Biology, Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, and Biophysics

- Overview

Biology is the broad study of living organisms, encompassing various subfields like biochemistry and biophysics, while Biomedical Science specifically applies biological knowledge to understand and treat human diseases; Biochemistry focuses on the chemical processes within living organisms, while Biophysics uses physics principles to study biological phenomena, essentially providing a more detailed molecular level understanding of biological processes within the larger framework of Biology and Biomedical Science.

• Biology: The overarching science studying life, including organisms, their structures, functions, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution.
• Biomedical Science: A field applying biological knowledge to human health, focusing on disease mechanisms, diagnostics, and treatment development.
• Biochemistry: A branch of biology that examines the chemical processes occurring within living organisms, including the structure and function of biomolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.
• Biophysics: An interdisciplinary field combining biology and physics to study biological phenomena using physical principles and methods, often focusing on the mechanics and dynamics of biological systems at the molecular level.

- Biology vs Biotechnology

Biology is the branch of science that studies living organisms, whereas biotechnology is a branch of biology that involves the use of living organisms to develop products for the benefit of mankind. Although biotechnology is a branch of biology, it differs from biotechnology in several ways.

Following are the important differences between biology and biotechnology:

• Biology is the science of life. It consists of several specific disciplines that study the structure, function, growth, and evolution of living organisms. Aristotle is known as the "Father of Biology".
• Biotechnology is a broad area of ​​biology that uses living systems and living organisms to develop products or any technological application that uses living systems to make products or processes that can be used sustainably.

Biotechnology and biology are related but have very different uses. Biotechnology applies knowledge from biology to provide practical solutions and innovations across a wide range of industries. In contrast, biology focuses on understanding life and its processes. Both fields are vital, with biotechnology driving technological advances and biology expanding our fundamental knowledge of living organisms and their interactions. 

If the 20th century was the age of computers, the 21st century may be the age of biology. The two might even merge. Hello, Synthetic Biology and Biocomputing! 

Here are some of the most interesting things going on in biology right now: CRISPR and genetic engineering, Epidemiology and Coronavirus, Prion, Climate change, Cancer Biology, Behavioral economics, Endangered species recovery, Astrobiology, Synthetic biology, Apparent genetics.  These biological topics are some of the hottest areas in scientific research today. 

One of the most promising trends in biotechnology is personalized medicine. With advances in genomics and data analytics, healthcare can become more tailored to an individual's genetic makeup. This means treatments can be more effective, with fewer side effects.

- The Age of Biology

Biology is the most encompassing term, with Biochemistry and Biophysics being specialized subfields within it. Biomedical science then leverages knowledge from these biological subfields to address human health concerns. 

While biology might study organismal behavior, biochemistry would delve into the chemical reactions within a cell, and biophysics would analyze the physical forces governing those reactions. 

Biomedical science translates the knowledge gained from biology, biochemistry, and biophysics into medical applications like drug development and disease diagnosis.

With the spread of COVID-19 (2020), the future may be more uncertain now than at any time in recent memory. However, as we enter a new decade, along with uncertainty, the next decade presents tremendous opportunities for the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and regulatory industries. 

Biochemistry and biophysics are closely related fields that use different scientific tools to study life. Biochemists study the chemical processes of living organisms, while biophysicists apply physics to biology. Both fields study the chemical and physical principles of living things, including cell development, growth, heredity, and disease.

Biomedicine is a science that applies natural or formal sciences to develop health care or public health knowledge, interventions, or technologies.  

Biochemistry is a subfield of chemistry and biology. It studies the chemical processes within and associated with living organisms. Biochemistry can be divided into three areas: structural biology, enzymology, and metabolism. 

[Apples - Jacky Zh]

- The Future of Biotechnology

The future of biotechnology is promising, with many exciting trends and innovations on the horizon:

• Personalized medicine: This approach uses a patient's genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environment to tailor their medical treatments. AI algorithms help analyze large amounts of data to predict how patients will respond to treatments. This can lead to more effective treatments with fewer side effects.
• Gene editing: Scientists are using gene editing techniques to correct mutations in genes, or replace faulty genes with healthy ones. CRISPR is a common type of gene editing.
• Biomanufacturing: This technique uses natural processes to produce chemicals and materials that are normally made synthetically. Fermentation is a common biological process used in biomanufacturing.
• Bioprinting of organs: In the next 20 years, bioprinting techniques are expected to be able to address a wider range of conditions and treatments. This includes printing tissues and creating genetically tailored animals to produce human organs for transplant.
• AI: AI is a technology that assists experts in the field, but it can't do anything alone. Human intervention is still needed for the actual implementation.
• Genomics and digital health: Innovations in these areas are: shaping a future of more effective, personalized healthcare

- The Future of AI In Biological Sciences and Biotechnology

In biological science and biotechnology, AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to the use of computer algorithms and machine learning (ML) techniques to analyze large biological datasets, predict complex biological processes, and assist in research areas like drug discovery, protein structure prediction, and personalized medicine, essentially allowing computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence in the biological field; enabling faster and more efficient research and development compared to traditional methods. 

Key factors about AI in biological science: