As a natural science, biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes that drive biological systems. This course explores the basic principles of biochemistry and develops the student’s appreciation and understanding of biological networks.
CHEM 301 focuses on the understanding of biochemical processes in the context of chemical principles; and the importance of research design and application in the investigation of questions in biochemistry. Because the field of biochemistry is continually evolving and touches many areas of cell biology, this course also includes an elementary introduction to the study of molecular biology.
Outline
Unit 1: Cells, Water, and Buffers
Lesson 1: Introduction to Biochemistry and Biochemical Research Literature
Lesson 2: Cells: The Bio of Biochemistry
Lesson 3: Water
Lesson 4: pH and Buffers
Unit 2: Energy
Lesson 1: Energy Reactions
Lesson 2: Thermodynamics
Lesson 3: Cellular Phosphorylations and Electron Transport
Lesson 4: Energy Efficiency
Lesson 5: Metabolic Controls
Unit 3: Structure and Function
Lesson 1: Proteins
Lesson 2: Nucleic Acids
Lesson 3: Carbohydrates
Lesson 4: Lipids
Lesson 5: Membranes and Transport
Lesson 6: Vitamins and Cofactors
Unit 4: Catalysis
Lesson 1: Activation Energy
Lesson 2: Enzyme Catalysis
Lesson 3: Enzyme Kinetics
Lesson 4: Enzyme Inhibition
Lesson 5: Control of Enzymes
Unit 5: Flow of Genetic Information
Lesson 1: DNA Replication
Lesson 2: DNA Repair
Lesson 3: Transcription
Lesson 4: Regulation of Transcription
Lesson 5: RNA Processing
Lesson 6: Translation
Unit 6: Metabolism I
Lesson 1: Overview of Metabolic Concepts
Lesson 2: Glycolysis, Fermentation, and Gluconeogenesis
Lesson 3: Citric Acid and Glyoxylate Cycles
Lesson 4: Acetyl-CoA and Cholesterol Metabolism
Lesson 5: Ketone Bodies
Lesson 6: Fatty Acid Oxidation and Synthesis
Unit 7: Metabolism II
Lesson 1: Carbohydrate Storage and Breakdown
Lesson 2: Pentose Phosphate Pathway
Lesson 3: Calvin Cycle
Lesson 4: Urea Cycle
Lesson 5: Nitrogen Fixation
Lesson 6: Amino Acid Metabolism and Catabolism
Lesson 7: Nucleotide Metabolism and de novo Biosynthesis
Unit 8: Signaling
Lesson 1: Cell Signaling
Lesson 2: Ligand-gated Ion Channel Receptors
Lesson 3: Nuclear Hormone Receptors
Lesson 4: G-protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
Lesson 5: Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs)
Unit 9: Biochemical Techniques
Lesson 1: Cell Disruption and Fractionation
Lesson 2: Chromatography
Lesson 3: Electrophoresis
Lesson 4: Blotting
Lesson 5: DNA Techniques
Unit 10: Synthesis of Concepts in Biochemistry
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to
describe the organization of a eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell.
explain the synthesis of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates and their role in metabolic pathways.
describe the function of vitamins and cofactors, and provide examples of each group.
use graphical techniques to analyze and describe simple, unimolecular enzyme activities.
explain the chemical differences between DNA and RNA.
describe nucleic acid structures, replication, transcription and translation.
explain the major differences and similarities between the synthesis of DNA and that of RNA.
describe how eukaryotic protein synthesis is controlled.
apply the genetic code to translate mRNA sequences into (protein) amino acid sequences.
Evaluation
To receive credit for CHEM 301, the student must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least D (50 percent) on each of the assignments and examinations. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1
20%
Midterm Online Exam
25%
Assignment 2
20%
Final Online Exam
35%
Total
100%
The midterm and final examinations for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
This course either does not have a course package or the textbooks are open-source material and available to students at no cost. This course has a Course Administration and Technology Fee, but students are not charged the Course Materials Fee.
Biochemistry Free and Easy, Version 3.0 (2012/2013) by Dr. Kevin Ahern and Dr. Indira Rajagopal. (Online)
Other materials
All other materials are available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the CHEM 301 challenge registration, you must achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
The challenge examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.