Chem 123 Introduction to Biochemistry
Syllabus Sp15
Instructor: Ruth Russo (Office 43, 524-5232, ruth.russo@wwcc.edu)
Office Hours: 11:30 to 12:30 pm, M, T, F. Otherwise, if my office door is open, I’m happy to talk with you.
Some days you can come by the lab and catch me there. Send me an email if I’m not around.
Place/Time: Room 222. M, T, Th, F 10:30-11:20 am (lecture). W 10:30 am-12:20 pm (lab).
Texts: Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry. Bettelheim, et al., 10/e, 2013. Laboratory
Experiments for Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry. Bettelheim and Landesberg, 8/e, 2013.
Also required—find in the bookstore:
 a scientific calculator and side vented, splash and impact resistant laboratory goggles.
 Quick Study periodic table
Course Description: A brief survey of biochemical principles. Topics include structure, function and chemistry
for biomolecules, enzymatic catalysis, metabolic pathways, genetic expression, and biotechnology. Lab work
required. Prerequisite: grade of C- or higher in CHEM& 122.
Learning Outcomes: upon passing this class, a student will be able to:
 Distinguish, on the basis of structure and function:
o Carbohydrates—simple carbohydrates, oligosaccharides, starch, glycogen and oligosaccharides.
o Lipids—triglycerides, membrane lipids, mediators of inflammation, and steroids.
Proteins—fibrous and globular proteins, and enzymes.
o DNA and RNA.
 Interpret graphs of optimal enzymatic activity and predict the action of competitive and noncompetitive
inhibitors.
 Utilize the major biochemical categories to explain the steps in genetic replication, gene expression, and
protein synthesis.
 Describe how energy gets produced for the cell, by relating the roles of fuel molecules, enzymes,
coenzymes, and subcellular compartments to glycolysis, beta-oxidation, the citric acid cycle, and
oxidative phosphorylation.
 Match the names of drugs, microbes, genetic variations, or biochemical structures discussed in class
with the appropriate disease state or healthy physiologic function.
 Demonstrate the safe use of laboratory glassware, equipment and reagents in order to synthesize,
characterize or separate simple biochemical compounds from natural products.
Assigned Work
Exams
3 during the quarter, 1 non-comprehensive final
Labs
6 sets, Lowest 1 score dropped for total of 5
Homework
7 sets, Lowest 1 score dropped for total of 6
Genetic Disease Research and Talk Project
Research work, slides and talk preparation
Quizzes
2 guided reading quizzes in Canvas
Total Points
Each
Total
100 or 60
360
25
125
10
60
60
5
10
615
Illness Policies for Graded Work:
 If you miss a lab or exam due to illness or other emergency, you must contact me that day by email or
phone to let me know you will need to make up the lab or exam.
 Not all labs may be made up, however, due to constraints of safety, space, time, or reagents. Therefore,
one lab score can be dropped for any reason.
 If you miss a homework assignment due to illness or other emergency, you may not make this up.
Therefore, one homework score can be dropped for any reason.
Exams: the dates are shown on the course schedule. If you have a legitimate scheduling conflict you must
make arrangements with me at least three days before the exam in order to receive an alternate time.
Labs:
1. The due dates for Prelabs, Results, Questions and Post-labs are on the schedule.
2. Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants to every lab. Bring your laboratory goggles. If you forget, I may
not allow you to work that day, depending upon the nature of the experiment, and you will receive a
zero for that lab.
3. Labs either come from Handouts, or from the hard-copy Lab Manual.
4. When assigned, Prelabs are always due at the beginning of lab. I want you to make a good-faith effort
at answering all the questions before you walk into lab, most importantly so that you know what you
don’t know! I will check that you completed the Prelab before you begin working.
5. The Experiments, consisting of Prelabs, Results, Questions and Postlabs, are due either as you leave lab
or on the next day, as listed in the syllabus.
6. Labs are each worth 25 points. The points are earned as follows:
a. Prelab done prior to lab (5 points)
b. Content of Prelabs, Results, Questions and Postlabs (20 points)
Graded Homework: the homework assignments (10 points each) are due as listed on the schedule. They consist
of two parts: ungraded practice problems and graded problems.
1. Ungraded Practice Problems (5 points). I want to see evidence that you have attempted the oddnumbered problems that I suggest from the end-of-chapter problems. Most of these have answers in
the back of the book, but I want to see your sketches, attempts, calculations, etc. These can be “sloppy
copies.” Staple these to the Graded Problems.
2. Graded Problems (5 points): these will be even-numbered end-of-chapter problems (or problems that I
make up) that don’t have answers in the back of the book. These are problems that show me whether or
not you understand concepts, calculations, and information prior to the exams.
3. Homework assignments will be posted on the Canvas shell for each chapter, found under the appropriate
Chapter module.
Accommodations: To request accommodations related to a disability, contact Claudia Angus, Ph.D.,
Coordinator of Disability Support Services, at 527-4262 or email claudia.angus@wwcc.edu. Accommodations
can include note takers, extra time on exams, etc.
Etiquette: Please be courteous to your fellow students and me. 1) Please do not answer your cell phone or text
during class. If you absolutely need to be in contact for family or work reasons, set the phone to vibrate and
take the call outside the door. 2) Please do not be consistently late for class. If you have transportation issues,
let me know. 3) Please do your best for your lab partner and everyone else in the lab. You are mutually
responsible for the success of the lab pair, and the safety of everyone relies upon you!
Grading Scale: the grading scale below depicts the highest “floors” for each category that I predict. For
example, if you have a 93% on all work, you would receive an A, while someone with 92% on all work would
receive an A-. I reserve the right to lower the floors at the end of the quarter based upon both student and
instructor performance relative to years past. In this case, the 92% might merit an A if I have designed
especially difficult exams, e.g.
Percent
93-100
90-92.9
87-89.9
83-86.9
80-82.9
77-79.9
73-76.9
70-72.9
67-69.9
63-66.9
0-62.9
Letter
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
4 point
scale
4.0
3.7
3.3
3
2.7
2.3
2
1.7
1.3
1
0
After week 2, your grades will be available to you in real time on the Canvas shell. Prior to the end of week 2,
there are not enough data in the gradebook for the percentage to make sense.
Withdrawal Policy
You may withdraw from the course without a grade through May 15, 2015. After this date, you will receive a
grade whether or not you continue to attend class.
Extra Help
The most successful chemistry students are the ones who plug away with a determined work ethic. Asking for
help early and often is a wise and strategic move. Come see me often. I love students who ask a lot of
questions. Dr. Laura Schueller in the Tutoring Center is also an excellent resource (in addition to being brilliant,
she brings treats to the tutoring center on Fridays). The Tutoring Center hires a chemistry-specialist tutor early
in the quarter, so introduce yourself and visit him or her often. You can also direct questions to Keenan Failing
in the Stockroom, especially if it deals with aqueous chemistry. We are all here to help you succeed.
Academic Honesty: cheating and/or plagiarism will incur a penalty ranging from F on the assignment, to failing
the course or being expelled from the college. See www.wwcc.edu Current StudentsStudent
ResourcesStudent PoliciesStudent Code of Conduct.
Schedule: we shall be following the attached calendar. It may be modified due to circumstances beyond my
control. My suggestion is to carry it in your backback or notebook and refer to it weekly, to plan your studying,
and daily, to see what is due tomorrow.
The Canvas environment for our class: we have an online “shell” in the Canvas system. This serves three major
functions:
1. I post all my handouts, power points, and homework assignments) in Canvas. Some students like to
print out the power points for each chapter to take notes upon. ALL students ought to look at the study
guides before exams.
2. You can look at your grades as soon as I enter in your points for each assignment. It is pretty
meaningless until Week 3 but then it is quite useful.
3. If I need to make corrections, additions, announcements, etc., I will send these out via Canvas. Most
importantly, if I get SICK and can’t come in, I will try to give you some advanced warning from home
via Canvas.
4. Please set your Notifications tab in Canvas to whatever mode you check most frequently.
MONDAY
LECTURE
TUESDAY
LECTURE
Week 1:
3/304/3
Week 3:
4/13-17
Ch. 20 Carbs.
Due: choice of
disease. Sign up
on my door.
Dr. Russo is at a
conference for
this week. Ch. 21
Lipids. Guided
Reading on
Prostaglandins,
Thromboxanes
and Leukotrienes.
See Module in
Canvas for activity.
Ch. 21 Quiz due
11 pm.
Ch. 21 Lipids.
Homework Ch. 20
due 3 pm.
Ch. 21 SelfGuided
Homework/Test
Prep Day.
Classroom will be
open for your use.
Homework Ch. 21
due 3 pm on my
door.The key will
be posted in
Canvas, 4pm for
you to check.
Week 4:
4/20-24
Ch. 22: Proteins
Ch. 22: Proteins
Week 2:
4/6-10
THURSDAY
LECTURE
FRIDAY
LECTURE
Ch. 20
Carbohydrates.
Intro to Genetic
Diseases
Project.NO LAB
Ch. 20
Carbohydrates
Ch. 20
Carbohydrates
Expt. 32: Carbs.
Due: Prelab
Ch. 23: Enzymes
Exam I: Ch. 20
and 21. Report to
the Testing
Center with
Picture ID at
10:30 am.
Expt. 35: Hand
Cream. Due:
Prelab
Expt. 38: Amino
Acid
Chromatography.
Due: Prelab
Homework Day.
Due: Ch. 23 HW 3
pm.
Expt. 40: Casein.
Due: Prelab
Advising Dayreport to lab.
Expt. 47: Vitamin
C. Due: Prelab.
Week 6:
5/4-8
Homework Day.
Due: Ch. 22 HW 3
pm.
Ch. 23: Enzyme.
Due: Prelim
Bibliography
Genetic Diseases
Project.
Week 7
5/11-15
Ch. 24:
Neurotransmitters
and Hormones
Ch. 24:
Neurotransmitters
and Hormones
Week 8:
5/18-22
Ch. 25/26:
Nucleotides and
Gene Expression
Ch. 25/26:
Nucleotides and
Gene Expression
Week 9:
5/25-29
Memorial Day
Review: Ch. 24
and 25/26.
Week10:
6/1-5
Ch. 27:
Bioenergetics
Ch. 27:
Bioenergetics
Week
11: 6/812
Genetic Disease
Talk I
Genetic Disease
Talk II
Week 5:
4/275/1
WEDS LAB
Expt. 43: Onion
DNA. Due: prelab
Exam III: meet in
classroom Ch. 24
and 25/26.
Meet in class-check out lab.
HW Ch. 27 Due 3
pm.
Ch. 21 Lipids.
Due: Carbs lab.
Jana Lu Williams
and Jen
Stutesman:
Genetic Disease
Research in
Resource Room
(library).
Attendance is
mandatory. Due:
Q 1-3 on "From
Topic to Info"
worksheet.
Ch. 21 Lipids
Ch. 22: Proteins.
Guided Reading
on Proteins
Introduction and
Amino Acids. See
Module in Canvas
for activity. Ch. 22
Quiz due 11 pm.
Ch. 22: Proteins.
Due: Expt 35.
Ch. 22: Proteins
Ch. 23: Enzymes.
Due: Expt 38.
Ch. 23: Enzymes
Review: Ch. 22
and 23. Due:
Expt. 40.
Ch. 24:
Neurotransmitters
and Hormones.
Due: Expt. 47.
Ch. 25/26:
Nucleotides and
Gene Expression.
Due: Expt. 43.
Ch. 27:
Bioenergetics
Review: Ch. 27.
Exam II: Ch. 22
and 23
Ch. 25/26:
Nucleotides and
Gene Expression
Due: Ch. 24 HW 3
pm.
Homework Day.
Due: Ch. 25/26
HW 3 pm
Ch. 27:
Bioenergetics
Exam IV (half
exam): Ch. 27.
Genetic Disease
Quiz (Canvas)
Due by 12:30 pm.