UBC Okanagan

Course Descriptions

Biochemistry, Faculty of Science

BIOC: Biochemistry

BIOC 304 (3) Molecular Biochemistry I

Principles of thermodynamics and reaction kinetics in biochemistry. Acid/base biochemistry. Structure and function of lipids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. Enzyme kinetics. Credit will only be granted for one of BIOC 304 or BIOL 311. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of CHEM 204, CHEM 214.

BIOC 305 (3) Molecular Biochemistry II

Metabolic pathways with a mechanistic perspective including regulation and control of carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide catabolism and anabolism. Oxidative- and photo-phosphorylation. The biochemistry and molecular biology of signal transduction, replication, DNA repair, transcription, translation, and gene regulation. Credit will only be granted for one of BIOC 305 or BIOL 319. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: All of BIOC 304, BIOL 200.

BIOC 307 (3) Enology I

Chemistry and biochemistry of winemaking (enology) and grape-growing (viticulture) including development of the important major constituents of a wine; ethanol, acids, sugars, and colour; the subtle aspects of the aroma; odour-active compounds and how they form; and the effects of storing a wine in oak barrels. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of CHEM 204, CHEM 214.

BIOC 308 (3) Pharmacology I

Principles of pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug action, pharmacology associated with the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic branches), the neuromuscular junction, the inflammatory response, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, peptic ulcers, and general and local anesthesia. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 200 and one of CHEM 204, CHEM 214.

BIOC 309 (3) Pharmacology II

Continuation of Pharmacology I. Expands on topics including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug action, interaction of drugs with the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the inflammatory response, and the treatment of chronic diseases. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: BIOC 308.

BIOC 310 (3) Plant Chemistry

Chemical constituents of plants, their synthesis, their contribution to key metabolic processes, and the regulation of their biosynthesis. Synthesis of alkaloids, secondary metabolites, nutrients, and bioactive compounds. Discovery of new phytochemicals and human uses of plants. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of CHEM 204, CHEM 214 and one of BIOL 200, BIOL 210, BIOL 319, BIOC 305.

BIOC 393 (3) Biochemistry Laboratory

Topics include protein separation, enzyme kinetics, ELISA, DNA Ligation and Transformation, PCR, RFLP analysis, Agarose gel electrophoresis, STR and VNTR analysis, and gene regulation. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 393 or BIOL 393. [0-4-0]
Prerequisite: BIOC 304 and one of BIOL 200, BIOL 228, CHEM 204, CHEM 214.
Corequisite: BIOL 366.
Equivalency: BIOL 393.

BIOC 402 (3) Proteins: Structure and Function

Structural components of proteins; classification by primary, secondary, and tertiary structure; protein chemistry and purification; peptide and protein synthesis by chemical means; and three-dimensional structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of BIOC 304, BIOL 311.

BIOC 403 (3) Enzymology

Enzyme kinetics: steady-state kinetic analyses, fast-reaction methods, kinetic isotope effects. Catalytic mechanisms: coenzymology, radical-mediated reactions, catalytic rate enhancements. Special topics: enzyme evolution, multifunctional enzymes, biocatalysis, protein engineering. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 403, CHEM 403, CHEM 413, CHEM 569. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of BIOC 304, BIOL 311.
Equivalency: CHEM 403.

BIOC 405 (3) Lipids and Biomembranes

Review of recent research on the structure, dynamics, and function of membranes, membrane lipids, and proteins. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of BIOC 304, BIOL 311.

BIOC 407 (3) The Biochemical Basis of Disease

Draws on foundational knowledge of normal biochemistry. Inborn errors of metabolism, abnormal growth and metabolism, neurodegeneration and inappropriate protein folding, deficiency diseases, endocrine disorders, and cardiovascular and hematological disorders. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 407 or BIOL 507. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: One of BIOC 305, BIOL 319.

BIOC 410 (3) Nucleic Acids - Structure and Function

Chemical, physical, and biological properties of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation, and regulation of expression of genetic material. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 366.

BIOC 412 (3) Methods in Metabolomics

Chemical analysis of the metabolites in biological samples: study design, sample extractions, method development and validation, targeted and untargeted experiments, data processing, isotope tracer studies, chemoinformatics, compound identification, metabolic pathway and network mapping, data interpretation and presentation. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 412, CHEM 412 or CHEM 533. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: CHEM 211 and fourth-year standing in Biochemistry.

BIOC 420 (3-9) d Special Topics in Biochemistry

Advanced or specialized biochemistry topic. Seminar presentation required using original literature in the field. Repeatable for up to 9 credits with different topics. [3-0-1]
Prerequisite: Third-year standing in any B.Sc. program and permission of the department head.

BIOC 425 (3) Biocatalysis

Biotechnological application of enzymes and whole cell catalysts for the synthesis of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other fine chemicals. Emphasis on enzymes used for organic synthesis, protein and metabolic engineering, and immobilization strategies. [3-0-0]
Prerequisite: Either (a) BIOC 304 or (b) BIOL 311.

BIOC 448 (3/6) c Directed Studies in Biochemistry

Library (3 credits) or laboratory project with written report (3 or 6 credits) allowing a student to undertake an investigation on a specific topic as agreed upon by the faculty and student.
Prerequisite: Permission of the BIOC Management Committee.

BIOC 449 (6) Honours Thesis

Original research work under the direction of a faculty member. A written thesis with a public presentation of the thesis in the form of a poster or a seminar is required.
Prerequisite: Fourth-year standing in the Major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program with a minimum overall grade average of 76% (in all courses taken applicable to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Major), a research project, and approval of both the faculty supervisor and either the Chemistry or Biology Department Head.

BIOC 494 (3) Biotechnology Laboratory I: DNA Manipulation

Current techniques in DNA manipulation and analysis will be presented, relevant to such areas as molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Topics include site- directed mutagenesis, variations in cloning techniques, sequence analysis, Southern blotting, plus maintenance of a research lab notebook. [0-4-0]
Prerequisite: One of BIOC 393, BIOL 393. BIOL 366 is strongly recommended.

BIOC 495 (3) Biotechnology Laboratory II: Gene Expression

Current methods in gene expression will be presented, relevant to such areas as molecular biology, microbiology, and biochemistry. Topics include extraction, handling and manipulation of RNA, analysis of gene expression (transcriptional), production of recombinant proteins, and genetic transformation of eukaryotes. [0-4-0]
Prerequisite: BIOL 366 and one of BIOC 393, BIOL 393.

BIOC 530 (3) Biochemistry Seminar

Course designed to enhance oral and written communication of scientific concepts. Each student will present two seminars and write an NSERC-style grant related to their research. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 530 or BIOC 630.
Prerequisite: Admission to the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program.

BIOC 549 (21) M.Sc. Thesis

Pass/Fail.

BIOC 649 (0) Ph.D. Thesis

Pass/Fail.