You are reading the 2024/25 Academic Calendar. The 2023/24 version remains in effect until August 31, 2024 and is available here.

Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine

BIOC: Biochemistry


  1. BIOC 202 (3) Introductory Medical Biochemistry

    Introduction to proteins and enzymes, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose homeostasis. The course emphasis is on human biochemistry and it is designed for students going into health science fields. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 202, BIOC 203 or BIOL 201. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: One of CHEM 203, CHEM 223, CHEM 233.

  2. BIOC 203 (3) Fundamentals of Biochemistry

    Amino acids and proteins. Enzymes and enzymology. Human metabolic pathways. Structure, function and metabolism of carbohydrates including glycogen storage and gluconeogenesis. Restricted to students in Biochemistry specializations. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 202, BIOC 203 or BIOL 201. [3-0-1]

    Prerequisite: BIOL 200 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 223.

    Corequisite: CHEM 213.

  3. BIOC 301 (3) Biochemistry Laboratory

    Techniques by which the chemical and physical properties of fundamental components of the cell are studied. [0(3)-1]

    Corequisite: One of BIOC 302, BIOC 303.

  4. BIOC 302 (3) General Biochemistry

    Metabolic reactions of lipids, steroids, amino acids and nucleotides; the biochemistry of replication, transcription and translation. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 302 or BIOC 303. [3-0-1]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOL 201, BIOC 202, BIOC 203 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 223, CHEM 233.

    Equivalency: BIOC 303.

  5. BIOC 303 (6) Molecular Biochemistry

    Structure, function and metabolism of lipids, steroids, amino acids and nucleotides; the biochemistry and molecular biology of replication, transcription, translation and gene regulation. For students in Biochemistry and Honours programs in other life sciences. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 302 or BIOC 303. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOC 203, BIOC 202, BIOL 201 and either (a) CHEM 213 or (b) CHEM 233.

  6. BIOC 304 (3) Contemporary Biochemical Research

    Exploration of the breadth and importance of biochemical research to present day challenges in medicine and biotechnology. Detailed experimental research case studies of novel biochemical methods used to address pressing and ongoing biochemical issues. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: CHEM 213.

    Corequisite: BIOC 303.

  7. BIOC 398 (3) Internship Work Placement I

    Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic laboratory for three or four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

    Prerequisite: Completion of academic third year in Biochemistry major or honours program is required.

  8. BIOC 399 (3) Internship Work Placement II

    Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic research setting for four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

    Prerequisite: BIOC 398.

  9. 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 302, BIOC 303, BIOT 380. A minimum standing of 65% is recommended in these courses.

  10. BIOC 403 (3) Enzymology

    Kinetic analysis, catalytic mechanisms, transition state stabilization and regulation of activity, strategies for active site characterization and case studies of well-documented enzyme systems. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 403, CHEM 413 or CHEM 569. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: BIOC 402. A minimum standing of 65% is recommended.

  11. BIOC 404 (3) Biochemical Methods

    Theory and application of classical and emerging technologies in biochemical research. Emphasis on using primary literature and oral presentation skills. Restricted to Honours students in Biochemistry or others with permission of the instructor. [1-0; 2-0]

  12. 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. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 410 or BIOC 510. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: Either (a) all of BIOC 303, BIOL 335 or (b) BIOT 380. A minimum standing of 65% is recommended in these courses.

  13. BIOC 420 (3) Advanced Biochemical Techniques

    Multi-week experiments in areas of contemporary biochemistry research using classical and modern techniques. Emphasis on experimental design, technique, critical analysis of data, and scientific communication skills. Restricted to Honours students in Biochemistry and others with permission of the instructor. [0-6-0]

    Corequisite: One of BIOC 404, FSCT 480.

  14. BIOC 421 (3) Recombinant DNA Techniques

    Multi-week experiments involving contemporary nucleic acid research, cloning and recombinant protein engineering. Emphasis is on experimental design, critical analysis of data and scientific communication skills. Restricted to Major students in Biochemistry. [0-6-0]

    Prerequisite: All of BIOC 301, BIOC 410.

  15. BIOC 440 (3) Concepts in Molecular Biology

    Developing areas of molecular biology, focusing on experimental design and data analysis. Signal transduction, the use of model eukaryotes, and the regulation of gene expression. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOC 303, BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402, BIOC 410.

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

    A library (3 credits) or a 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 Department Head is required.

  17. BIOC 449 (3/6) c Honours Thesis

    A research problem under the direction of a faculty member. Restricted to Honours students.

  18. BIOC 450 (3) Membrane Biochemistry

    Biochemistry of membranes and membrane proteins, membrane fusion, electrical signaling, and the involvement of membrane proteins in disease and drug development. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOC 303, BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402, BIOC 410.

  19. BIOC 460 (3) Advanced Techniques in Biochemistry

    Theoretical basis and practical applications of a selection of advanced techniques currently used in biochemical research. Topics will vary. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOC 303, BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402, BIOC 410.

  20. BIOC 470 (3) Biochemistry & Society: Current Issues

    Biochemical basis of select global challenges. Critical evaluation of primary literature to form evidence-based opinions and communicating biochemistry as it relates to several controversial societal issues. [3-0-1]

    Prerequisite: One of BIOC 302, BIOC 303.

  21. BIOC 490 (3) Student Directed Seminars

    Self-directed, collaborative studies, in a group-learning environment, initiated and coordinated by senior undergraduate students with the supervision of a faculty advisor. Course structure, enrolment, and delivery methods will comply with the "Handbook for Student Directed Seminars". Not given every year. [3-0-0]

    Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

    Corequisite: One of BIOC 302, BIOC 303.

  22. BIOC 498 (3) Internship Work Placement III

    Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic research setting for four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

    Prerequisite: BIOC 399.

  23. BIOC 499 (3) Internship Work Placement IV

    Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic research setting for four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

    Prerequisite: BIOC 498.

  24. BIOC 501 (2-6) c Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory

    Practical applications of advanced biochemical techniques. Admission is limited and is by permission of the department head. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  25. BIOC 509 (3) Membrane Structure and Function

    The physical properties and functional roles of lipids in membranes, liposomes, membrane permiability; membrane function; structure, biosynthesis and cell sorting of membrane proteins; and the structure-function relationships of channels, transporters and receptors. Given in alternate years. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  26. BIOC 510 (3) Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function

    Structure and function of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation and expression of genetic information. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 410 or BIOC 510. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  27. BIOC 511 (3) Biochemical Aspects of Cellular Regulation

    A lecture and discussion course on the molecular basis of cellular regulation with special emphasis on mammalian cells. Mechanisms involved in the responses of cells to adrenergic, steroid and peptide hormones and growth factors. Regulation of the concentration and specific activity of key enzymes, transport systems and structural proteins. Given in alternate years. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  28. BIOC 514 (3) Advanced Topics in Protein Chemistry

    Topics will include contemporary theoretical and experimental investigation of protein structure-function relationships. Topics will vary. Given in alternate years. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  29. BIOC 522 (1.5) Membrane Proteins

    Structure, biosynthesis and cell sorting of membrane proteins; and the structure-function relationships of channels, transporters and receptors. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  30. BIOC 530 (3) Seminar in Biochemistry

    Attendance is required of all graduate students in Biochemistry. Normally students will make a presentation once per year on a topic approved by their research advisor or committee or on the results of their research. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  31. BIOC 548 (2-6) c Directed Studies

    In special cases, with approval of the department head, advanced courses may be arranged for graduate students in attendance. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  32. BIOC 549 (18) M.Sc. Thesis

    This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  33. BIOC 551 (3) Advanced Topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

    Discussions based on topics in the current literature. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  34. BIOC 552 (1.5) Membrane Proteins

    Structure, biosynthesis and cell sorting of membrane proteins; and the structure-function relationships of channels, transporters and receptors. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  35. BIOC 553 (1.5) Advanced Topics in Lipid Biology

    Principles of lipid structure and dynamics; biochemical approaches to study lipids and applications of lipid biology. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  36. BIOC 554 (1.5) Nucleic Acids: DNA/RNA Structure and Function

    Mechanisms, regulation and dynamics of DNA and RNA biology. Structure and function of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation and expression of genetic information. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  37. BIOC 555 (1.5) Epigenetics

    Principles, regulation and dynamics of epigenetics. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  38. BIOC 556 (1.5) Biochemical Aspects of Cellular Regulation

    Mechanisms involved in the responses of cells to adrenergic, steroid and peptide hormones and growth factors. Recent advances in approaches and regulation of the concentration and specific activity of key enzymes, transport systems and structural proteins. Given in alternate years. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading. [3-0]

  39. BIOC 557 (1.5) Advanced Topics in Biochemistry

    Advances in biochemical approaches. Topics vary. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  40. BIOC 558 (1.5) Advanced Topics in Protein Chemistry I

    Contemporary theoretical and experimental investigation of protein structure-function relationships. Topics will vary. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  41. BIOC 559 (1.5) Advanced Topics in Protein Chemistry II

    Contemporary theoretical and experimental investigation of protein structure-function relationships. Topics will vary. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  42. BIOC 560 (1.5) Computational Approaches in Biochemistry

    Computational approaches to study protein and nucleic acids. This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.

  43. BIOC 649 (0) Doctoral Dissertation

    This course is not eligible for Credit/D/Fail grading.


UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Chats Two speech clouds. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Menu Three horizontal lines indicating a menu. Minus A minus sign. Pencil A pencil indicating that this is editable. Telephone An antique telephone. Plus A plus symbol indicating more or the ability to add. Search A magnifying glass. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service.