History of biochemistry
The term “biochemistry” itself is derived from the combining form "bio-", meaning "life", and "chemistry". The word is first recorded in English in 1848, while in 1877, Felix Hoppe-Seyler used the term ("Biochemie" in German) in the foreword to the first issue of "Zeitschrift für Physiologische Chemie" (Journal of Physiological Chemistry) as a synonym for physiological chemistry and argued for the setting up of institutes dedicate to its studies. Nevertheless, several sources cite German chemist Carl Neuberg as having coined the term for the new discipline in 1903, and some credit it to Franz Hofmeister.
Islamic Azad University, Falavarjan Branch
Department of Biochemistry started its activities on 1987 with 5 courses to provide Biochemistry to Biology students with one faculty member. Later in 2002 it became an independent group in collaboration with a number of professors of biochemistry well known in the field such as full Professor Seyed Ali Asghar Moshtaghi, the founder of the professional doctorate degree for Clinical Biochemistry in Iran and also a faculty member with the rank of associate professor, and two faculty members with Scientific Assistant rank. They provided biochemistry courses at different levels, particularly in higher education in the fields of biochemistry, biology, microbiology, genetics, biotechnology, nursing and midwifery services. One of the achievements of this group is that it is the only biology group that provides all BA, MA and PhD degrees in Iran.