One definition of Biochemistry is as follows: "biochemistry is the organic chemistry of compounds and processes occurring in organisms; the effort to understand biology within the context of chemistry" (Princeton.edu) The second part to the definition really gets at the complexity of biochemistry as a "truly" integrated science. The role of biology within chemistry or chemistry within biology are inordinately complex topics and when addressing them is what makes biochemistry different. The Key element of biochemistry is biochemical interaction. The term biochemical, as defined by NASA, refers to "the chemical reactions that occur within a living organism, such as the breakdown or manufacture of biological molecules by enzymes." (NASA.gov) Both enzymes and manufacture are keystones to biochemistry and must be kept in mind when attempting to explain or understand biochemistry as an idea and as a working science.
Biochemistry differs from the other sciences in the level of detail one studies bio-molecular processes. This branch of science marries all of the other branches together, at least when you split biology into separate disciplines. In a way Biochemistry as an integrated science is not its own, but a combination of many disciplines or fields. The focus of Biochemistry is on how not only biology, but genetics, ecology, anatomy, forensics and again, chemistry all work together. Biochemistry is in effect the branch of science that helps the other branches of science make more sense. (Cambell & Ferrell, 2010, Biochemistry Text; Florkin, 1960, Unity and Diversity in Biochemistry, Princeton.edu)
The biosphere defined: "the biosphere the idea by which we understand the total amount of living matter, how it behaves like a chemist of a very special type. All the organic compounds present in the many regions of the biosphere and resulting from its biosynthetic activities have structures lying within certain definite limits." (Florkin, 1960, Unity and Diversity in Biochemistry) It strikes me that the above statement really gets at the true nature and intent of biochemistry as a pure science, when looking to explain the interactions of life on the level of the biosphere, as broad as that scope may seem, is the task at hand.
The latest biochemistry News articles published daily include: "news on cellular, molecular and physical discoveries, nanotechnology advances and much more." (www.medicalnewstoday.com) Finally, when looking at biochemistry, one must acknowledge the level of involvement in both medicine and the high-tech industry as a whole. The other scientific disciplines would be hard pressed to demonstrate a comparable level of involvement to that which is realized the "typical" working biochemist.
I hope this helps to understand the importance of biochemistry in relation to science as a whole.
MCB
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