what's the difference between a major in Biochemistry and Biology?

Question

If you major in Biochemistry then you go in depth for 4 years in proteins, genetics and enzymes. But Biology major is more general consisting cells, genetics, microbiology, biochemistry, right?

Answer 1

Just to REALLY clarify and answer your question best:

In Biology and Biochem - you can choose a specialty.
In Biology - you can choose not only proteins, genetics and enzymes - but also environmental conservation, ecology, plant physiology. Biology is a great stepping stone since it gives you a lot of broad spectrum knowledge - so you will be all around knowledgeable in science (hopefully). But you can specialize too - there are degree options within Biology that make you really focus and get ready to work in certain Sciences. In my University - we have "Cell and Genetics", "Conservation", "Plant Science", "Zoology and Animal Physiology", just to name some of the few.

Biochem is a great specialization and application of how biology and chemistry work together. You take biological theories and concepts and use them hands-on. Yes, proteins, genetics and enzymes are core in Biochem - but also stereochemistry, organic chemistry, coordination chemistry is pretty key in Biochem too. I love what my prof said about biochem: "Give the organic chem mechanisms to the chemist, and leave the proteins to us." Ya - you have to know chemistry - but you'd be more interested in how the proteins and other micro-machinery works.

You can also take a Biochem/Biology Honours degree too - if you can't make up your mind.

Answer 2

Depending on the university, curiculums could be different.

Some schools consider biochemistry as an aspect of chemistry, so that's a complete different level of thought than a molecular cell biology background.

Typically, biology requires a specialization in a particular field like mention before "general, animal, physiology, plant, wildlife".

Answer 3

The two paths offer completely different approaches. Christianity is concerned with belief, a creed that one signs up to; believes we have to behave in certain ways here in order to get into heaven; and believes that people who don't behave well enough go to hell. Judaism is concerned with covenant, with what we do on a daily basis in recognition of that covenant, and is not very bothered about exactly what one believes; is very concerned with THIS life and living it to the full, enjoying the pleasures of the world while behaving responsibly towards one fellow humans; believes we should engage in efforts to make this life a better place for everyone; and has no notion of hell. Christianity holds that those who don't believe in Jesus are not 'saved' from 'original sin' and therefore are damned. Judaism has no concept of original sin and holds that anyone who leads a righteous life, Jewish or not, is just as beloved of God. As a minor detail, Christianity believes that sex is somehow rather sinful and shouldn't be enjoyed too much, particularly by women; Judaism believes that sex is provided by God for enjoyment and a man's duty towards his wife is to ensure her pleasure and satisfaction. They really are utterly different concepts, and one of the biggest problems Jews have is that people assume that Judaism is sort of like Christianity in the way in which it is a religion. It isn't.

Answer 4

A biology major is usually required to take only a survey course in chemistry to supplement the required biology courses. The chemistry knowledge is to give an understanding of the basic workings of living organisms.

Biochemistry requires a core of chemistry courses, which inludes more advanced classes such as organic chemistry, analytical, and others. For biochemistry one may be expected to learn how to read chemistry as a language, such as is used for interpreting orders for laboratory materials or to decipher the formula representation of test results.

Answer 5

Whatever is not as 'part, whole, equivalence, uniqueness, limit, link, sensation, influence, derivative, origin, condition, rule, intent, and fulfillment' is not the difference between a major in biochemistry and biology.

Answer 6

Depends. A biology degree where I went to school had different "concentrations" like wildlife, natural resources, cell all with an BS in biology but where my sister went all they offered was what you described.