Course content

Biochemistry 1 introduces students to chemical processes in living organisms as well as the molecular basis of life. The structure and function of cellular components such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are covered in Biochemistry 1. This course will teach you about:

• Amino acids, as well as the chemical structure and spatial arrangement of proteins.
• The mechanism and kinetics of enzymes.
• Biochemical energetics and cell energy turnover principles.
• Metabolic principles, including how carbohydrates and lipids are converted into energy and how they are biosynthesized.
• The function of biological membranes and the transport processes that occur across them.
• The chemical structures of nucleic acids, as well as information on RNA and DNA metabolism
• Protein synthesis, transcription, and replication

Learning outcome

Knowledge

• Can describe the structure and function of the biochemically important compounds carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Interpret the spatial structure of proteins, how enzymes work, and calculate enzyme kinetics.
• Explain energy turnover and metabolic processes.
• Can explain glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain, and lipid catabolism.
• Can explain photosynthesis, carbohydrate, and lipid anabolism.
• Can describe the synthesis of DNA (replication), synthesis of RNA (transcription) and protein synthesis (translation).

Skills

• Describe the chemical structure of biomolecules
• Be able to show the protein's spatial structure and the way enzymes work.
• Describe the energy turnover and metabolic processes.
• Discuss the biochemical processes of DNA replication, RNA transcription, and protein synthesis.
• Carry out simple biochemical experiments under guidance.
• Be able to interpret and describe in your own words the results from biochemical laboratory experiments in simple reports.

General competence

• Can explain biochemical topics.
• Can describe scientific results in their own words.

Learning methods and activities

Forms and activities for learning

Lectures and group-based exercises. Compulsory laboratory exercises with written reports. Submission of theoretical exercises.

Compulsory activities

Approved laboratory exercises and approved theoretical exercises.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory and theoretical exercises

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

It is assumed that the students have University level courses in general and organic chemistry.

Required previous knowledge

The students must have knowledge in chemistry equivalent to KJ1000, KJ1002, TMT4110, TMT4115 or TKJE1006.

Course materials

D.L. Nelson, & M.M. Cox: Lehninger. Principles of Biochemistry, E-book is available via Achieve Platform from Macmillan learning.

Credit reductions