795-326 Biochemistry

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to develop students' ability to:

• describe the energetic balances within the cell and relate these to the nature of biochemical reactions;

• explain the effect of oxygen and substrate influences on the rate and nature of cellular reactions and pathways;

• describe qualitatively the structure and function of enzymes;

• describe the role of DNA and RNA in controlling protein synthesis and explain the significance of DNA to cell characteristics;

• describe the degradative and synthetic pathways for carbohydrates, fats and protein;

• explain the interaction of selected metabolic pathways.

The content includes: Introduction to biochemistry as important to the micro-organisms in dairy food manufacture and to human nutrition. The nature of biochemically significant compounds; Bioenergetics of the cell; the role of ATP, its synthesis in catabolic pathways and use in biosynthesis and transport; ATP formation under aerobic and anaerobic condition; The role of enzymes, co-enzymes and vitamins. Enzyme properties and functions as they influence reaction kinetics and thermodynamics of cellular reactions; Introduction to structure and replication of DNA and RNA, and protein synthesis; Metabolic pathways such as tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolysis, oxidation of fats, and degradation of amino acids; Synthesis of carbohydrates, fats and proteins; Regulation of metabolism.

Assessment

Two 1 hour and 45 minutes examinations (50% each).