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: Chemistry for Life Sciences 2 (SCBI08003)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Chemistry CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA chemistry course for students of life sciences, with special emphasis on organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. Organic chemistry of biologically important compounds and reactions; thermodynamics; reaction kinetics; structure determination of biological molecules; foundations of metal-dependent proteins and enzymes.
Course description This course moves on from material presented in ICB, BC1A and BC1B. The topics include the biosynthesis of important metabolites and natural products (fatty acids, antibiotics). We introduce the concept of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins that control their structure and function. We re-fresh the concepts of kinetics and thermodynamics by exploring the measurements made in enzyme assays. The concepts of various spectroscopic techniques (NMR, UV/vis, x-ray crystallography) are explained. We introduce the importance of metal (e.g. iron, zinc) binding to proteins and enzymes.
Lectures are supported by examples classes/tutorials and 5 laboratory classes.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: ( Introductory Chemistry for Biologists (CHEM07001) OR Biological Chemistry 1A (CHEM08022) OR Chemistry 1A (CHEM08016)) AND ( Biological Chemistry 1B (CHEM08023) OR Chemistry 1B (CHEM08017))
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Chemistry 2 (CHEM08019)
Other requirements Or equivalent prior qualification that allows direct entry into second year chemistry courses.
Additional Costs Purchase of a laboratory coat.
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 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 33, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 23, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 135 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 30 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Examination (70%) + Practical (30%)
Feedback Feedback is given for each of the 5 laboratory reports as well as at the tutorial.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Appreciate how to expand their chemical knowledge as applied to biological chemistry through various modes of teaching and learning.
  2. Understand and describe fundamental aspects of biological chemistry across three broad areas (organic, physical and inorganic). Specifically understand biosynthesis of complex molecules from simple building blocks; the structure and function of post-translational modifications of proteins; the concepts of kinetics and thermodynamics and the use of enzyme assays to generate such data; spectroscopic methods (UV vis/IR, NMR, crystallography); the role of metals in biology.
  3. Take part in discussions in the tutorlals and lab classes.
  4. Record, analyse and interpret experimental data and relate to core material.
  5. Carry out laboratory experiments safely across the organic, physical and inorganic areas. Prepare clear, well-structured lab reports. Use external material (www, books, research literature) to answer laboratory-associated questions.
Reading List
Any good biochemistry textbook; e.g. Stryer.
Organic chemistry covered by McMurry.
Post-translational modifications - book by Walsh - published review in Angewandte Chemie.
Kinetics/thermodynamics and spectroscopy covered by general chemistry text e.g. Blackman.
Specific material given by lecturer.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills 1. Data analysis and processing (Origin, ChemDraw)
2. Written communication (lab reports)
3. Team work (lab)
4. Independent learning (use core lecture material to explore current research areas)
Additional Class Delivery Information 3 lectures per week on Monday (11-12), Tuesday (11-12) and Friday (9-10).

Course consists of 5x3 hour laboratory sessions spread over 11 weeks (week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) and 7.5 hours of examples classes as arranged (usually weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11).
These are held in the Joseph Black Building, K.B. campus.
KeywordsCLS2
Contacts
Course organiserProf Dominic Campopiano
Tel: (0131 6)50 4712
Email: Dominic.Campopiano@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Susan Maitland
Tel: (0131 6)50 4707
Email: Susan.Maitland@ed.ac.uk
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