BMB837: Conversion class in biochemistry and molecular biology
Study Board of Science
Teaching language: Danish or English depending on the teacher, but English if international students are enrolled
EKA: N210018112, N210018102
Assessment: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: External
Grading: Pass/Fail, 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master
STADS ID (UVA): N210018101
ECTS value: 10
Date of Approval: 25-04-2019
Duration: 1 semester
Version: Archive
Comment
01016801 (former UVA) is identical with this course description.
The course cannot be chosen by students who: have taken FF503, FF504 or FF507.
The course cannot be chosen by students who: have taken FF503, FF504 or FF507.
Entry requirements
Academic preconditions
Course introduction
The course is a “conversion class” for students with a bachelor degree in computer science, mathematics, or similar. The course will provide the student with basic knowledge of chemistry, biochemistry and cell biology at a university level, and illustrate the intersection of the fields.
The course will, based on the chemistry, give an introduction to central biological topics within cell biology. The course will focus on the organic chemistry of biological macromolecules and general concepts and regulatory mechanisms in biochemistry and molecular biology.
The course is for computational biomedicine students who have a background in computer science, math or similar and builds on the competences acquired from these studies. The course gives the necessary chemical and biological foundation to study more advanced biochemistry and molecular biology topics, as well as integrate these with other relevant fields.
In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:
- Give knowledge and understanding of theories and experimental methods within the central fields of biochemistry, molecular biology and biomedicine.
- Give knowledge of the scientific terminology, within the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology
- Give the competence to understand how scientific knowledge is produced via theory and experiment.
- Give skills to investigate specific biological phenomena theoretically and experimentally.
Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:
- Describe the cell and the function of vital organelles
- Describe cell division
- Explain the meaning of different types of chemical bonds
- Identify simple molecules and ions
- Use Le Chateliers principle of chemical equilibrium and carry out calculations of pH
- Read and write organic structure formulas and recognize functional groups
- Use the principles of chemical nomenclature for simple organic molecules
- Explain the terms hydrophil and hydrophobe, recognize molecules with these properties and relate these terms to structure and organization
- Name common functional groups in organic molecules account for their reactions
- Recognize and name functional groups in biological macromolecules.
- Show non-covalent forces in biological macromolecules and account for the importance of the forces on structure
- Know the common chemical reactions in metabolic pathways
- Account for the flow of genetic information in a cell, including the regulation of gene expression.
- Integrate knowledge from chemistry, biology and biochemistry.
- Relate theoretical knowledge to practical experiments and observations
Content
The following main topics are contained in the course:
- Cell structure and biomembranes
- Cell cycle, meiosis and mitosis
- Concepts of chemical binding and molecular structure
- Hydrocarbons, functional groups and nomenclature
- Hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties
- Chemical equilibrium, including acids and bases
- Organic chemical groups and their reactions
- Biological macromolecules, structure and function
- Metabolism
- Information flow from gene to protein
Literature
Examination regulations
Exam element a)
Timing
Autumn
Tests
Mandatory assignments
EKA
N210018112
Assessment
Second examiner: None
Grading
Pass/Fail
Identification
Full name and SDU username
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
To be announced during the course
ECTS value
3
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Exam element b)
Timing
January
Tests
Written examination
EKA
N210018102
Assessment
Second examiner: External
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card
Language
Normally, the same as teaching language
Examination aids
Allowed, a closer description of the exam rules will be posted under 'Course Information' on Blackboard.
ECTS value
7
Additional information
The examination form for re-examination may be different from the exam form at the regular exam.
Indicative number of lessons
Teaching Method
This course will be conducted as a study group, where the topics will be dependent on the prior knowledge of the students.
Activities during the sudy phase: Work in study groups
Teacher responsible
| Name | Department | |
|---|---|---|
| Ole Nørregaard Jensen | jenseno@bmb.sdu.dk | Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi |
| Raymond P. Cox | r.p.cox@bmb.sdu.dk | Institut for Biokemi og Molekylær Biologi |