Module BIOL3371: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (NS)

Department: BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

BIOL3371: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (NS)

Prerequisites

• Biochemistry (BIOL2191), Molecular Biology (BIOL2201).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To promote an understanding of contemporary research areas in biochemistry.
• Demonstrate how biochemical questions can be investigated.
• the basis of appropriate experimental techniques and how data acquired from these can be used to build and test models for the molecular understanding of biological processes.
• Promote an understanding of advanced bioinformatics to retrieve and interpret biological data.
• A supervised investigation of an area within Biological Sciences where knowledge obtained by literature source is important.

Content

• The rationale and approaches used in examples of current research in biochemistry will be investigated.
• This will include the influence of developments in technology on data acquisition and the possible approaches that can be used to investigate biochemical problems.
• The primary research literature will be used to illustrate the ways in which data is generated and used to build models for the molecular understanding of biological processes.
• Examples of areas that may be investigated are: Protein complexity and covalent modifications.
• Protein interactions and substrate channelling in metabolism.
• Cole perception and signal transduction.
• Engineering fatty acid metabolism.
• Biodegradable polymers.
• Secondary metabolism.
• Advanced Bioinformatics will include: Relationships between protein structure and function.
• Uses in rational protein design.
• Internet databases.
• Searching and interpreting specific databases.
• Composite and secondary databases.
• Virtual reality modelling.
• Structural biology databases: use in defining structure-function relationships.

Learning Outcomes

• Students should be able to: Appreciate some current areas of biochemical research.

• Interpret experimental results in areas of biochemistry and comment on these: Understand the limitations and possibilities of new technologies in biochemistry.
• Rationalise approaches which can be used to solve a biochemical problem dependent on the knowledge base available.
• Use appropriate bioinformatics procedures to retrieve and interpret biological data and know how to.

• Extract, compile and review relevant scientific information from various sources and evaluate them critically.
• Acquire, interpret and critically analyse experimental data and present the results effectively.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• MCQs are appropriate as a revision aid and to demonstrate knowledge acquisition.
• The data handling exercise will show the ability to interpret data and develop presentation skills.
• Examinations will be used to test understanding of current research areas and methodologies within Biochemistry.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

MCQs to assess knowledge.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University