a chemist studies different substances to find out what they are made of and what effect they have on other substances. a biochemist does the same kind of work but only with the substances that living things are made of such as flesh and blood and bone. his work is called biochemistry because in the greek language bio means 34 life. 34 your body is composed of a great many different substances. some of them stay in the body like the blood and the juices of the stomach and intestines. other substances waste products such as perspiration and urine are given off daily.

all these substances have been examined in the laboratory by chemists so that we know what they contain when you are normally healthy how much salt how much sugar how much acid and so on. when you are sick your body fluids change. different sicknesses create different changes. when the doctor sends a specimen of your urine or blood to the laboratory it is so that the chemist there can compare it with what he knows is normal. then he can tell just what your sickness is and even how bad it is. for example too much sugar in the urine is often a sign of the disease called diabetes about which there is a separate article . one of the most important new things we have learned from biochemistry is what causes people who are badly injured to go into complete collapse a condition we call shock.

for a long time doctors did not know why people who were hurt grew cold and flabby and suddenly died. biochemists found out just what went wrong with the body and what chemicals were needed to start the life processes going again. these injections are sometimes more important than surgery. a wounded soldier may be saved by blood injections and other drugs given him by first aid men right on the battlefield. today every hospital has a biochemical laboratory. analysis of blood urine and other body fluids is a routine part of the medical examination of every patient.

having a masters degree in biochemistry opens many doors. you are viewed as highly educated and you are respected by those in the community and in your field. earning a degree of this level takes years of effort and dedication. following graduation you are part of an elite group of people with access to high paying jobs.

earning a masters degree is hard work. you might wonder why someone would put themselves through the long hours of study and vigorous testing especially in a field as challenging as biochemistry. earning your degree is a sacrifice but it pays off in the long run. you will increase your earning potential and make yourself a respected expert in biochemistry.

a graduate level degree in biochemistry can guarantee life long employment. there are few people with an advanced degree facing the prospect of unemployment. even in rare circumstances when a biochemist is forced to search for work she finds it with relative ease.

not only do most masters programs require rigorous study from their students they encourage students to teach what they know. the experience of teaching helps students apply what they have learned. it also gives them relevant experience and builds their resume. in some cases the school you attend offers you employment upon graduation. following graduation you are qualified to work in a laboratory or research setting and to teach.

people with masters degrees are seen as authorities in the field of biochemistry. co workers and people you encounter respect you because of your academic accomplishments. if you are the type of person who enjoys being viewed as the best at something earning this kind of degree will keep you at the forefront of your career. you will likely work with others with a great deal of education so you will feel like part of the group.