2. DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES
(a)
Curriculum for B.Sc. Degree in Biochemistry
100 Level Harmattan Semester
Course Code
Course Title
Prerequisite
Units
Status
CHM 101
General Chemistry I
-
3
C
CHM 107
Experimental Chemistry I
-
1
C
PHY 101
General Physics
-
3
C
PHY 107
Experimental Physics
-
1
C
BIO 101
Basic Biology I
-
3
C
BIO 107
Experimental Biology I
-
1
C
MTH 101
General Mathematics I
-
3
C
CIT 111
Introduction to Information and
Communication Technology
-
2
R
FRN 221
Basic French
-
2
R
GNS 101
Use of English I
-
2
R
LIB 101
Use of Library
-
1
R
Total
22
100 Level Rain Semester
Course Code
Course Title
Prerequisite
Units
Status
CHM 102
General Chemistry II
-
3
C
CHM 108
Experimental Chemistry II
-
1
C
PHY 102
General Physics II
-
3
C
PHY 108
Experimental Physics II
-
1
C
BIO 102
Basic Biology II
-
3
C
BIO 108
Experimental Biology II
-
1
C
MTH 102
General Mathematics II
-
3
C
CIT 112
Introduction to Computer
Programming
-
2
R
289
FRN 222
French for Specific Purposes
-
2
R
GNS 102
Use of English II
-
2
R
Total
21
200 Level Harmattan Semester
Course Code
Course Title
BCH 201
General Biochemistry I
BCH 203
Prerequisite
Units
Status
-
3
C
Metabolism of Carbohydrates
-
2
C
MCB 201
General Microbiology I
-
3
C
BIO 203
Introductory Genetics
-
2
R
CHM 205
Physical Chemistry I
-
2
C
CHM 207
Inorganic Chemistry I
-
2
C
CHM 291
Experimental Physical/Inorganic
Chemistry
-
1
C
GNS 201
Nigerian peoples and culture
-
2
R
Electives: One of the following
CIT 201
Structured Programming
-
3
E
OR
Any other 3-unit course
-
3
E
TOTAL
20
200 Level Rain Semester
Course Code
Course Title
BCH 202
General Biochemistry II
BCH 204
Prerequisite
Units
Status
-
3
C
Biochemical Methods
BCH 201
2
C
BCH 206
Food and Nutritional
Biochemistry
-
3
C
BIO 202
Biological Techniques
-
2
C
CHM 208
Physical Chemistry II
-
2
C
CHM 202
Organic Chemistry I
-
2
C
CHM 292
Experimental Physical/Organic
Chemistry
-
1
C
290
GNS 202
Osun Peoples and culture
GNS 302
Introduction to Logic and
Philosophy
-
TOTAL
2
R
2
R
19
300 Level Harmattan Semester
Course Code
Course Title
BCH 301
Enzymology
BCH 303
Metabolism of Lipids
BCH 305
Prerequisite
-
Units
Status
2
C
BCH 201
2
C
Metabolism of Nucleic Acids
BCH 202
2
C
BCH 307
Metabolism of Amino Acids &
Protein
BCH 202
2
C
BCH 309
Membrane Biochemistry
1
C
BCH 391
General Biochemical Methods
2
C
CHM 303
Organic Chemistry II
-
2
C
STA 201
Statistics for Agricultural &
Biological Students
-
4
C
CHM 401
Instrumental Analytical Methods
-
2
C
GNS 301
Entrepreneurial Skill
Development
-
2
R
BCH 204
TOTAL
21
300 Level Rain Semester
Course Code
Course Title
BCH 399
Industrial Attachment
TOTAL
Prerequisite
-
Units
16
Status
C
16
291
400 Level Harmattan Semester
Course Code
Course Title
Pre-requisite
Units
Status
BCH 401
Advanced Enzymology
-
2
C
BCH 403
Tissue Biochemistry
-
1
C
BCH 405
Biotechnology & Genetic
Engineering
-
2
C
BCH 407
Plant Biochemistry
-
2
C
BCH 409
Seminar in Biochemistry
-
2
C
BCH 411
Pharmacological Biochemistry and
Toxicology
-
3
C
BCH 413
Bioenergetics
-
1
C
MCB 305
Microbial Genetics/Molecular
Biology
-
3
C
Electives: One of the following
MCB 401
Immunology and
Immunochemistry
-
3
E
BCH 417
Biochemistry of Parasite
-
2
E
TOTAL
19
400 Level Rain Semester
Course Code
Course Title
Pre-requisite
Units
Status
BCH 402
Biosynthesis of Macromolecules
-
1
C
BCH 404
Bioinorganic Chemistry
-
1
C
BCH 406
Metabolic Regulations
-
2
C
BCH 408
Biochemical Reasoning
-
1
C
BCH 412
Industrial Biochemistry
-
3
C
MCB 408
Microbial Physiology and
-
3
C
292
Metabolism
BCH 499
Research Project
-
6
C
Electives: One of the following
BCH 492
Advanced Biochemical
methods
-
2
E
BCH 414
Clinical and Forensic
Biochemistry
-
2
E
TOTAL
19
Course Description (B.Sc. Biochemistry)
BCH 201 General Biochemistry I: (3 Units ) (L30 : P0: T15)
Chemistry of amino acids, proteins and their derivatives; methods of isolation and
identification. Water: physical and chemical properties in relation to its biological
role, water balance. acidity and alkalinity, pH and PKa values and their effects on
cellular activities. Buffers. Biochemical applications of pH, pKa and Buffers.
Chemistry/structures of carbohydrates. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary
structures of proteins; determination and biochemical applications of these
structures.
BCH 202 General Biochemistry II (3 Units) (L30: P0: T15)
Structure and functions of major cell components, cell theory; prokaryotic versus
eukaryotic organisms. The chemistry of lipids, Triaclyglycerols, phospholipids and
sphingolipids. Nucleic acids. Nomenclature of nucleosides and nucleotides; effect of
acid and alkali on hydrolysis of nucleic acids. Vitamins and co-enzymes. Fat and
water soluble vitamins. Structures and functions of vitamins and co-enzymes.
BCH 203 Metabolism of Carbohydrates (2 Units) (L 30: P0: T0)
Degradation and digestion of carbohydrates-sugars, storage polysaccharides and cell
walls. Reactions of sugars. Glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, Phosphogluconate
pathway, Glyoxylate pathway; the pentose phosphate pathway, Cori cycle; Calvin
pathway. Gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis and glycogenolysis Disorders of
carbohydrate metabolism.
BCH 204 Biochemical Methods: (2 Units) (L15: P45: T0) (pre-requisite BCH 201)
Tissue and cell culture techniques. Principles, instrumentation, methodologies and
applications
of
electrophoresis,
Chromatography,
spectroscopy
and
spectrophotometry, centrifugation and isotopic techniques. Practical laboratory
exercises designed by academic staff to cut across a wide spectrum of general
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biochemistry. The practical will be arranged on the basis of 3 hours per week for the
semester.
BCH 206 Food and Nutritional Biochemistry: (3 Units) (L 30: P0: T15)
An introduction to the theory and application of physical and chemical methods for
determining the constituents of food. Food processing, preservation and storage of
traditional foods-root and stem tubers, fruits and fruit drinks, seeds and grains,
green vegetables. Food poisoning and intoxication; prevention and cure. Food
nutrients; energy values of foods and energy expenditure by mammals. Nutritive
value of foods-carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, mineral elements and water.
Nutritional disorders, prevention and therapy. Nutritional status and nutritional
requirements in relation to physical activity and ageing, diet and disease, obesity
and undernutrition.
BCH 301 Enzymology: (2Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Nature and properties of enzymes. Classification and nomenclature of enzymes.
Kinetics of enzymes and inhibition. Mechanisms of enzyme-catalysed reactions.
Effects of temperature, pH, ions and inhibitors on enzyme catalysed reactions.
Michaelis-Menten equation. Allosteric/Regulatory enzymes. Active sites of enzymes.
Estimation of kinetic parameters-enzyme activities, Km, Vmax, Ki etc. Zymogen
activation, digestive enzymes etc. Production, isolation, purification and
characterization of enzymes. Recent advances in enzymology.
BCH 303 Metabolism of Lipids: (2 Units) (L30: P0:T0) Pre- requisite BCH 201
Classification of lipids-fatty acids, triglycerides, glycosylglycerols, phospholipids,
waxes, prostaglandins. Lipid micelles, monolayers, bilayers Lipoprotein systems.
Mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissues. Oxidation and synthesis of fatty
acids; cholesterol synthesis. Formation of ketone bodies. Integration of lipid
metabolism. Acetic acid as a central precursor for biosynthesis of lipids.
BCH 305 Metabolism of Nucleic Acids: (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Pre- requisite BCH 202
Genome organization and biosynthesis of proteins. Metabolism of purines and
pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides; abnormalities in nucleic acid metabolism.
Mutation. xeroderma pigment and skin cancer.
BCH 307 Metabolism of Amino Acids and Proteins: (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Pre- requisite BCH 202
Amino acids as building blocks of protein; covalent backbone of proteins; Amino acid
sequence of proteins. Protein isolation, fractionation, purification and
characterization of proteins. Biological functions of proteins. Oxidative degradation of
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amino acids and metabolism of one carbon unit. Biosynthesis of amino acids and
some derivatives; the urea cycle; metabolism of inorganic nitrogen. Disorders of
amino acid metabolism.
BCH 309 Membrane Biochemistry: (1 Unit) (L15: P0: T0)
Structure, composition and functions of biological membranes. Isolation,
characterization and classification of membranes; chemistry and biosynthesis of
membranes phospholipids. Molecular organization of membrane components.
Natural and artificial membrane bilayers- the unit membrane hypothesis. Membrane
transport system– active versus passive transport systems. Transport of sugars and
amino acids; ionophores.
BCH 391 General Biochemical Methods: (2 Units) (L15: P45: T0) Pre- requisite
BCH 204
Continuation of previous year’s practical laboratory exercises designed by academic
staff to cut across a wide spectrum of general biochemistry. The practical will be
arranged on the basis of 3 hours per week for the semester.
BCH 399 Students Industrial Work Experience: (SIWES) (16 Units)
Students will be attached to some industrial organizations, research institutes or any
other suitable place approved by the Department for six (6) months during the long
vacation and the Harmattan Semester. Each student is expected to present a
seminar on the Industrial work undertaken and submit a written report at the end of
the exercise.
BCH 401 Advanced Enzymology: (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Steady state enzyme kinetics. Transient kinetic methods. Chemistry of enzyme
catalysis. Regulatory enzymes. Molecular models for allosterism. Multienzyme
complexes. Enzyme assays. Criteria for determining purity of enzymes. Enzyme
reconstitution. Regulation of enzyme activity and synthesis.
BCH 402 Biosynthesis of Macromolecules: (1 Unit) (L15: P0: T0)
Structure and functions of macromolecules. Storage and structural polysaccharides,
mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins, bacterial cell wall synthesis of complex lipids,
lipoproteins and nucleic acids
BCH 403 Tissue Biochemistry: (1 Unit) (L15: P0: T0)
Biochemistry of muscles, kidney, liver, and adipose tissues. General metabolism of
the brain and neuro-biochemistry. Biochemistry of reproductive tissues.
Detoxification and excretion in tissues.
BCH 404 Bioinorganic Chemistry: (1 Unit) (L15: P0: T0)
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Relationship between the physicochemical properties and biological functions of
inorganic ions. Ligand complexes and their biochemical significance. Electrolyte
metabolism. Nitrogen fixation and sulphur cycle.
BCH 405 Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Replication, transcription and translation- a brief review. The genetic code and its
relationship to cellular functions. DNA replication in a cell-free system. Genetic
transformation, transduction and conjugation. Gene mutation, mutagenic agents and
their applications to gene – transfer. Gene mapping. Structure of eucaryotic genome.
Recombination DNA and its applications. Hybridomas
BCH 406 Metabolic Regulations: (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
The relationship of Kreb’s Cycle to protein, carbohydrate, lipid and nucleic acids
metabolism. Integration of metabolic pathways. Turn-over rates and metabolic
pools. Regulations of enzymes of metabolic pathways-feed back inhibition versus
enzyme synthesis. Catabolite repression, end product repression, the lactose operon
and arabinose operon. Identification of different regulatory mechanism in metabolic
pathways. Hormonal control of metabolism.
BCH 407 Plant Biochemistry: (2 Units) (L30: P0:T0)
Organization of plants cells, photosynthesis, alkaloids and flavonoids. Plant
hormones; Biosynthesis of carotenoid pigments, biochemistry of plant development.
The plant cell wall structure, formation and growth. Lignin formation, free amino
acids, pyrimidines, purines and nucleosides in plants. Metabolism of auxins,
gibberellins and cytokinins. Synthethic growth regulators and herbicides. Structurefunction relationship of plant hormones.
BCH 408 Biochemical Reasoning: (1 Unit) (L15: P0:T0)
Research methods, assimilation and dissemination of information. Analysis,
interpretation and inference-drawing from biochemical research data. Part of the
course will also cover preparation of dissertations or theses, papers for journal
publications and journal reviews. Special assignments and essays will be given to
students.
BCH 409 Seminar in Biochemistry : (2 Units) (L0: P90:T0)
A seminar to be delivered by each student following intensive literature review on an
approved relevant topic in biochemistry.
BCH 411 Pharmacological Biochemistry and Toxicology: ( 3 units) (L30: P0:
T15)
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Cellular metabolism in infected cells. Biochemical aspects of host –parasite
relationships. Metabolic factors affecting chemotherapeutic agents. Theories of the
mechanism of drug action. Components of the hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing
system. Drug resistances and other factors affecting drug efficacy. The physiological
and biochemical action of some selected drugs. Nigerian traditional medicinal plants
in the management and therapy of common ailments in Nigeria- malaria, sickle cell
anaemia, common cold, hepatitis etc. Introduction to general toxicology.
BCH 412 Industrial Biochemistry: (3 Units) (L30: P0: T15)
A short review of microbial physiology and genetics. A review of general metabolic
pathways and application in industrial processes. Continuous culture methods,
principles and applications. The chemostat and its application in industrial
fermentation. Fermentations- alcoholic, amino acid antibiotics and other secondary
metabolites. Primary and secondary metabolism. Process evaluation and
development. Over production of metabolites- amino acids , taste enhancers,
vitamins, toxin etc. Methods for screening and selecting micro-organisms of
industrial importance. Induction of mutation in micro-organism and plants for the
purpose of over production; strain selection/development and enhancement. Gene
dosage and its application in industrial processes.
BCH 413 Bioenergetics: (1 Unit) (L15: P0: T0)
High –energy compounds; chemical potentials, electrochemical potentials, electron
transport system and oxidative phosphorylation; regulation of ATP production.
Chemical thermodynamics; oxidations and reductions.
BCH 414 Clinical and Forensic Biochemistry (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Diagnostic enzymes. Pathological urine. Methods of extraction and purification of
antibiotics. Clinical uses of antibiotics. Collection, preservation and analysis of
materials of forensic interest. Legal issues in forensic practices. Application of
biotechnology in forensic practices. The public analyst in forensic practices.
BCH 417 Biochemistry of Parasites (2 Units) (L30: P0: T0)
Classification of parasites, methods of control of parasitic diseases. Techniques for
isolating parasitic protozoa from infected animals. Metabolism of biomolecules in
parasites contrasted with that of the host. Host-parasite interaction. Parasites
nutrient needs. Biochemical mechanism of drug action against parasite. Defence
mechanism in parasitism. Parasite biomembrane. Survey of structural properties of
different classes of viruses. Viral multiplication mechanism. Control of viral
replication. Interferon.
BCH 492 Advanced Biochemical Methods: (2 Unit) (L15: P45: T0)
Students will be made to familiarize themselves with operations of latest biochemical
equipment in this course. They will be taken round laboratories housing specialized
equipment with the aim of exposing them to such equipment under the supervision
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of lecturers. Practical laboratory exercises designed by academic staff in areas not
covered at lower levels will also be organized.
BCH 499 Research Project: (6 Units) (L0: P270: T0)
Independent research findings into selected areas/topics of interest to the academic
staff. Students will be required to carry out literature survey on the topics, perform
experiments and produce reports (preferably at the end of second semester).
Students will be subjected to both seminar and oral examination on the project
undertaken.
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