Biochemistry

This course is the second introductory course in the Biology major. In it students will continue to explore the principles of biology established in the first semester course, but within the narrower focus of a topic that varies by instructor. Besides mastering course content, students will also develop some of the skills of successful scientists, such as critically reading scientific literature, learning the basic conventions of writing in biology, or interpreting experimental data.

An introduction to the theory and methodology of molecular biology. The transition from DNA to RNA to protein will be explored along with a basic toolkit of laboratory techniques that are used in their analysis. There will also be an introduction to bioinformatics and genomics.

This course introduces the fundamental theories of physical chemistry within the context of biological systems and highlights how physical chemistry can be used to gain insight into biochemical and biological systems. The topics discussed include thermodynamics and its application to energy flow in biological cells, kinetics of life processes, quantum mechanics and how it explains the structure of atoms, molecules, and macromolecules such as proteins, and finally biochemical spectroscopy that is used to reveal the molecular structure. The associated laboratory will utilize biological systems to explore the concepts covered in lecture.

Presentation of laboratory or literature findings on current topics of chemical interest by students, faculty, and visiting lecturers. This course is the Capstone Experience in Chemistry and is required of all senior Chemistry and Biochemistry majors and Exercise Chemistry dual majors.