Unit name | Biological Chemistry 1A: Molecules of Life |
---|---|
Unit code | BIOC10001 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Leo Brady |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
A-level Chemistry or equivalent strongly advised. |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Biochemistry |
Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
The key aim of this unit is to introduce and familiarise students with fundamental molecular concepts that underpin the study of life and biomedical sciences. These concepts will be presented within the reference frame of biological and biomedical applications. Key ideas include coverage of atoms found in organisms and their chemical and physical properties, how these atoms form bonds to build up biomolecules, chemical reactivity of biomolecules including mechanisms, and techniques for analysing the molecular and atomic properties of biomolecules. The content provides a foundation for students going on to take Biological Chemistry 1B (BIOC10002), in addition to all second year Biochemistry units and other Faculty of Life Sciences I-level units. The general aims of the unit are:
Lectures, small group tutorials, laboratory sessions, workshops and independent study. The e-Biolabs Dynamic Laboratory Manual provides important e-learning resource in advance of (and during) the laboratory sessions. A small amount of pre-tutorial online material will be provided to assist students with tutorial work. Online self test questions within e-Biolabs.
Breakdown of teaching delivery:
3 lectures per week for 10 weeks
3 practicals
3 workshops
2 tutorials
1 prepared essay
Summative examination at end of unit
Students will be:
(i) continuously assessed in laboratory work (formative and summative, 14%) [ILOs 1-7],
(ii) through an assessed calculation (identification of compounds from spectra – summative, 6%) [ILOs 1,2,4,5]
(iii) through a 600 word prepared essay (formative and summative, 10%) [ILO 8].
(iv) There will also be an end of unit 3-hour written examination comprising MCQs, calculations and short answer questions(summative , 70%); [ILOs 1-6, 8].
Chemistry for the Biosciences, 2nd edition, J Crowe and T Bradshaw, Oxford 2010 The Molecules of Life, 1st edition, J Kuriyan, B Konforti and D Wemmer, Garland Science, 2013.