521-211 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Part A

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Chemistry 610-121 and 610-122 (before 1998) or 610-141 plus 610-142 or 610-161 plus 610-162. Biology 600-141 plus 600-142 are strongly recommended.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of the subject the student should have acquired knowledge of the fundamental areas of biochemistry and molecular biology relating to the structure, function and chemical properties of biological molecules; a detailed understanding of the structure and function relationships of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids; and an appreciation of the fundamentals of molecular cloning and recombinant DNA technology and DNA replication and repair. Content includes introduction to the principles of cellular functions; amino acid chemistry; acid base implications in biochemistry; preparation and purification of proteins; structure and function of proteins with particular attention given to serum proteins, haemoglobin and immunoglobulins; properties of enzymes and their regulation; lipid chemistry; biomembrane composition, architecture, dynamics and function including membrane transport processes; carbohydrate structure and function; the structure of nucleic acids, DNA helices and implications for roles as genetic material; molecular cloning and recombinant DNA technology, DNA replication; and repair mechanisms.

Assessment

Computer-based tests of knowledge gained in computer tutorials (10%); a 3-hour written examination at the end of the semester (90%).