BIOCHEMISTRY

General Module

Course Sheet

Course code:

OS12A4B

Academic Year of enrolment:

2023

Year of supply:

2023/2024

Type of Course:

Basic

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in MIDWIFERY

Disciplinary Sector:

Biochemistry

Is part of:

PHISIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY

Location:

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

CARLETTI ERMINIA

Cycle:

Second semester

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

According to learning regulations, Obstetrics students to take the integrated examination of Physiology and Biochemistry, must have passed the integrated examinations of Physics, Statistics and Computer Science and Biology, Anatomy and Histology.

Objectives

Know the laws of chemistry and the properties of the main inorganic and organic compounds of biological interest, including the relationship between structure and function of biomedical macromolecules; learn about the most important human biochemical processes for proper cellular functionality, and in particular the bioenergetics and metabolism.

Contents

Elements of Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Stucture and function of Biomolecules. Enzymes. Bioenergetics and Metabolism of Biomolecules.

Extended Syllabus

PART I: Introduction to Chemistry
Description of Matter:
The Atom. Isotopes and Atomic Masses. Introduction to the Periodic Table. Atomic Orbitals and Their Energies. Chemical Bonding: An Overview of Chemical Bonding. Ionic Bonding. Lewis Electron Dot Symbols. Lewis Structures and Covalent Bonding. Properties of Covalent Bonds, Polar Covalent Bonds. Ionic and hydrogen bonds.

Energy Changes in Chemical Reactions and Chemical Thermodynamics:
Thermodynamics and Work. The First and The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Enthalpy and Entropy Free Energy. Spontaneity and Equilibrium. Thermodynamics and Life.
Enzymes: classification, kinetics, and control

Molecules, Ions and Chemical Formulas:
Chemical Compounds. Acids and Bases and Ionic Compounds. The Chemical Equilibrium: Concept of Chemical Equilibrium. The Equilibrium Constant. Factors That Affect Equilibrium. Solution Concentrations. Acid–Base Reactions. A Qualitative Description of Acid–Base Equilibriums. Molecular Structure and Acid–Base Strength. Acid–Base Reaction.

Reactions in Aqueous Solution:
Aqueous Solutions. The Autoionization of Water. Solubility and pH.

Elements of Organic Chemistry:
General Overview of Carbon Compounds. Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes, Benzene. Overview of Functional Groups: Alcohols, Ethers and Phenols. Aldehydes and Ketones. Amines and Heterocycles.

PART II: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BIOMOLECULES

Carbohydrate: General aspects and classification. Monosaccharides, Disaccharides and Polysaccharides.

Lipids: General aspects and classification. Fatty Acids, Triglycerides, Phospholipids, Sterols and Cholesterol.

Proteins: Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins. Covalent structures and three-dimensional structures of proteins. Protein Folding and Dynamics. Hemoglobin and Mioblobin. Protein Function
Pathological Hemoglobin.

Nucleic Acids: structure, fuction and general aspects. Nucleotides and Nucleosides

PART III: METABOLISM
Introduction to Metabolism:
Carbohydrate metabolism I: major metabolic pathways and their control. Glycolysis. Citric Acid Cycle. Electron Transport and Oxidative Phosphorylation. Carbohydrate metabolism II: special pathways and glycoconjugates. Glycogen Metabolism, Gluconeogenesis and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway.
Lipid Metabolism: utilization and storage of energy in lipid form. Pathways of metabolism of special lipids: β-oxidation and ketogenesis.
Protein Metabolism: Amino acid metabolism and Urea cycle.
Hormonal regulation and tissue-specific metabolism.

Recommended Bibliography

"Chimica e Biochimica" (lauree brevi), M.Samaja-R.Paroni. PICCIN Editore

Nelson & Cox - Introduzione alla biochimica di Lenhinger – Zanichelli

Teaching Methods

The course is structured in 30 hours of frontal teaching, divided into 15 lessons of 2 hours each according to the teaching calendar.The frontal teaching will be supported by the projection of slides (prepared by the teacher) and movie-animations related to the topics covered.
Attendance is mandatoryand verified by collection of signatures in each lesson. The students to be admitted at the exam must have attended a minimum of 70% of classes.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

Oral exam

The exam method is an oral test designed to verify the results of the expected learning, in accordance with the educational and specific objectives of the course. The oral examination is placed at the end of the course, after having achieved the attendance to the same, according to a schedule established and published on the University web page at the beginning of the academic year. The outcome of the test is evaluated as the result of learning the specific and training objectives, such as knowledge and understanding, capacity for logical integration and application. At the end of the test the teacher will form an opinion expressed in terms of Italian grades and their correspondent European Credit Transfer System grade (In Italian Universities grades are given on the basis of 30 points).
1) Rating 30 - 30 cum laude (corresponding to ECTS grade A): Excellent knowledge and understanding of the subjects, ability to reason and logical integration of the acquired knowledge. If the student, who has achieved this evaluation, demonstrates autonomy of judgment, high communication skills and autonomous learning skills, a laude can be added by the commision.
2) Rating 27 - 29 (corresponding to ECTS grade B): Good knowledge and understanding of the topics with some non-serious inaccuracies and with a good capacity for logical integration and judgment.
3) Rating: 23 - 26 (corresponding to ECTS grade C): Discrete knowledge and understanding of the topics and, despite some gaps in the ability to integrate and apply knowledge.
4) Rating 20 - 22 (corresponding to ECTS grade D): Knowledge and understanding of the arguments fully sufficient, although there are clear gaps, which are reflected in a reduced capacity for integration, logic and application.
5) Rating 18 - 19 (corresponding to ECTS grade E): Knowledge and understanding of the topics with serious and evident gaps, with limited integrative and applicative skills, but which also allow the passing of the exam.

Contacts/More Information

By appointment, from Monday to Friday.
E-mail: erminia.carletti@unich.it
Tel: 0871 5411/ 0871 541479
(C.A.S.T.)

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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