General provisions

The content, length and level of the education are regulated by chapter 1, section 9 of the Higher Education Act 1 (1992:1434), by the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), and by the Ordinance on changes to the Higher Education Ordinance (2006:1053). The course is given in semester 1 and 2 in biomedical laboratory science programme and consists of theoretical studies and practical proficiency training. The aim of the course is that the students acquire the bases in biochemistry and molecular biology and corresponding methodology, that is required for an understanding of later courses in the program.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements and Biology 2, Physics 1a/1b1+1b2, Chemistry 2, Mathematics 3b/3c or Biology B, Physics A, Chemistry B, Mathematics C

Learning outcomes

Skills and abilities

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• carry out various types of practical laboratory work (chemical, biochemical and molecular genetic) in a safe way by means of oral and written laboratory instructions, and be able to analyse, interpret and present the results and the theoretical background in forms of different laboratory reports
• use his/her theoretical knowledge about different chemical/biochemical concepts and about important compounds and reactions and of the properties of solutions to explain the biochemical background of different chemical and biological phenomena or processes
• carry out some simple searches in relevant databases
• carry out quantitative calculations for e g stoichiometry, spectrophotometry, acid/base equilibria

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• account for the principles behind, illustrate applications of and discuss advantages and disadvantages with different methods/methodology that has been taken up during the course (chemical, biochemical and molecular genetic)
• account for basic chemical concept such as chemical binding, reversible processes, chemical equilibria and thermodynamics
• account for the most important functional groups and their properties in organic chemistry and basic organic nomenclature including stereochemical descriptors.
• identify the most common biochemical building blocks and macromolecules and explain relationships between structure and function for these molecules and how their properties influence analysis of the molecules
• explain how enzymes work and how enzyme activity is affected (in vivo and in vitro) and analysed (enzyme kinetics) and how enzymes can be used for analytical purposes
• describe the general structure of cell membranes and identify and compare various types of transport over membranes.
• account for the biochemical information transfer i.e. the processes replication, transcription and translation and explain how the processes are controlled and regulated and further be able to discuss differences in these processes and the genome organisation between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
• explain and illustrate how differences at the genetic level can give effects at the biological level.
• describe how biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) are turned over in living cells and how the processes are regulated normally and under certain pathological conditions
• present the energy production/consumption in different metabolic pathways and explain how an energy-wasting loop between biosynthesis and degradation is prevented/regulated

Content

Subcourse 1

The table of the elements and the chemistry of the most important elements, the occurrence of the elements, their chemical speciation in the human body, isotope theory, solubility and complex formation. Basic acid-base theory, titrimetric curves, isoelectric point, buffer capacity. Stoichiometry, chemical equilibria, chemical binding, dissociation constants. Structure and reactivity of important organic molecules. Chemical properties of amino acids, lipids and carbohydrates. The basics in quantitative analytical work. Analytical methods based on spectroscopy within the UV and visible light spectrum. Basic thermodynamics, enthalpy, entropy, free energy, coupled reactions, the role of ATP in biological systems. Structure, function and kinetics of enzymes. Membranes and transport. Antibody-based methods. Markers. Separation, purification and analysis of biomolecules.

Subcourse 2

Chemical properties of nucleic acids. Biosynthesis of DNA, RNA and protein. Genotype and phenotype. Usage and design of pro- and eukaryotic vectors. Enzymes as tools in gene technology. Cloning of DNA. PCR. Current techniques based on DNA and RNA. Proteomics. Ethics.

Subcourse 3

High-energetic molecules. Energy metabolism in the cell. The metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and amino acids. Nutrition.

Instruction

The teaching is in the form of lectures, web-based teaching, laboratory sessions, group work and seminars. For laboratory work, it is required that the student is familiar with safety regulations.

Assessment

Examination is arranged as individual examination. An examination of practical skills is also included. approved laboratory sessions and other compulsory parts are also required for the grade pass, and where appropriate participation at demonstrations and study visits.

Students who have not passed the examination have a right to attend 4 additional examinations (i.e. 5 examinations in total). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee may admit additional examinations. Every time the student participates in an examination counts, i.e. also submission of a so called blank exam.