BIOCHEMISTRY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Basics of general and organic chemistry.
Learning will be assessed through an oral exam, lasting about half an hour per student, asking two questions, on topics taken from two sections of the course.
Evaluation criteria: the maximum mark is thirty (x/30). Theoretical contents acquired and the ability to present and summarize the contents with an appropriate language will be considered.
The correctness of the content and terminology is considered a fundamental requirement for passing the exam.
The ability to analyze and integrate the topics will be taken into consideration to reach the maximum mark.
The aim of the course is to give students the basics of biochemistry and molecular biology necessary for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the life sciences. The course aims to integrate with other courses, providing basic knowledge for understanding the biochemical effects on living beings (in particular on humans) of natural and chemical-industrial hazards.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1) Classify the molecular constituents of living cells and describe their chemical-physical properties.
2) Clarify the processes by which living beings obtain and use free energy (metabolism).
3) Recognize the basics of cellular biochemistry for understanding the integration of metabolic processes within the cell.
The course (6 CFU) is divided into 3 sections:
1) Descriptive biochemistry, biomolecules:
- Nucleotides and nucleic acids
- Amino acids and proteins; structure and function of proteins
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids; composition of biological membranes.
2) Enzymes and metabolism:
- Bases of enzymatic catalysis, kinetics, inhibition and regulation
- Glucose catabolism, glycogen metabolism and gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation
- Photosynthesis
- Metabolism of fatty acids
3) Cellular biochemistry:
- Gene expression
- Biosignalling
- Integration and regulation of metabolism
Suggested books:
Voet, Voet, Pratt, Fundamentals of Biochemistry, Zanichelli.
Other biochemistry reference texts such as:
Nelson, Cox, Lehninger's principles of biochemistry, Zanichelli.
For basic topics on cell biology: Alberts et al., Molecular biology of the cell, Zanichelli.
All topics will be present in the course slides, used during the lessons and made available to students.
Some texts for further study are available at the teacher's office, for consultation and / or loan.
The teaching is offered through lectures (48 hours). The didactic material (presentations, links, scientific articles) will be made available to students before each lesson through the e-learning platform. With the help of images, diagrams, graphs, the student will be guided to understand the different, but integrated, cellular biochemical processes.
The lecturer encourages the participation of students, through moments of discussion and shared analysis of the topics presented. In particular, to request clarification as soon as any topic is not clear, so as not to compromise the understanding of subsequent topics. Therefore, during the explanation, students are invited to ask questions, to request for clarification or further information.
Attending students are required to proceed with the independent study of the reference texts, following the detailed program provided at the beginning of the course.
Non-attending students are required to study the texts indicated in the bibliography; they will be able to access the dedicated e-learning page to consult the materials produced by the lecturer, like the attending students. Furthermore, non-attending students who wish to have clarifications are invited to contact the lecturer for an appointment during reception hours.
The lecturer is available for further information and explanations, every day from Monday to Friday from 9 to 18, by appointment, by writing an email to tiziana.alberio@uninsubria.it
The meeting can take place in person (third floor office, via Manara, 7, Busto Arsizio) or using the Teams platform, individually or in small groups, if more than one student requests the same clarifications.