Biochemistry

This course covers the molecules that constitute living organisms and their control mechanisms, as well as biotechnologies and the principles of aging and disease. Students are expected to acquire the abilities to understand and explore biological systems at the molecular and cellular level.

Course topics include:

• Cells: The Fundamental Units of Life and Chemical Components of Cells
• Protein structure and function
• DNA and Chromosomes
• DNA Replications and Repair
• From DNA to Protein: How Cells Read the Genome
• Analyzing the Structure and Function of Genes 
• How Cells Obtain Energy from Food and Energy Generation in Mitochondria and Chloroplasts
• Cell Signaling
• Cytoskeleton
• The Cell-Division Cycle
• Cell Communities: Tissues, Stem Cells, and Cancer

This course allows undergraduate students to understand the basic academic theories in the field of biochemistry. The course covers the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins, enzymology, DNA synthesis and replication, RNA regulation, message transmission, Hormones, carcinogenic mechanisms, nutrition, etc.

The course explores the biochemical and physical bases of the utilization of nutrients and metabolism in a human context and covers the molecular, cellular, and whole-body levels. Topics include: nutritional sciences; digestive system; mineral nutrients and dietary reference intakes; macro and micro minerals; water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins; body composition; energy expenditure and balance; digestion, absorption, and metabolism of dietary carbohydrates, fiber, lipids, and protein; phytochemicals; functional food components; integration, regulation and control of metabolism.

This course introduces the basic concept of structure and function of biological molecules in the cell; proteins; carbohydrates; nucleic acids, and lipids. This course provides in-depth discussions of structure-function paradigm and complex macromolecular interactions. 

This course deals with the integrative regulation of processes by hormones, in particular the regulation of energy, growth, stress, and reproduction. Basic principles are discussed first, such as homeostasis, hormonal axes, feedback mechanisms, biochemical structure of hormones, and structure and function of their receptors. Then the functional anatomy and histology of the endocrine organs are discussed, followed by the discussion of hormones that play a role in metabolism (including gut hormones and adipocytokines) and during growth, stress, and reproduction. During this course, specific attention is given to academic skills such as analyzing a scientific research paper and writing a scientific paper.