This laboratory course is a co-requisite for General Chemistry – 1110.
One three hour laboratory meeting per week and a total of 15 meetings per semester.
This course adopts an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the fundamentals of biochemistry, including an introduction to the basic concepts and most common research methods. The focus will be upon the major macromolecules and chemical properties of the living systems. The goal is the development of an integrated appreciation of how biomolecules act and interact to catalyze reactions, to synthesize and degrade biomolecules, and utilize or release energy. Both catabolic and biosynthetic pathways will be discussed. The biochemistry underlying the conversion of information contained in DNA to cellular macromolecules through replication, transcription and translation will be covered. Primary topics include the structure, function and metabolism of amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids and lipids; the physical properties of water, pH, buffers and enzyme kinetics; DNA replication and gene regulation.
