What is the Difference Between Metabolomics and Metabonomics?

Metabolomics and metabonomics are related fields that study the metabolites of a biosample, but they have distinct focuses and approaches. Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Focus: Metabolomics is the systematic study of small molecules (metabolites) in a living system and their interactions. Metabonomics, on the other hand, is the quantitative measurement of the time taken for a metabolic response in a living system to occur following a pathophysiologic stimuli or a genetic modification. It is more concerned with comparing biochemical profiles rather than identifying individual metabolic compounds.
2. Endogenous vs. Exogenous Metabolites: Metabolomics is mainly focused on endogenous metabolism, while metabonomics extends its scope to include information about perturbations of metabolism caused by internal and external toxins, disease processes, and other factors.
3. Analytical Tools: Metabolomics is primarily driven by mass spectrometry, while metabonomics uses NMR spectroscopy as the main analytical platform.

In summary, both metabolomics and metabonomics study the metabolites of a biosample, but they differ in their focus, scope, and analytical tools. Metabolomics is more concerned with identifying and understanding the interactions of endogenous metabolites, while metabonomics is concerned with comparing biochemical profiles and studying the effects of external factors on metabolism.

Comparative Table: Metabolomics vs Metabonomics

Metabolomics and metabonomics are both fields that study metabolites in biological systems. However, there are some differences between the two:

Both metabolomics and metabonomics are essential for understanding the biochemical processes and responses of living organisms to various factors. While some researchers use the terms interchangeably, others make distinctions based on the specific areas of focus and the analytical tools used in each field.