NVCC COLLEGE-WIDE COURSE CONTENT SUMMARY
CHM 260 - INTRODUCTORY BIOCHEMISTRY (3 CR.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Explores fundamentals of biological chemistry. Includes study of macromolecules, metabolic pathways, and biochemical genetics. Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

This is a one-semester college transfer-level course designed to meet the needs of science majors. CHM 260 is an elective course for science majors in their second year of college study following completion of CHM 111-112 - "College Chemistry I-II" and BIO 101-102 - "General Biology I-II". This course would also benefit the student who is in pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-veterinary, and health technologies programs.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCY

Prerequisite is CHM 112 - College Chemistry II" or CHM 122 - "Health Science Chemistry II" or division approval. The student should have a knowledge of basic chemical processes, introductory organic chemical nomenclature, and cell ultrastructure. The student will also need a background in high school algebra.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

At the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

    1. describe how cells are fractionated and their components studied
    2. describe the chemical and physical properties of water as they relate to life processes
    3. describe the structure and chemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids
    4. define and discuss the significance of protein conformation
    5. explain enzyme catalysis, kinetics and regulation
    6. describe the structure and function of biological membranes
    7. describe the pathways of intermediary metabolism and their regulation
    8. describe replication, transcription and translation
MAJOR TOPICS
 
A. Review of cell structure and function

B. Water and pH

C. Amino acids and peptides

D. Protein structure and function

E. Enzyme catalysis

F. Lipids and membranes

G. Nucleotide and nucleic acid chemistry

H. DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis

I. Gene regulation

J. Recombinant DNA

K. Carbohydrates

L. Bioenergetics

M. Intermediary metabolism

OPTIONAL TOPICS
A. Muscle and connective tissue proteins

B. Experimental methods

C. Photosynthesis

D. Immunochemistry

E. Complex carbohydrates and glycoproteins

F. Neurochemistry

Revised 6/98

Back to Top                                                  Back to CES Homepage