BIOCHEM I-STRUCTURE/METABOLISM

4.00 points · University catalogue

Undergraduates should register for BIOC UN3501 . In this course, we will study the chemistry of living systems. We will discuss how living systems convert environmental resources into energy, and how they use this energy and these materials to build the molecules required for the diverse functions of life. Finally, we will discuss the applications of such biochemical knowledge to mechanisms of disease and to drug discovery. At a high level, we expect that at the conclusion of the course, you should be able to explain the basic mechanisms by which living systems harness energy from their environment, how living systems construct the molecules necessary for the functions of life, how these processes go awry in a variety of disease, including cancer, and how drugs can be discovered to treat such diseases. Using this knowledge, you will be able to diagram the major metabolic pathways and compare how these pathways are dysregulated in normal tissues in and disease states. In addition, you will learn which techniques are used to uncover this knowledge and how to design and interpret experiments that will address these questions. You will also collaborate with other students in the analysis and interpretation of biochemical data, and be able to communicate, defend and refute interpretations of data. In this course, we assume familiarity with basic concepts of modern biology, so having completed one year of college-level biology is required. In addition, we explore the reaction mechanisms governing a variety of transformations in metabolism. You must have completed one year of organic chemistry prior to taking this course.