chemical mechanisms in the formation, continuation of life and finally extinction of the living thing. All of the events that take place in the body of a living thing throughout its life are collectively called metabolism. Therefore, biochemistry is largely concerned with metabolism.