What is pharmacology?
The study of the effects of chemical substances on the function of living systems.
Define a drug.
A chemical substance of known structure, other than a nutrient or essential dietary ingredient, which produces a biological effect when administered to a living organism.
Where can drugs originate from?
They may be synthetic, derived from plants or animals, or products of genetic engineering.
How are physiology and pharmacology linked?
Both involve chemical communication within the body; pharmacology studies how chemicals affect these processes.
What is the major theme of pharmacology research?
The interaction between chemicals and proteins, especially receptors.
How has biotechnology changed pharmacology?
It has led to the production of therapeutics via genetic engineering rather than chemistry.
What are biopharmaceuticals?
Therapeutics made by genetic engineering, such as antibodies, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, and cytokines.
What is pharmacogenetics?
The study of genetic influences on responses to drugs.
What is pharmacogenomics?
The use of individual genetic information to guide drug therapy choices.
What is pharmacoepidemiology?
The study of drug effects at the population level.
What is pharmacoeconomics?
A branch of health economics quantifying the cost and benefit of drugs in economic terms.
Describe the general timeline of pharmacology’s development.
From magical potions and herbal remedies in ancient times → discovery of natural products → development of synthetic chemistry → molecular biology and biopharmaceuticals.
List several major subfields of pharmacology.
Neuropharmacology, cardiovascular pharmacology, immunopharmacology, respiratory pharmacology, chemotherapy, systems pharmacology, and molecular pharmacology.
What disciplines interface with pharmacology?
Biotechnology, toxicology, medicinal chemistry, pathology, psychology, genetics, genomics, and clinical medicine.
What are some specialized fields within pharmacology?
Psycho-, clinical-, veterinary-, and pharmaceutical pharmacology, as well as pharmacokinetics and biochemical pharmacology.
