Høst 2018

KJE-2002 Biological chemistry - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for kjemi

Type of course

Theoretical with one compulsory practical assignment. The course is available as a singular or elective course independent of study program, also to exchange-students. The course is offered on condition that a minimum number of students register for the course.

Course overlap

K-241 Organic structural chemistry 10 stp

Course contents

Biological chemistry is the study of biologically active molecules (biomolecules) and their involvement in chemical processes in living organisms. The course is covering important biomolecules such as amino acids (proteins) carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, with a focus on the relation between structure and function and on methods for determination of structures. The course provides an introduction to the most important methods for structure determination of biomolecules: X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, microscopic techniques (atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy) as well as an introduction to NMR on macromolecules. The nomenclature for the biomolecules, bond distances, bond angles, torsions, molecular packing in crystals and the configuration of chiral molecules, as well as intra- and intermolecular interactions, will be discussed and related to biological activity. An emphasis will be placed on the relationship between structure and function. The structure of molecules important in biology and the relationship between structure and biological behaviour will be described and discussed.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester. Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Admission requirements

Applicants from Nordic countries: Generell studiekompetanse eller realkompetanse + Matematikk R1 og R2 og enten Fysikk (1+2) eller Kjemi (1+2) eller Biologi (1+2) eller Informasjonsteknologi( 1+2) eller Geologi (1+2) eller Teknologi og forskningslære (1+2).

International applicants: Higher Education Entrance Qualification and certified language requirements in English. It is a requirement that students have some prior knowledge of biology and ecology, chemistry and mathematics (Participants must have taken introductory level university courses, and achieved pass grades, in these subjects).

A list of the requirements for the Higher Education Entrance Qualification in Norway can be found on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education website - nokut.no

Application code: 9336 (Nordic applicants).

Objective of the course

After passing the course, the students will have achieved:

Knowledge:

The candidate has..

An understanding of basic features of molecules and their description with respect to bonds, angles and torsions.
An understanding of how biomolecules are formed and their building blocks.
Knowledge about stabilizing forces (Proteins and DNA in particular), and insight into which forces are key to the overall stability of the molecules.
Insight into how some biomolecular assemblies are formed and how they are of general importance.
A general knowledge about a set of structure determination methods (various Diffraction techniques, NMR, Atomic Force- and Electron Microscopy, as well as general spectroscopic techniques); when they should be applied, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Skills:

The candidate should be able to..

Describe the general quality assessment terms for the most common structure determination techniques.
Describe the most common functions of the biomolecules and to couple this with their general structures and individual building blocks.
Outline some of the basal biological processes investigated in the course; General introduction to Biochemistry, DNA replication, Protein Synthesis and Virus-structure and -replication cycle.
Describe intra- and inter-molecular stabilizing forces and how they are distinguished.

General competence:

The candidate should..

Obtain a general knowledge about the biomolecules; their structure and some of the functions they have.
Possess knowledge about general structure determination methods for different types of biomolecules.
Have developed their general knowledge and curiosity about the field of biological chemistry. This will serve as an aid in all research directions within chemistry.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, and may be answered in either English or a Norwegian/Scandinavian language.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 36 h, Seminars: 18 h, Laboratory: 4-6 h Computer-based assignment.

Assessment

A final written exam, 4h. Lettergrades (A-F).

Coursework requirements: A compulsory tutorial.

Date for examination

Written test 30.11.2018

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.