Medical Biochemistry

The aim of this unit is to provide a foundation in biochemical principles with special emphasis on medical and nutritional applications. Firstly, foundations of biochemistry will be covered, including biological buffers and structures of genes, biological macromolecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Other topics covered include enzymes, bioenergetics and carbohydrate metabolism pathways, protein synthesis and modification. The clinical significance of various metabolic disorders will be discussed from a biochemical perspective.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Examine the structure and function of genes, biological macromolecules and how buffers work;
2. Discriminate between the structure of various proteins and review the processes by which proteins are purified and analysed;
3. Identify and analyse the nature and behaviour of enzymes and their reactions; and
4. Map and articulate metabolic pathways in bioenergetics and investigate the biochemical basis of metabolic diseases;