BSc Molecular Biology with Industrial/Professional Experience / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Chemistry of Biological Processes (E)

Course unit fact file
Unit code CHEM31812
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 3
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course is primarily intended for Biochemistry students. To outline the basic principles of (bio)chemistry that will be relevant to an understanding of key biological structures and processes and to understand how it can be applied.

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Chemistry of Biomolecules CHEM21162 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
BIOL31812 Pre & Co-requisites are CHEM21162

None. It is however recommended that students taking this unit have an A grade in Chemistry at AS level as a minimum, CHEM21162 is also strongly recommended.

Aims

This course is primarily intended for Biochemistry students. To outline the basic principles of (bio)chemistry that will be relevant to an understanding of key biological structures and processes and to understand how it can be applied.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students should be able to:

Describe:

  • Complex biochemical processes from a chemistry perspective: what are the challenges, what are the solutions used by Nature?

Explain:

  • The application of biochemistry/biotechnology with respect to antibiotics, biofuels, and biocatalysis applications.

Develop:

  • Communications skills: communicate complex information effectively and concisely using the appropriate chemical and biochemical terminology, and chemical structure drawings
  • Problem-solving skills: apply the knowledge gained to deduce the likely properties of particular enzymes/enzyme active sites.

Syllabus

Voet and Voet Biochemistry and selected publication provided during lectures.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Communications skills: communicate complex information effectively and concisely with the understanding of biochemistry from a biologist’s point of view.
  • Problem-solving skills: apply the knowledge gained from combining chemistry and biology for new (industrial) applications.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written exam 80%
Set exercise 20%

Feedback methods

Feedback during the lectures and also using the online course review self-evaluation form.

Recommended reading

  • Agapakis, C.M., Designing synthetic biology
  • Baltz 2006 J Ind Microbiol Biotech.
  • Medema et al 2011 NRM.
  • Poust S et al Curr Opin Biotechnol 2014.
  • Voet and Voet Biochemistry Part III, Mechanisms of Enzyme Action (Chapters 13-15 in 4th Ed), Part IV, Metabolism (Chapters 17, 21, 22 in 4th Ed)

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Assessment written exam 2
Lectures 21
Tutorials 6
Independent study hours
Independent study 71

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Eriko Takano Unit coordinator

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