THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Chemistry : Service Courses for Biology

Undergraduate Course: Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe Biological Chemistry 1A and 1B 20-point courses together provide the first year course for students taking biological sciences-based degrees. These courses are designed to take students with diverse backgrounds and provide them with the thorough grounding in the fundamentals of biological chemistry and provide a basic training in the essential laboratory skills for practical chemistry.

The courses consist of lectures, tutorials and laboratory classes.
Course description The main themes addressed by the course are the chemistry of biologically important functional groups; biological catalysis (enzyme kinetics - principles and examples); bioenergetics, bioelectrochemistry and metabolic reactions (the kinds of reactions catalysed by enzymes with extensive reference made to energetics and biocatalysis).


It is the required 1st year course (with Biological Chemistry 1A) for students intending to proceed to biological degrees requiring credits in Chemistry and a pre-requisite course for Chemistry for Life Sciences 2.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Chemistry 1B (CHEM08017)
Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 32, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15, Online Activities 2, Summative Assessment Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 126 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 3 %, Practical Exam 27 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 0.70 Examination and 0.30 In-Course Assessment (comprising laboratory practical marks and Peerwise).
Feedback Feedback will be provided through three major channels:

Tutorials:
Each week before the tutorial you will be asked to work through some questions. Although these are not marked, you should always attempt the questions in advance as they are a good self-check on how well you have understood the material from the lectures. Use the tutorial to ask questions and clear up any difficulties you have with a particular topic.

Laboratories:
Each lab report you complete will be returned at your next lab session and you will have the chance to discuss any comments on your report with your demonstrator so you can learn from these and improve future reports. During the laboratory sessions you will be supervised by a demonstrator who will be available to provide feedback on your practical performance.

On-line quizzes:
Each lecture course has an on-line quiz associated with it. These quizzes can be attempted multiple-times and immediate feedback will be given to direct your learning. You should attempt these on-line quizzes before the relevant tutorial.

Towards the end of the course you will also be given the opportunity to provide us with feedback regarding all aspects of the course.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Biological Chemistry 1B2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Biological Chemistry 1B2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Appreciate how to build knowledge in chemistry through an increased awareness of the effectiveness of different modes of teaching and learning.
  2. Understand, describe and account for: the principles of organic reaction mechanisms and their application to simple metabolic pathways; the principles of kinetics in biological systems; bioenergetics involving reduction-oxidation reactions; and biosynthetic pathways.
  3. Participate in small group discussions both in a laboratory and in a tutorial setting.
  4. Use data sets using suitable software to formulate meaningful scientific arguments.
  5. Use laboratory equipment under supervision in a safe manner in order to perform simple synthetic procedures and spectroscopic characterisations, and write clearly structured, word-processed laboratory reports.
Reading List
Chemistry for Biologists, David Reed, ISBN 978-1408280829
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Written communication skills (laboratory)
2. Ability to work in teams (laboratory)
3. Note-taking skills in lectures
Additional Class Delivery Information Lectures on Mon 0900-1000, Wed 0900-1000 and Fri 0900-1000 at King's Buildings.
A one hour tutorial is held on either Tue pm, Thur pm or Fri pm.
Laboratory classes will be held Mon 1000-1300 or Mon 1400-1700 or Wed 1000-1300 or Fri 1000-1300 in Joseph Black Building, at King's Buildings.
KeywordsBC1B
Contacts
Course organiserDr Peter Kirsop
Tel: (0131 6)50 4719
Email: p.kirsop@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Claire Dickson
Tel: (0131 6)51 7257
Email: Claire.Dickson@ed.ac.uk
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