Spring 2013
USC-Aiken
ABIO 542
Principles of Biochemistry Syllabus
PROFESSOR:
Dr. C. Nathan Hancock
OFFICE:
Room 205, Science Building
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
COURSE CREDIT:
3 Credit Hours
PREREQUISITES:
ABIO 541 or consent of instructor
CLASS TIME:
(200 SCI BLDG) M/W 4:30 to 5:45
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 study of the biochemistry associated with Metabolism, Photosynthesis, and DNA Replication and
Repair. The topics covered include discussion of the enzymes required and regulation of these pathways.
Objectives:
Describe the basic metabolic pathways in the cell
Understand the regulatory mechanisms involved in these pathways
Explore the role of DNA in cell function
GRADE COMPONENTS:
Three Midterm Exams
Class Participation
Class Presentation
Final exam
150 pts each
250 pts
150 pts
150 pts
(45% total)
(25%) (25 points /chapter)
(15%)
(15%)
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.
GRADING:
Students must come to class prepared to present their assigned figures or presentation to the class. This
includes providing background information and addition of text to the slides for clarification. Failure to
present will result in forfeiture of the associated points.
Each student will also be required to give a presentation on a research paper related to the topics
discussed in class. This will most likely be presentation of a primary research article with the associated
background material and should be about 15 to20 minutes long with some time for questions. Students
will be assigned to one of the four Student Presentation days. The most common format will be
PowerPoint slides, but other presentation methods are also acceptable (posters, interpretive dance,
etc... ). Including a video is acceptable, but can only count as 3 minutes of your time. Presentation
topics must be approved by the professor at least 1 week prior to the presentations. Presentations
should provide background information, indicate the question addressed, and describe the experimental
design, results, conclusions, and implications.
Spring 2013
USC-Aiken
ABIO 542
The exams 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).
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE Spring 2012
Date
14 Jan
16 Jan
21 Jan
23 Jan
28 Jan
30 Jan
4 Feb
6 Feb
11 Feb
13 Feb
18 Feb
20 Feb
25 Feb
27 Feb
4 Mar
6 Mar
8 Mar
11-13 Mar
18 Mar
20 Mar
25 Mar
27 Mar
1 Apr
3 Apr
8 Apr
10 Apr
15 Apr
17 Apr
22 Apr
24 Apr
29 Apr
8 May
5PM
Topic
Introduction to Metabolism
Introduction to Metabolism
Martin Luther King Day
Glucose Catabolism
Glucose Catabolism
Citric Acid Cycle
Citric Acid Cycle
Student Presentations
1st Exam
Electron Transport Chain
Electron Transport Chain
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Student Presentations
2nd Exam
Lipid Metabolism
Last Day to Withdraw and receive W
Spring Break
Lipid Metabolism
Amino Acid Metabolism
Amino Acid Metabolism
Student Presentations
3rd Exam
Nucleotide Metabolism
Nucleotide Metabolism
Nucleic Acid Structure
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination
DNA Replication, Repair, and Recombination
Student Presentations
Review
Final Exam
Chapter
14
14
15
15
17
17
14-15, 17
18
18
19
19
18-19
20
20
21
21
20-21
23
23
24
24
25
25
23-25
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
“When students enroll in a particular course, they obligate themselves for all the work which may be
assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is vital to the discharge of this obligation.”
Though attendance will not be taken, you must be present to receive credit for in class assignments, and
quizzes.
Spring 2013
USC-Aiken
ABIO 542
There are also 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.
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
Office of Disability Services will determine appropriate accommodations based on 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:
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.