Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics offers courses in biochemistry and biophysics.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
For questions about specific courses, contact the department.
Courses
Prerequisites: one year each of Introductory Biology and General Chemistry. Corequisites: Organic Chemistry. Primarily aimed at nontraditional students and undergraduates who have course conflicts with BIOC GU4501. Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes within organisms that give rise to the immense complexity of life. This complexity emerges from a highly regulated and coordinated flow of chemical energy from one biomolecule to another. This course serves to familiarize students with the spectrum of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, nucleic acids, etc.) as well as the fundamental chemical processes (glycolysis, citric acid cycle, fatty acid metabolism, etc.) that allow life to happen. In particular, this course will employ active learning techniques and critical thinking problem-solving to engage students in answering the question: how is the complexity of life possible? NOTE: While Organic Chemistry is listed as a corequisite, it is highly recommended that you take Organic Chemistry beforehand.
Course Number
BCHM3300W001Format
In-PersonPoints
3 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Tu 19:10-21:30Section/Call Number
001/13221Enrollment
78 of 80Instructor
Danny HoCourse Number
BCHM4250G001Format
In-PersonPoints
5 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Mo 16:00-17:30We 16:00-17:30Fr 16:00-17:30Section/Call Number
001/18229Enrollment
0 of 10Instructor
Arthur PalmerAlexander SobolevskyCourse Number
BCHM4323W001Format
In-PersonPoints
4 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Tu 13:10-14:25Th 13:10-14:25Section/Call Number
001/13231Enrollment
6 of 30Instructor
John HuntArthur PalmerIn this course, we will use virtual reality to explore the basic biochemistry of living systems and how this knowledge can be harnessed to create new medicines. We will learn how living systems convert environmental resources into energy through metabolism, and how they use this energy and these materials to build the molecules required for the diverse functions of life. We will discuss the applications of this biochemical knowledge to mechanisms of disease and to drug discovery. We will look at examples of drug discovery related to neurodegeneration, cancer, and the SARS-CoV-2 COVID19 pandemic. This course satisfies the requirement of most medical schools for introductory biochemistry, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, and beginning graduate students. This course is equivalent to and replaces the prior course named UN3501, and is equivalent to the course offered in the Fall semester. This course is a co-requiste to GU4501.
We will meet twice each week in Zoom (Tuesday and Thursday 2:30-5:15, BCHM GU4501) to discuss the course material. We will then meet Friday 9:30-10:30 each week in virtual reality, using the Spatial.io platform and an Oculus Quest headset. In VR, we will examine the 3D spatial concepts relevant to biochemistry, where you will be able to examine molecular structures in an immersive format.
Course Number
BCHM4505W001Points
0 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
We 14:30-15:30Section/Call Number
001/10353Enrollment
11 of 10Instructor
Brent StockwellHengrui LiuIn this course, we will use virtual reality to explore the basic biochemistry of living systems and how this knowledge can be harnessed to create new medicines. We will learn how living systems convert environmental resources into energy through metabolism, and how they use this energy and these materials to build the molecules required for the diverse functions of life. We will discuss the applications of this biochemical knowledge to mechanisms of disease and to drug discovery. We will look at examples of drug discovery related to neurodegeneration, cancer, and the SARS-CoV-2 COVID19 pandemic. This course satisfies the requirement of most medical schools for introductory biochemistry, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, and beginning graduate students. This course is equivalent to and replaces the prior course named UN3501, and is equivalent to the course offered in the Fall semester. This course is a co-requiste to GU4501.
We will meet twice each week in Zoom (Tuesday and Thursday 2:30-5:15, BCHM GU4501) to discuss the course material. We will then meet Friday 9:30-10:30 each week in virtual reality, using the Spatial.io platform and an Oculus Quest headset. In VR, we will examine the 3D spatial concepts relevant to biochemistry, where you will be able to examine molecular structures in an immersive format.
Course Number
BCHM4505W002Points
0 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Fr 09:30-10:30Section/Call Number
002/10355Enrollment
10 of 10Instructor
Brent StockwellHengrui LiuHow does life work on a molecular level? Why do we succumb to disease, and how can we create new cures? This course will explore the biochemistry of life and how this knowledge can be harnessed to create new medicines. You will learn how cells convert environmental resources into energy through metabolism, how cellular molecules function, and how to use this biochemical knowledge for drug discovery related to neurodegeneration, cancer, and the current SARS-CoV-2 COVID19 pandemic. At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to diagram the major metabolic pathways and compare how these pathways are dysregulated in normal tissues in and disease states, and to design your own drug discovery program to create therapeutic for diseases such as COVID-19. In addition, you will know what techniques are used to uncover biochemical knowledge and how to design and interpret relevant experiments. You will be capable of collaborating with other people in the analysis and interpretation of biochemical data, and be able to communicate, defend and refute interpretations of data. You will learn how to create an original research proposal in the form of a research grant application. Having completed one year of college-level biology and one year of organic chemistry will be helpful to maximally benefit from this course. This course satisfies the requirement of most medical schools for introductory biochemistry, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, and beginning graduate students; this replaces the previous UN3501 course.
Course Number
BCHM4511W001Format
In-PersonPoints
0 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Mo 17:30-18:30Section/Call Number
001/15480Enrollment
11 of 16Instructor
Brent StockwellHengrui LiuHow does life work on a molecular level? Why do we succumb to disease, and how can we create new cures? This course will explore the biochemistry of life and how this knowledge can be harnessed to create new medicines. You will learn how cells convert environmental resources into energy through metabolism, how cellular molecules function, and how to use this biochemical knowledge for drug discovery related to neurodegeneration, cancer, and the current SARS-CoV-2 COVID19 pandemic. At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to diagram the major metabolic pathways and compare how these pathways are dysregulated in normal tissues in and disease states, and to design your own drug discovery program to create therapeutic for diseases such as COVID-19. In addition, you will know what techniques are used to uncover biochemical knowledge and how to design and interpret relevant experiments. You will be capable of collaborating with other people in the analysis and interpretation of biochemical data, and be able to communicate, defend and refute interpretations of data. You will learn how to create an original research proposal in the form of a research grant application. Having completed one year of college-level biology and one year of organic chemistry will be helpful to maximally benefit from this course. This course satisfies the requirement of most medical schools for introductory biochemistry, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, and beginning graduate students; this replaces the previous UN3501 course.
Course Number
BCHM4511W002Format
In-PersonPoints
0 ptsFall 2022
Times/Location
Tu 17:45-18:45Section/Call Number
002/15481Enrollment
12 of 16Instructor
Brent StockwellHengrui LiuHow does life work on a molecular level? Why do we succumb to disease, and how can we create new cures? This course will explore the biochemistry of life and how this knowledge can be harnessed to create new medicines. You will learn how cells convert environmental resources into energy through metabolism, how cellular molecules function, and how to use this biochemical knowledge for drug discovery related to neurodegeneration, cancer, and the current SARS-CoV-2 COVID19 pandemic. At the conclusion of the course, you will be able to diagram the major metabolic pathways and compare how these pathways are dysregulated in normal tissues in and disease states, and to design your own drug discovery program to create therapeutic for diseases such as COVID-19. In addition, you will know what techniques are used to uncover biochemical knowledge and how to design and interpret relevant experiments. You will be capable of collaborating with other people in the analysis and interpretation of biochemical data, and be able to communicate, defend and refute interpretations of data. You will learn how to create an original research proposal in the form of a research grant application. Having completed one year of college-level biology and one year of organic chemistry will be helpful to maximally benefit from this course. This course satisfies the requirement of most medical schools for introductory biochemistry, and is suitable for advanced undergraduates, and beginning graduate students; this replaces the previous UN3501 course.