The differences between genetics, biochemistry, and molecular biology were described probably 50 years ago by a wit who may have been Sydney Brenner. I will have to check my sources to see who said this. I will append a brief explanation after the quotation:
The "first generation" gene products are proteins. Geneticists have known for decades that peas might be wrinkled or fruit flies might have red or white eyes. But they did not concern themselves with finding the gene products, just with tracking the genes.
Similarly, Biochemists have busied themselves with Aldolase or Fumarase and other proteins, without being too greatly concerned about where the gene was or what its sequence was.
Obviously, genome sequencing is turning all of us into Molecular Biologists, because even the most committed protein biochemist must know about the genes these days. And geneticists are increasingly paying attention to the gene products as they are identified. Let's hope we aren't also turning into "Lunatics"!
Frank Deis, Oct. 31 2002.