Biochemistry 15 credits

About the course

In all cells a large number of processes occur continuously, such as conversion of the food we eat to a useable form of chemical energy or the use of genetic information. To understand these processes it is necessary to have basic knowledge of cell organisation and the biomolecules involved. This course will give a thorough description of cell architecture as well as of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and membranes structure and function. The central metabolic processes, such as energy conversion through glycolysis, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, will also be discussed in detail. The course also covers the molecular mechanisms involved in the use and transfer of genetic information.
The experimental part of the course, illustrates central parts of the theory and comprise classical biochemical techniques. Practicals include isolation of proteins and nucleic acids, characterisation and analysis of proteins, study of carbohydrate metabolism and energy conversion in a cellular system and cloning and expression of genetic information.