COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course focuses on the chemical properties, structures, reactions, and biological functions of
macromolecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. In addition, an
introduction to enzymes, vitamins, and hormones and their chemistry in living systems will also
be covered. Laboratories provide hands-on experience in biochemistry fundamentals, the
interface between molecules and materials, and the characterization of biomolecules.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
A.Recognize the major types of chemical bonds.
B.Describe the concepts of pH, buffers and the difference between acids and bases.
C.Identify and characterize carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids.
D.Recognize the structures and functions of major biomolecules in living system.
E.Classify enzymes and explain the terminology used with them.
F.Recognize general functions of hormones.
G.Identify the types of vitamins and their importance to human body
H.Develop familiarity with biochemical laboratory instrumentations and techniques.
I-Introduction:
1- Definition
2- Biological Structures
3- Chemical bonds
4- Properties of water
II- Carbohydrates
1- Monosaccharides
2- Disaccharides
3- Polysaccharides
4- Digestion of carbohydrates
III- Amino acids
1- Structures and general properties
2- Peptide bonds
3- Classifications and characteristics
4- Acidic basic properties
IV- Proteins
1- Primary structures
2- Secondary structures
3- Tertiary structures
4- Quaternary structures
V- Lipids and Membranes
1- Lipid classification
2- Properties of lipid aggregates
3- Biological membranes
4- Membrane assembly and protein targeting
5- Lipoproteins
VI- Nucleotides and Nucleosides and Bases
1- The chemical structures of DNA and RNA
VII- Introduction to
1- Enzymes
2- Hormones
3- Vitamins
Text books& References
• Bettelheim, F. (2007). Introduction to general, organic, and Biochemistry (8th
ed). Belmont, Thomson Brooks/Cole. ISBN-13: 978-0-495-01197-2
• Biochemistry, Campbell and Farrell, 5th edition. Publisher 2006
• Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry, edition. Publisher 2008
TEACHING LEARNING STRATEGIES:
• To do well, students should attend class and take very detailed notes. You should rely on
your lecture notes rather than the text as your primary study resource.
• You will be responsible for everything covered in lecture, but not responsible for
material that is covered in the text but not in lecture. It is not possible to cover all the
topics in the text. To get most out of the lectures, it is recommended you read the text
before lecture, and then reread the text in more detail after the lecture to make sure
you understand all concepts. The lectures move quite rapidly, so reading the text before
lecture will improve your comprehension. Always go over your lecture notes within a
day of the lecture.
POLICIES:
• Attendance & Tardiness:
• • Any student missing a class/classes will be counted absent and her absence will fall
within the 25% absence range
• • It is the student’s responsibility to make sure she is not missing any exam, quizzes or
any other course class assignments. All students are responsible for work missed during
their absence. The course instructor is NOT obliged to repeat her lecture or coursework
missed by the student due to her absence.
• Students are expected to meet the following:
• • Be punctual in coming to class. You will be marked absent if you enter the class after
five minutes of starting time.
• •Absenteeism for more than 25% of allocated course lectures, will entitle the instructor
to stop you from attending the final exam.” You will receive an F grade.
• • Turn off mobile telephones during classes. If a mobile rings during class it will be taken
from the student and returned only at the end of the semester.
• • Do not leave the classroom except in case of emergency and when the instructor gives
you the permission to do so.
• • There might be a quiz after each chapter (topic) is finished. These quizzes will not be
repeated.
• • Any late/missed assignments will not be accepted after the due date, automatically
resulting in a zero.
• • Food and drink are not allowed in the class.
COURSE EVALUATION/GRADING:
Four exams will be given throughout the semester
Multiple choice, Fill in the blank, True and False, Matching and Answer short question.
Indicator
Points
Quizzes
20
Laboratory
25
Midterm
Final
Attendance
Total
20
30
5
100
List of Topics
Week#
References
Course introductory
1
Introduction of general
biochemistry& Types
of bonds
2
Chapter 4
Chapter 7
3&4
Chapter 9
Lipids chemistry
5&6
Chapter 20
Proteins chemistry
7&8
Chapter 22
Amino acid chemistry
9&10
Chapter 22
Nucleotides, nucleic
acids and heredity
11&12
Chapter 25
13&14
Chapter 23 &24
Carbohydrates
chemistry
First Exam
Mid Exam
Second Exam
Introduction to
Enzymes & Hormones
Vitamins
15
Revision
16
Final exam
Chapter 30