Course Number: CHEM 180-3
Credit Hours: 3 Vector: 3-0-0 (lecture-tutorial-lab)
Course Description:
Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, electrochemistry, equilibria, and the structure and function of biomolecules. Concepts will be illustrated using modern examples of biological systems. Students will be introduced to central ideas and selected molecular engineering methods in biochemistry and molecular biology.
Prerequisite: CHEM 121-4
Recommended: None
Corequisite: None
Special Instructions: Students may not count both CHEM 1xx and 122 for
credit.
Course(s) to be dropped if this course is approved: None
The primary rationale
comes from the new Biomedical Engineering program, in which students gain a
basic understanding of life sciences, in addition to physical sciences,
mathematics and technology. Two new
courses in Kinesiology (KIN 208-3 and KIN 308-3) give the students a concise
exposition of anatomy and the major physiological systems. However, engineering students commonly leave
high school without Biology 11 or 12.
This course prepares such students who have taken CHEM 121-4 General
Chemistry and Laboratory I to enter KIN 208-3 Introduction to Physiological
Systems.
As a secondary rationale,
this course contributes to intellectual breadth and integration of
knowledge. Many of the topics – for
example, elementary physical chemistry, biochemistry and molecular genetics –
have become important in public discourse and even the daily news. A basic exposure is essential for anyone who
wishes to understand some of the background to these current issues. This course makes the elements of
biochemistry accessible to the many students who have a physical sciences
background, but lack prior courses in biology.
It is likely that many students from Physics or non-biomedical options
of Engineering Science will wish to take it.
Will this be a required or elective course in the
curriculum; probable enrolment when offered?
This is a
required course in the Biomedical Engineering curriculum. The probable enrolment is 30, but it may
climb if the enrolment in Biomedical Engineering grows or the popularity of the
course among other students increases.
Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first
offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter.
First offering Fall 2005,
annually in the Fall semester thereafter.
Which of your present CFL faculty have the expertise to
offer this course? Will the course be taught by sessional
or limited term faculty?
Any single instructor
would need unusual breadth to teach this course. The instructor would also have to be an
exceptional teacher, one who can convey sometimes difficult topics in concise
and intuitive way. Team teaching may be
necessary.
Suggested instructors:
Keith Slessor (Emeritus), Andy Bennet,
Mario Pinto, Erika Plettner, David Vocadlo (all Chemistry), Rosemary Cornell, Lynn Formby
(both Molecular Biology and Biochemistry).
Are there any proposed student fees associated with this
course other than tuition fees?
No.
Is this course considered a ‘duplicate’ of any current or
prior course under the University's duplicate course policy? Specify, as
appropriate.
Note: Senate has approved (S.93-11) that no new course
should be approved by Senate until funding has been committed for necessary
library materials. Each new course proposal must be accompanied by a library
report and, if appropriate, confirmation that funding arrangements have been
addressed.
Provide details on how existing instructional resources
will be redistributed to accommodate this new course. For instance, will
another course be eliminated or will the frequency of offering of other courses
be reduced; are there changes in pedagogical style or class sizes that allow
for this additional course offering.
All the engineering students in Chem
180-3 will be DTO (Double the
Does the course require specialized space or equipment not
readily available in the department or university, and if so, how will these
resources be provided?
No.
Does this course require computing resources (e.g.
hardware, software, network wiring, use of computer laboratory space) and if
so, describe how they will be provided.
1.
To
give engineering students who have taken CHEM 121-4 General Chemistry and
Laboratory I sufficient background to enter KIN 208-3 Introduction to
Physiological Systems.
2.
To
give science or engineering students who have CHEM 121, but no background in
biology, a basic understanding of central concepts of organic chemistry and
biochemistry.
1. Chemical Equilibria (2 Lectures)
2. Acids / Bases (2 Lectures)
3. Chemical Kinetics (2 Lectures)
4. Electrochemistry (2 Lectures)
5. Organic Molecules (2 Lectures)
Drawing organic molecules
Geometry of bonds and bond lengths
Hydrogen Bonds
Electrostatic interactions
Hydrophobic interactions
6. Introduction to Biomolecules (6 lectures)
DNA
DNA as a polymer
Structure of DNA
Hydrogen bonding in base pairs
RNA
RNA as a polymer
Structure of RNA
Proteins as structured polymers
Amino Acids
Protein Folds
Protein Stability (Need for controlled environment)
Enzymes
Lipids
Dielectric of media
7. Cell Structure (3 Lectures):
Compartmentalization
Location of Biomolecules
Function of Biomolecules
8. Central Dogma of Molecular Biology (2 Lectures):
Flow of information in central dogma
Location and significance of molecules
Enzymes involved
9. Case studies as examples:
Acetylcholinesterase (Integrated Topics): (5 Lectures)
Neuron cell structure
Synaptic structure
Saltatory Transmission Along Axons
Chemical Neurotransmitters (Acetylcholine)
Protein Localization
Protein Structure
Protein Fold
Enzyme Mechanism
Enzyme Kinetics
Diffusion Limit
Michaelis Kinetics
Enzyme Inhibition
Myosin (Integrated Topics): (5 Lectures)
Cell structure
Actin filaments
Structural proteins
Protein Structure
Protein Folds
Conformational changes
Enzyme catalysis
Enzymes as machines
Work
Insulin receptor autophosphorylation (Integrated topics): (5 Lectures)
Organismal signalling (Insulin as example)
Protein Localization
TBD
Projects
None.
Laboratories
None.
D. Voet and J.G. Voet, Biochemistry, Wiley,
B. Alberts, The
Molecular Biology of the Cell,
H. Lodish et al., Molecular Cell Biology, Scientific
American Books, 2000.