Biochemistry is a Science discipline investigating living systems using multiple chemical and biological methods. It deals with chemical processes in living organisms. The subjects of biochemistry studies include the structure and function of the building blocks of living matter like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids and other biomolecules. Biochemistry is related mainly to organic chemistry, physiology and molecular biology and also to microbiology. The knowledge gained in studying biochemistry is used in biotechnology, medical and agricultural sciences, etc.
The Department of Biochemistry, Palacký University in Olomouc, guarantees Bachelor and Master degrees in Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, and postgraduate courses for Ph.D. students in Biochemistry. The Department of Biochemistry provides the education of biochemistry in the following study fields across a wide range of study programmes: systematic biology and ecology, molecular biology, experimental biology, biophysics and various teaching study programmes in combination with chemistry. Research activities, in which the students also participate, are focused on the study of defence mechanisms of plants and their control, as well as the practical applications of enzymes, such as the development of biosensors and immobilization of enzymes and other proteins on nanomaterials and other media. Our department is also actively involved in outreach activities to support high school students interested in studying biochemistry. Department graduates are successful in finding job position at Universities, institutes of the Academy of Sciences, in research and clinical laboratories, in laboratories of food and hygiene control agencies, etc.
The Department of Biochemistry has close links to the Centre of the Region Haná. Many of the employees of the department as well as the students are actively involved in research in various fields offered by CRH.
