Undergraduate Courses Offered by the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry
BCH351: General Biochemistry (4 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer Semesters
Prerequisite: CH223 and BIO183
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of biochemistry. It emphasizes biochemical structures, properties, and functions, including enzyme kinetics and major metabolic processes. It discusses amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. The pathways discussed will include glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the Krebs cycle. It can serve as a prerequisite for BCH 452 with permission of the department. This course is designed for those students who are not majoring in Biochemistry and do not require a more comprehensive introduction to biochemistry. It is not intended for graduate students. Credit is not allowed for both BCH 351 and BCH 451.
Instructor: Dr. Charles Hardin
BCH451: Macromolecular Synthesis and Regulation (4 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer Semesters
Prerequisite: CH223
Introduction to the fundamental principles of biochemistry. Emphasis on biochemical structures, properties, functions and interactions, including enzyme kinetics and central pathways of metabolism.
Instructor: Dr. Jim Knopp
BCH452: Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory (2 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring Semesters
Corequisite: BCH 451
Basic skills in the use of volumetric equipment, spectrophotometers, chromatography, and electrophoresis. Manipulation and assay of small quantities of biological materials, and analysis of laboratory data.
Instructors: Dr. Trino Ascencio-Ibanez and Dr. Dennis Brown
BCH453/553: Biochemistry of Gene Expression (3 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer Semesters
Prerequisite: BCH 451, Corequisite: GN 411, MB 351
Structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins. Synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Gene expression and Regulation. Methodologies of recombinant DNA research. Credit is not allowed for both BCH 453 and BCH 553.
Instructors: Dr. Cindy Hemenway, Dr. Stu Maxwell, and Dr. Clay Clark
BCH454: Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory (4 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring Semesters
Prerequisite: BCH 452, Corequisite: BCH 453
Techniques in molecular biology and protein purification. Cloning and expression of a eukaryotic gene in bacteria followed by purification of the eukaryotic gene product. Microanalysis of DNA, RNA and protein.
Instructor: Dr. Dave Prescutti
BCH455/555: Proteins and Molecular Mechanisms (3 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring, Summer Semesters
Prerequisite: BCH 451, BCH 453/553
Principles of protein structure and function, protein folding, enzymology, ligand binding, protein transport, and metabolic pathways.
Instructors: Dr. John Cavanagh, Dr. Bob Rose, and Dr. Mike Goshe
BCH492: External Learning Experience (1-6 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring Semesters
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
A learning experience in agriculture and life sciences within an academic framework that utilizes facilities and resources which are external to the campus. Contact and arrangements with prospective employers must be initiated by student and approved by a faculty adviser, the prospective employer, the departmental teaching coordinator and academic dean prior to the experience.
BCH493: Special Problems in Biochemistry (1-6 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring Semesters
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
A learning experience in agriculture and life sciences within an academic framework that utilizes campus facilities and resources. Contact and arrangements with prospective employers must be initiated by student and approved by a faculty adviser, the prospective employer, the departmental teaching coordinator and the academic dean prior to the experience.
BCH495: Special Topics in Biochemistry (1-5 Units)
Offered Fall, Spring Summer Semesters
Prerequisite: Junior standing
Offered as needed to present materials not normally available in regular BCH departmental courses or for new BCH courses on a trial basis.
BCH552: Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory (3 Units)
Offered Fall Semester
Prerequisite: BCH452, BCH453
An advanced laboratory to give students practical experiences in purification and quantitative characterization of enzymes and nucleic acids. Studies with carbohydrates and membrane lipids. Credit may be applied toward biotechnology minor.
Instructors: Dr. Trino Ascencio-Ibanez and Dr. Dennis Brown