CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Students are required to have a basic knowledge of chemistry which corresponds to a minimum score of 6 in the Chemistry questions of the admission test. For the students who, despite having passed the admission test, reach a score lower than 6, there will be identified specific Additional Educational Obligations (OFA), to be fulfilled within the first year of the course. Students with OFA will have to carry out an e-learning recovery path, in order to complete their initial preparation, which will be available to students for further study and clarification. At the end of the course there will be an ongoing test (OFA Recovery Test). The dates and place of the test will be advertised on the Study Program web page. The OFA are considered fulfilled once they have been passed, with a favorable outcome, the tests in progress and the final exam in the teaching of Chemistry.
Written exam, containing 15 multiple choice questions with one right answer, and one exercise.
The objective of the course is to introduce pivotal notions of chemistry and biochemistry for the knowledge of: a) chemical characteristics of components of biological systems; b) functions and localization of cellular and tissue metabolic pathways.
Atoms, molecules, material, periodic table, chemical bonds, polarity, oxidation number redox, gas Laws, solutions, concentrations, acid-base-pH and buffers, equilibrium of a chemical reaction.
Carbon chemistry: hybridization and bonds. Organic molecules and functional groups: alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Amines. Isomerie.
Structure and function of biomolecules.
Carbohydrates: general aspects and classification, monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides.
Lipids: general aspects and classification, fatty acids, acylglycerols, phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids, steroids, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K, E) and their biochemical role, lipoproteins and lipid transport in the blood.
Amino acids and proteins: biological importance of proteins, amino acids, peptide bond, structural organization of proteins, hemoglobin (structure and function) and myoglobin, collagen, muscle fiber proteins.
Enzymes: classification, enzymes as catalysts, coenzymes derived from water-soluble vitamins, factors that influence the activity of enzymes, inhibition of enzymatic activity.
Carbohydrate metabolism: glycogen, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis. Hormonal regulation of blood sugar.
Lipid metabolism: fatty acids as the main fuels of metabolism, beta oxidation, ketone bodies, synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol.
Metabolism of amino acids: protein digestion, deamination and urea production.
Bioenergetics: citric acid cycle, respiratory chain, electron transfer and ATP synthesis through ATP synthase.
All didactic material presented in the classes as well the one necessary for the preparation of the examination (slides, pantries, exercises) is available in the e-learning platform.
The professor is available for evaluating book already used by students. Moreover, the following text are suggested:
Chimica per le scienze biomediche Sackheim G.I. Lehman D.D. Ed. EdiSes
Chimica e biochimica per le lauree triennali dell’area biomedica Samaja M. Paroni P. Ed. Piccin
Chimica, biochimica e biologia applicata Massimo Stefani, Niccolò Taddei Zanichelli
Biochimica per le scienze motorie A. Di Giulio, A. Fiorilli, C. Stefanelli CEA
Oral lectures in a classroom, presentation of topics and discussions with the students on chemistry applied in everyday life. Lessons are provided in the form of a presentation via e-learning.
For any doubt or question regarding the lessons and their content, students may request and take an appointment with the Docent by writing at this email address: jenny.karousou@uninsubria.it