CHEM410- Biochemistry Course Information
Spring 2013

Meeting Time: 8:00-8:50 am M-W-F (4 credits)
Meeting Place: ECAM J101
Instructor: Dr. Jackie Whitling
Professor of Chemistry
Office: 304B Ulmer Hall or Honors 23
Phone: 570-484-3045
e-mail: jwhitlin@lhup.edu
URL:
http://www.lhup.edu/jwhitlin/home.htm

Please check the website on a regular basis for important information regarding updates or changes to the laboratory schedule/experiments. An outline will be posted prior to the start of each chapter. If you have questions, don't hesitate to e-mail or call me.

Office Hours:
Monday: 9:30 - 11:00 am Honors 23
Thursday: 10:00 - 11:00 am Honors 23; 2:00 - 3:00 pm Ulmer 304B
Friday: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Ulmer 304B

(Office Hours also available by appointment but please note that approximately 1 hour before each lab, I will be unavailable due to the prep time required for the lab.)

Required Materials: (does not include items for laboratory)

  • Text: D.L. Nelson and M.M. Cox, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 6th Ed., W.H. Freeman & Co., New York, 2013.
    ISBN 9781429234146
  • LHU e-mail account
Tentative Lecture and Exam Schedule*
*Note: there are two Saturdays on the Spring Academic Calendar that may be used as make-up days

Chapter

Title

Date(s)

 

Course Introduction

Jan 28

1

The Foundations of Biochemistry

Jan 28 - Feb 4*
*Wednesday, Jan 30 - class meets from 8:00 to 8:40; following compressed schedule for MLK, Jr. celebration

2

Water

Feb 6 - Feb 15

13

Bioenergetics & Biochemical Reaction Types

Feb 15 - Feb 20

3

Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins

Feb 20 - Mar 4

 

Exam I (Chapters 1- 2; 13)

Monday, Feb 25

4

The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins

Mar 4 - Mar 6

5

Protein Function

Mar 8 - Mar 11

6

Enzymes

Mar 13 - Apr 1

 

NO CLASSES- Spring Break

Mar 18 - Mar 22

 

Exam II (Chapters 3-5)

Friday, Mar 29

 7

Carbohydrates & Glycobiology

Apr 1 - Apr 3

8

Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids

Apr 5 - Apr 8

10

Lipids

Apr 8 - Apr 10

11

Biological Membranes & Transport

Apr 12 - Apr 19

 

Exam III (Chapters 6, 7, 8, 10)

Monday, Apr 22

14 & 15

Glycolysis & Principles of Metabolic Regulation

Apr 22 - May 3

 

Celebration of Scholarship

Apr 24*
*Classes follow a Friday schedule. Lecture will be held on the 24th. There will be a COS assignment in place of the laboratories this week. More details will follow. Please do not schedule work or other activities on this date. April 26th classes follow a Wednesday schedule.

16

The Citric Acid Cycle

May 6 - May 10

 

FINAL EXAM (11, 14, 15, 16 and partially cumulative)

Tuesday, May 14, 8:00 am - 9:50 am

Grading Policy:

Exams*:

Three 1 hour exams

100 points each

Subtotal: 300 pts

Final exam (partially cumulative)

 

150 points

Subtotal: 150 pts

Assignments:

Five to ten throughout the semester

5 - 10 points each

Subtotal: 75 pts

Laboratory*:

Subtotal: 175 pts

 

 

Total:

700 points

*- Essay portions of examinations and most laboratory reports will be graded in accord with the standards for writing emphasis for this course. A copy of the evaluation rubric will be provided in lab. Students will have the opportunity to view several samples of scientific work, obtain advice from the writing center, and critique from the instructor. In the laboratory, students will also have the opportunity to rewrite one report designated by the instructor.

The +/- system will be used in this course.

94-100 = A 90-93 = A-

87-89 = B+ 84-86 = B 80-83 = B-

77-79 = C+ 74-76 = C 70-73 = C-

67-69 = D+ 60-66 = D E = 0-59

Expectations: Each student is responsible for completing all course requirements and for keeping up with all activities of the course (whether a student is present or not). Students are required to read daily assignments and complete assigned exercises. Class participation is expected. Please notify me in advance if you are going to miss a class or exam date (or as soon as possible afterwards). It is your responsibility to get the lecture notes missed, turn in any assignments or make up any examinations.

Attendance: A valid University approved excuse must be provided if a laboratory or examination period is missed. No makeups will be granted without an approved excuse. Submission of late materials may be subject to reduction in point value (10% per week late).

Academic Dishonesty Policy: Plagiarism on any assignments, examinations, and laboratory reports will be graded as a zero and could result in failure of the course. Refer to the University Student Handbook on academic dishonesty policies.

Students with Disabilities Reasonable Accommodations: Students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss requests for reasonable accommodations with the professor at the beginning of the semester. In order for accommodations to be provided, your disability must be verified and documented. Please contact Dr. Heather Fowler (484-2926, Russell 104, hfowler@lhup.edu) and the secretary for Disability Services for Students, Jean Mason (484-2665, Russell 112, jmason@lhup.edu) for assistance.

Electronic Device Policy: Out of courtesy, students are not permitted to use cell phones, headsets, or other electronic devices at any time during the class unless authorized by the instructor or disability services. Please turn off all devices and remove headsets prior to the start of class.

Incement Weather Schedule: Please refer to the University website for inclement weather information and compressed schedule. http://www.lhup.edu/weather.htm

Emergency: In the event of an emergency, please dial 9-911.

Prerequisites: CHEM221 or CHEM205

Description of Course: Provides an introduction to modern biochemistry at the molecular level. Emphasis will be given to the structure and function of the major classes of biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids) and the bioenergetics of metabolic pathways. The laboratory portion will include the application of modern biochemical methods of analysis to the problems of: purification and characterization of biomolecules, quantitative measurement of enzyme activities, and the evaluation of metabolic processes.

Additional Information: This course is required for students majoring in Chemistry, Biology/Chemistry, Chemistry/Secondary Education and Cellular/Organismal Biology. It is an elective for other Biology majors.

This course has been approved as a writing emphasis overlay for the semester in progress. A portion of the student's grade will reflect their writing ability. See grading policy for more information.

The official course syllabus has also been updated to reflect standards of various accrediting agencies (i.e. NCATE, NSTA, PDE, and ACS).

Course Goals: (from Section VII of official syllabus)

Course Learning Outcomes (Objectives)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Program Student Learning Outcomes

University-level Student Learning Outcomes

Understand the historical development of the field of biochemistry.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Compare and contrast the chemical bonding and molecular structures of the major classes of biomolecules using knowledge of these concepts from Principles of Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Critical Thinking

Determine the chemical and physical properties of the major classes of biomolecules by drawing on knowledge from Principles of Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Critical Thinking

Relate structure, function and cellular location of the major classes of biomolecules.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Apply concepts of chemical equilibrium learned in Principles of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis to biochemical reactions.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Critical Thinking

Analyze kinetic and thermodynamic data for chemical reactions within biochemical pathways.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Critical Thinking

Describe the basic metabolic processes in which each class of biomolecule participates.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Understand the regulation of these metabolic processes.

Students will demonstrate content knowledge in five fundamental areas of chemistry (inorganic, organic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Perform basic biochemical methods, which includes design/modification of experiments, collection of data, and analysis of data.

Students will display proficiency in fundamental laboratory skills including safety and the use of instrumentation & computers.

Students will apply ethical principles of the discipline in regard to the treatment of experimental data, use of sources, and collaboration with colleagues.

Critical Thinking

Ethics

Demonstrate safe laboratory practices.

Students will display proficiency in fundamental laboratory skills including safety and the use of instrumentation & computers.

Knowledge-Natural Sciences

Construct and write technical reports after careful analysis of the data.

Students will effectively communicate scientific results in written form.

Students will effectively communicate scientific results in oral form.

Written

Critical Thinking