BE4052 - Biochemistry for Life Sciences (2024/25)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Biochemistry for Life Sciences | ||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
| School | School of Human Sciences | ||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 160 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s, Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. This module is concerned with biochemistry focusing on the properties of key biochemical molecules and their role in biochemical function. This module aims to provide students with the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility.
Prior learning requirements
Available for Study Abroad? YES
Syllabus
Introduction to basic thermodynamic principles. Structure, properties and distribution of biomolecules: Proteins: amino acids, the peptide bond, levels of protein structure.
Enzymes: enzyme classes, Michaelis-Menten kinetics.
Carbohydrates: structure and behaviour of monosaccharides, selected sugar derivatives, the glycosidic bond, reducing and non-reducing disaccharides, oligo- and polysaccharides, determinants of their function.
Lipids: structure and behaviour of fatty acids and glycerides. Classification of lipids.
Water: structure and behaviour of water, contribution to macromolecular structure. (1-3)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching and learning sessions include lectures, tutorials and an assessed practical and course work with feedback where appropriate. Lectures are used to set context and to deliver subject material and are linked to course work and tutorials. Students will be expected to reflect on the learning experience and develop their own understanding of the material. Writing skills will be enhanced through the production of a laboratory report of an experiment. The ability to undertake scientific and ethical appraisal of data will be encouraged through directed reading and tutorial discussions. Students will be expected to reflect upon taught material in order to demonstrate their understanding of the aspects of biochemistry covered in this module.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the student will be able to:
1. display an appreciation of the ways in which thermodynamic principles provide an understanding of biochemical processes.
2. display knowledge of the structure, properties, and distribution of biomolecules.
3. have knowledge of enzyme structure and function and show critical thinking in relation to evaluation and analysing laboratory data