GENBS-601. Introduction Biochemistry. The course is designed to familiarize the student with the basic principles of biochemistry in order to provide the fundamental concepts and terminology of biochemistry. We expect a level of competence in students successfully completing the course which will enable them to read the biochemical and pharmacy literature, and which will provide the foundation required to master other basic science courses such as Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology.
Rudiments of the chemistry, biosynthesis, breakdown, and excretion, and nutritional importance of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the currently accepted terminology which will be encountered by the student during his continuing education, and in the practice of any of the health sciences. It is our intent to include sufficient detail to make certain that after having taken the course, the student is conversant with the major steps in the synthesis and breakdown of key macromolecules. Brief exposure to the function and chemistry of the hormonal and enzymatic regulators of systems of biochemical importance is provided. We have recently increased our emphasis on molecular biology by incorporating lectures on the subject of biotechnology because of its increasing importance in the pharmaceutical industry. We hope that facts regarding intracellular localization of major pathways in subcellular organelles is retained, but our emphasis in this regard is primarily on metabolism and the subcellular localization of key enzymes of pathways.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Title
INTRODUCTORY BIOCHEMISTRY Pharmacy GENBS 601
Credit
4 Semester Hours
Time
4 lecture hours per week
Course Director
Eleanor K. Spicer, Room 512D BSB Office: 792-7475
Course Assistant
Gwen Bowers, Room 512 BSB Office: 792-2582
Lectures
10:00 to 10:50 AM
Day/Room No.
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 402 BSB
Tuesday QF302B
Textbook
Biochemistry by Berg et al. - 5th Edition
W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, NY 1995
Faculty
Dr. Eleanor Spicer; Room 512D BSB; 792-4321 or 792-1417
Dr. Gregory Warr, Room 739 BSB, 792-0597
Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta; Room 512A BSB; 792-8381
Dr. Chris Davies Room; 518D BSB; 792-1468
Dr. Yi-Te Hsu; Room 512C BSB; 792-0849
Dr. Erica Bullesbach, Room 745C BSB, 792-9926
Notes:
1. Review sessions will be scheduled for the day before each exam.
2. All corrections or grading errors or disagreements must be brought to Dr. Spicer's attention prior to the next exam. Your grade averages prior to the final will be available at the final examination, and anyone who feels their average is incorrect for any reason must call it to our attention prior to the grading of the final examination.
Course Goals and Objectives:
The course is designed to familiarize the student with the basic principles of Biochemistry in order to provide the fundamental concepts and terminology of Biochemistry. We expect a level of competence in students successfully completing the course which will enable them to read the Biochemical and Pharmacy literature, and which will provide the foundation required to master other basic science courses such as Physiology, Pharmacology and Microbiology.
Rudiments of the chemistry, biosynthesis, breakdown, and excretion, and nutritional importance of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids are presented. Particular emphasis is placed on the currently accepted terminology, which will be encountered by the student during his continuing education, and in the practice of any of the Health Sciences. It is our intent to include sufficient detail to make certain that after having taken the course, the student is conversant with the major steps in the synthesis and breakdown of key macromolecules. Brief exposure to the function and chemistry of the hormonal and enzymatic regulators of systems of biochemical importance is provided. We have recently increased our emphasis on molecular biology by incorporating lectures on the subject of biotechnology because of its increasing importance in the pharmaceutical industry. We hope that facts regarding intracellular localization of major pathways in subcellular organelles is retained, but our emphasis in this regard is primarily on metabolism and the subcellular localization of key enzymes of pathways.
The format of the course has purposely been made somewhat flexible. Lectures are given as informally as a class of 60 students will permit. Students are encouraged to prepare prior to lectures by reading the chapters in Biochemistry (Stryer) that are indicated in the syllabus, and to complete the problem assignments. We also encourage students to ask questions during or after lectures, to clarify any material that is confusing or incomplete.
Grading:
There will be 4 one hour exams and a final three hour exam. The final will cover material presented since the 4th exam (20% of exam), as well as the material from the rest of the course (80%), (i.e. it is a cumulative exam).
Sixteen extra credit points will be given if all Problem Sets are turned in. The credit will be added to the sum of the exam scores before averaging.
The final grade is calculated as follows:
# pts. for 4 hour exams + # pts. on final exam + extra credits Total ÷ 5 = final average
