CHEM 327

Biochemistry Laboratory

2 Undergraduate credits
Effective January 12, 2015 – Present

Graduation requirements this course fulfills

This lecture/laboratory course exposes students to modern techniques in biochemistry. The course is part of a year-long biochemistry series that broadly cover the study of chemical processes in living organisms. Biochemical techniques covered include bench chemistry techniques, chromatography techniques, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, protein purification and characterization, protein assay techniques, and spectrophotometry. Students also carry out semester-end research project in which they apply the techniques they learned in the first part of the semester.

Prerequisites

Special information

Note: First day attendance required except by instructor permission.

Learning outcomes

General

  • Understand the differences between anabolic and catabolic processes in metabolism
  • Known photosynthesis reaction
  • Know the genetic code and the concepts of translation and transcription
  • Know how recombinant DNA works
  • Know the differences between RNA and DNA
  • Understand the mechanism of DNA repair and its relationship to diseases
  • Know the structure of viral particles and their mechanism of infection
  • Understand the concept of gene expression and genomic reorganization
  • Use knowledge from organic chemistry reaction mechanism to follow metabolic pathways
  • Be able to describe how anabolic and catabolic processes are coupled to energetics from ATP hydrolysis
  • Understand redox and electron transfer reactions in biological systems
  • Understand that reaction coordinate diagrams are useful for thermodynamics of coupling anabolic and catabolic processes in metabolism
  • Know and understand the Calvin cycle
  • Flow the fate of precursors and radioactive labels in metabolic reactions
  • Relate glycogen and glycolysis metabolism to diseases and their treatment
  • Identify enzymes involved in metabolic pathways