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NSC223Health Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY I

This course introduces medical biochemistry, a subset of general biochemistry, focusing on chemical reactions in biological systems. Students will explore biochemical activities within cells, understanding their impact on health and disease. The course elucidates the causes of illnesses and the mechanisms of treatment, while also explaining the effects of drugs on the body and the body's effects on drugs. Concluding aspects highlight the roles of biocatalysts and the importance of vitamins in maintaining life processes.

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60h
Study Time
13
Weeks
5h
Per Week
basic
Math Level
Course Keywords
Medical BiochemistryBiomoleculesEnzymologyCell StructureMetabolism

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
Math Level
Basic Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Physiological Chemistry

2

Cell Structure and Functions

3

Biomolecules

4

Carbohydrates

5

Amino Acids and Proteins

6

Lipids

7

Nucleic Acids

8

Enzymology

9

Enzyme Kinetics

10

Enzyme Inhibition

Total Topics10 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (5 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Computer-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Laboratory Practical

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Nurse

Apply your skills in this growing field

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Biomedical Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Pharmacist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Nutritionist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

HealthcarePharmaceuticalsBiotechnologyResearch LaboratoriesFood Industry

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: General Introduction to Medical Biochemistry

2h

Unit 1: Introduction to Physiological and Pathological Chemistry

2 study hours
  • Read the definition of biochemistry and medical biochemistry.
  • Identify major breakthroughs in biochemistry.
  • Explain the relevance of biochemistry to nursing and other health sciences.
  • Describe different branches of biochemistry.
Week
2

Module 1: General Introduction to Medical Biochemistry

2h

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Functions

2 study hours
  • Define a cell and draw the structure of a typical animal cell.
  • Differentiate between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
  • Describe the types, classification, and lifespan of animal cells.
  • Describe the chemical composition of plasma membranes.
Week
3

Module 1: General Introduction to Medical Biochemistry

2h

Unit 3: Functions of the Cell Membrane

2 study hours
  • Describe the basic organization of the cell membranes.
  • Describe the various functions of the cell membrane.
  • List the factors that regulate the movement of materials across the membranes.
Week
4

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 1: Chemistry of Carbohydrates

2 study hours
  • Define the terms monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide.
  • Explain the different ways in which the structures of glucose and other monosaccharides can be represented.
  • Describe the occurrence of isomerism in sugars.
Week
5

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 2: Chemistry of Carbohydrates (II)

2 study hours
  • State the composition and give examples of disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides found in biological systems.
  • Describe the roles of carbohydrates in cell membranes and lipoproteins.
  • Describe the reactions of carbohydrates.
Week
6

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 3: Water, Acids, Bases and Buffer

2 study hours
  • Explain the properties of water.
  • Describe the importance of water as the major component of living organisms.
  • Define acid, base, and buffer.
  • Calculate the pH, pOH, and pKa of a given solution.
  • Explain the biological importance of buffer.
Week
7

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 4: Chemistry of Amino Acids and Proteins (I)

2 study hours
  • Describe the general structure of α-amino acids.
  • Identify the 20 amino acids which make up proteins.
  • Explain the relationship between R groups and the chemical properties of amino acids.
  • Calculate the pI of a monoamino monocarboxylic amino acid.
  • Describe how peptide bonds are formed and peptides named.
Week
8

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 5: Chemistry of Amino Acids and Proteins (II)

2 study hours
  • Explain the process of protein purification.
  • Discuss how amino acid composition is determined.
  • Discuss how amino acid sequence is determined.
  • Explain the different levels of protein structure.
  • State the roles of proteins in biological processes.
  • Explain how amino acid sequence of a protein is determined.
Week
9

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 6: Chemistry of Lipids

2 study hours
  • List the biological functions of lipids.
  • Classify lipids to different groups based on their chemical composition.
  • Describe the classes of lipoproteins.
Week
10

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 7: Chemistry of Nucleic Acids I

2 study hours
  • Describe the chemical components of nucleic acids.
  • Describe the formation of nucleosides.
  • Describe the formation of nucleotides.
  • Describe deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA).
  • Describe ribonucleic acids (RNA).
  • Explain replication, transcription, translation, DNA denaturation, and renaturation.
Week
11

Module 2: Chemistry of Biomolecules

2h

Unit 8: Chemistry of Nucleic Acids II

2 study hours
  • Describe the structure of DNA and RNA.
  • List the structural differences between DNA and RNA.
  • Draw the schematic structure of DNA.
  • Explain transcription, replication, and translation.
  • List at least 3 biological functions of nucleotides apart from genetic functions.
Week
12

Module 3: Basic Enzymology

2h

Unit 1: Introductory Enzymology

2 study hours
  • Define the role of enzymes as catalysts of biological systems.
  • Outline and distinguish the 3 types of cofactors required by most enzymes.
  • Explain how enzymes are named.
  • Outline and explain the general properties of enzymes.
  • Enumerate the different classes of enzymes and the types of reactions catalyzed by each class.
Week
13

Module 3: Basic Enzymology

4h

Unit 2: Enzyme Kinetics I

2 study hours
  • Define basic terms related to enzyme kinetics.
  • Derive the Michaelis-Menten rate equation.
  • State the linear forms of the Michaelis-Menten rate equation.
  • Make linear plots and deduce kinetic parameters from a given set of data.

Unit 3: Enzyme Kinetics II

2 study hours
  • Outline and distinguish the different types of reversible enzyme inhibition with specific examples and explain the use of enzyme inhibitors in drug design.
  • Enumerate the effects of the different types of inhibitors on Lineweaver-Burk plots.
  • Explain the regulatory roles of allosteric enzymes, covalently modulated enzymes, and isoenzymes.
  • Give examples of enzymes used in clinical diagnosis and their diagnostic importance.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create detailed concept maps linking metabolic pathways (glycolysis, citric acid cycle, etc.) to understand the flow of energy and molecules.

2

Practice drawing and labeling the structures of key biomolecules (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides) to reinforce memory and understanding.

3

Review enzyme kinetics problems, focusing on calculating Km and Vmax from Lineweaver-Burk plots.

4

Focus on understanding the mechanisms of enzyme inhibition (competitive, uncompetitive, non-competitive) and their effects on enzyme kinetics.

5

Study the clinical applications of enzymes, focusing on which enzymes are indicative of specific diseases or conditions.

6

Use flashcards to memorize the essential and non-essential amino acids, including their structures and properties.

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