Syllabus

Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals

CHEM 1050: Biochemistry

Credits - 4

Description

This online course serves as an introduction to the fundamental principles of biochemistry, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the chemical processes that occur within living organisms.  Students will explore the structure, function, and regulation of biological molecules, including proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.  This course will cover topics including metabolic pathways, enzymology, metabolism, and the integration of biochemical processes in cellular functions. 

Topics Covered:

1. Structure and functions of proteins and enzymes.
2. Enzymes: kinetics, mechanism, and regulation.
3. Bioenergetics.
4. Metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course the student will be able to:

• Appreciate the scope of biochemistry and its central role in the life sciences.
• Explain the physical properties of water.
• Define and apply pH, pKa, pI, and K.
• Provide examples of how each type of R group of the amino acids contributes to their chemical properties.
• Evaluate how enzymes facilitate chemical reactions and the necessity of metabolic cofactors or vitamins in these reactions; relate how enzyme activities and concentrations may be used in clinical diagnosis.
• Assess the different mechanisms by which hormones signal and influence metabolic pathways allowing for homeostasis within the body.
• Describe the metabolism of carbohydrates (glucose, galactose and fructose) and their role in generating ATP for the cell.
• Demonstrate an understanding of lipid metabolism, transport and storage in the fed and fasted conditions.
• Relate how amino acids are used in the processes of protein synthesis, precursors for synthesis of necessary compounds and as substrates for glucose production; determine the role of the urea cycle in coordinating amino acid catabolism and nitrogen disposal.
• Interpret the role and regulation of the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in normal physiological conditions and the changes that may occur.

SELF PACED DESIGN

On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.

Assignments

*Please review the academic integrity agreement below before completing any assignments to ensure they are completed in accordance with this policy and the requirements of each assessment outlined below.

Lectures

This course is designed to be completed in a 16-week period, just like an on-campus Biochemistry course.  One week in this online course is equivalent to three fifty-minute lectures in a traditional classroom setting. The general rule of studying for science courses is to spend three hours studying for every one hour that you are in class. Therefore, the suggested study time for each week is nine hours above and beyond the time it takes to listen to the lecture. Please refer to the schedule below for the suggested schedule of lectures. Students may complete the course in fewer than 16 weeks. With the exception of Weeks 8 and 16, each week consists of:

• Weekly objectives
• Textbook Reading
• Topic Lectures and associated slides
• Additional learning resources
• Weekly practice evaluation

Weekly Practice Evaluations

With the exception of Weeks 7 and 16, each week has an end-of-week evaluation. These are in the form of an 8-question multiple-choice quiz. These quizzes are timed, non-proctored and are closed book and closed notes. You will have 15 minutes to complete each quiz. The quizzes will be taken online through the Brightspace course site. These quizzes do not contribute to your final overall grade, but they must be completed.  The questions for these assessments are pulled from a pool of questions used for the formative Unit exams.  Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the formative Unit exams. You can only take each quiz once, and these assessments can be reviewed through Class Progress after completion.

Unit Exams

There are four proctored exams after Units 1 – 4. These exams consist of 15-20 questions and will be taken through Brightspace. These exams consist of material restricted to a single unit and contain questions very similar to the weekly quizzes. You will have up to 45 minutes to complete these exams and once started you must complete the assessment. Exams should be taken closed notes, closed books and in accordance with the academic integrity agreement. These can be reviewed through Class Progress after completion.

Discussion Board Posts

There are three required discussion board posts. Please see Brightspace for a full description of the assignment. This assessment is designed to help with critical thinking skills and to identify any key misconceptions you may have over the material.

Final Project

The biochemistry course will cover chapters 1 – 9, 11, 13, 14, 16 – 20, 22, 23, 25, and 26 in Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry textbook. For the final project, you will choose one of the remaining chapters to create a video presentation. For this presentation, you will become the teacher and present the chapter to your classmates in a video format presentation. You will then upload your video to YouTube.

It will be a 4 step Final Project.  

• Step 1 – due in Unit 1 is the chapter selection submission.
• Step 2 – due in Unit 2 is the outline submission.
• Step 3 – due in Unit 3 is the rough draft presentation submission.
• Step 4 – due in Unit 4 is the 10-minute video presentation submission.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Category	Points
Weekly Evaluations (14 required 8-question practice quizzes)	0
Unit 1 Exam	12.5
Unit 2 Exam	12.5
Unit 3 Exam	12.5
Unit 4 Exam	12.5
Discussions: 3 x 10 points	30
Final Project Unit 1: Chapter	0.5
Final Project Unit 2: Outline	0.5
Final Project Unit 3: Visuals	1
Final Project Unit 4: Video	18
Total	100

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00

Below is a general overview of the Units. For more a detailed outline please follow the weekly instructions within Brightspace.

UNIT 1 (Weeks 1 – 3)
Unit 1 Assessments Weekly Practice Evaluations Discussion Introduction and Video Practice Final Project Assignment for Unit 1 Unit 1 Exam
Weeks	Readings
Week 1: Biochemistry & Water	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 1 Chapter 2
Week 2: Amino Acids & Primary Structure Determination	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 3 Chapter 4
Week 3: Proteins: Higher Orders of Structure	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 5 SECTION: Four Orders of Protein Structure Secondary Structure
UNIT 2  (Weeks 4 – 7)
Unit 2 Assessments Weekly Practice Evaluations Discussion: Venn Diagram Final Project Assignment for Unit 2 Unit 2 Exam
Week 4: Basics of Enzymes and Clinical Uses	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 6 SECTION: The Allosteric Properties of Hemoglobins Result from their Quaternary Structures Chapter 7
Week 5: Enzyme Kinetics and Regulation	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Week 6: Free Energy and the Electron Transport Chain	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 11 Chapter 13
Week 7: Catch Up Week	No Additional Reading for Week 7
UNIT 3 (Weeks 8 – 11)
Unit 3 Assessments Weekly Practice Evaluations Discussion: Crossword Puzzle Final Project Assignment for Unit 3 Unit 3 Exam
Week 8: Overview of Metabolism and Hormone Signaling	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 14 Chapter 42
Week 9: Glycolysis and the TCA	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 16 Chapter 17
Week 10: Glycogen Synthesis, Degradation and Gluconeogenesis	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 18 Chapter 19
Week 11: Pentose Phosphate Pathway, Galactose and Fructose Metabolism	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 20
UNIT 4 (Weeks 12 – 16)
Unit 4 Assessments Weekly Practice Evaluations Final Project Submission Unit 4 Exam
Week 12: β-Oxidation and Ketogenesis	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 22 Chpter 25 – SECTION: Adipose Tissue is the Main Store of Triacylglycerol in the Body
Week 13: Fatty Acid Synthesis	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 23
Week 14: Lipoprotein Metabolism	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 25
Week 15: Cholesterol Synthesis and Regulation	Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry 31st edition Chapter 26
Week 16: Final Project and Catch Up Week	No Additional Reading for Week 16