Fall 2014
USC-Aiken
BIOL 541
Principles of Biochemistry Syllabus
PROFESSOR:
Dr. C. Nathan Hancock
OFFICE:
Room 205, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
COURSE CREDIT:
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITES:
ACHM 332 and ABIO 121 or consent of instructor
CLASS TIME:
(200 SCI BLDG) M/W 2:30 to 3:45
CONTACT:
803-641-3390 nathanh@usca.edu
TEXT: Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level, 4th Edition
Available as an e-book, loose leaf, or hardback
3rd edition may also be acceptable
Please read this syllabus carefully and refer to it when you have questions about the course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
A survey of the fundamental principles of biochemistry. The topics covered include: cellular chemistry,
amino acid structure and chemistry, protein structure, carbohydrate chemistry, nucleic acid chemistry,
enzyme kinetics and enzyme inhibition.
Objectives:
Describe the basic role of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins
Understand the relationship between chemical structure and biological function
Explore the chemistry behind reactions occurring in living systems
GRADE COMPONENTS:
Three Exams (2 midterms, Final)
Lecture Participation
Quizzes and assignments
Enzyme Report
200 pts each
100 pts
200 pts
100 pts
(60%)
(10%)
(20%)
(10%)
GRADING SCALE:
100-90% = A; 89-85% = B+; 84-80% = B; 79-75% = C+; 74-70% = C; 69-65% = D+; 64-60% = D; 59-0% = F.
An “A” grade in this course indicates that you have achieved mastery of the material. This means that
you have more than a basic understanding of the vocabulary words. You must show that you
understand the concepts and how to apply them to get a grade of “C” or better.
GRADING:
The exams, in class assignments, and laboratory notebooks will require hand written answers. Answers
will only be accepted if they are clearly legible.
Late assignments will receive an automatic reduction in score (up to 50% of the possible points).
Assignments due at the start of class are considered late 5 minutes after the indicated course time.
Assignments can be turned in early if needed.
Graded materials will be returned in a reasonable time period.
Many of the written assignments will be submitted through Turnitin.com to detect plagiarism. Students
who do not use their own original wording will receive a zero on the assignment and will be reported for
academic dishonesty.
Fall 2014
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Fall 2013
Date
Topic
25 Aug
Introduction
27 Aug
Water
1 Sept
Labor Day
3 Sept
Water
8 Sept
Nucleotides, Nucleic Acids, and Genetic Information
10 Sept
Nucleotides, Nucleic Acids, and Genetic Information
15 Sept
Carbohydrates
17 Sept
Carbohydrates
22 Sept
Lipids and Biological Membranes
24 Sept
Lipids and Biological Membranes
29 Sep
Review
1 Oct
1st Exam
6 Oct
Amino Acids
8 Oct
Amino Acids
13 Oct
Proteins: Primary Structure
16 Oct
Proteins: Primary Structure
20 Oct
Proteins: Three-Dimensional Structure
22 Oct
Proteins: Three-Dimensional Structure
27 Oct
Protein Function:
29 Oct
Protein Function:
3 Nov
Review
5 Nov
2nd Exam
10 Nov
Enzyme Catalysis
12 Nov
Enzyme Catalysis
17 Nov
Enzyme Kinetics, Inhibition, and Control
19 Nov
Enzyme Kinetics, Inhibition, and Control
24 Nov
Biochemical Signaling
26 Nov
Thanksgiving
1 Dec
Biochemical Signaling
3 Dec
Review
10 Dec
Final Exam (2pm)
USC-Aiken
BIOL 541
Chapter
1
2
2
3
3
8
8
9
9
1-3, 8-9
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
4-7
11
11
12
12
13
13
11-13
9 October - Last day to withdraw without an F, It is recommended that students with an overall
score of less than 60% at this point should drop the course.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
You must be present in class to receive credit for in-class assignments, quizzes, and presentations. The
only exception to this is when students inform the instructor of an excused absence before class.
Students should bring their books to class to be able to participate in the in-class discussion.
There are no make-up exams. Should you miss an exam for a documented excusable reason (i.e.
sickness or required university event); an alternate exam may be arranged. Only one exam will be
treated in this manner; any other missed exams will be counted as a zero.
Fall 2014
USC-Aiken
BIOL 541
CLASSROOM BEHAVOIR AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
It is the instructor’s right to remove any student who disrupts or disturbs the proceedings of the class.
In extreme cases the professor can request assistance from the University police. If the student who has
been ejected causes similar disturbances in subsequent meetings of the class, he/she may be denied
admittance to the class for the remainder of the semester and assigned a grade of “F”.
The use of any portable electronic devices, including cell phones, pagers, MP3 players, iPods, etc., during
class is not allowed for any reason unless prior approval has been given to a student from the instructor
or unless required for the course. If you are planning to have any of these devices in class, they must be
turned off and stowed away for the duration of the class period. If you use a portable electronic device
during a test, quiz, or other assessment, you are eligible to receive a failing grade on that assignment.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability that might affect your performance in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, B&E 134, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The
Disability Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on medical documentation.
WRITING CENTER:
USCA provides a writing center located on room 201 of the H&SS building. If you need extra assistance
on any writing assignment for this or any other class that you are taking, please try the writing center.
HONOR CODE:
Students are expected to abide by the Academic Code of Conduct as described in the Student
Handbook. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if academic integrity is violated. The following
honor pledge is to be written, signed, and dated by the student on all exams and assignments turned
into the instructor.
“On my honor as a University of South Carolina at Aiken student, I have neither
given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment/ examination. To the
best of my knowledge, I am not in violation of academic honesty.”
TEST PROCEDURES:
Although study guides for the test are provided, you are responsible for all of the material covered in
the text book. Examples of previous year’s exams will be made available to students as an additional
study resource.
Students will not be allowed to sit in adjacent seats during the exams. If a student must leave during an
exam, they forfeit their right to finish the exam. Calculators will only be allowed at the teacher’s
discretion.