Biochemistry Courses

BIOC 200 - Medicinal Plants and Culture

The course will introduce students to key indigenous bioactive (medicinal) plants, their biologically active compounds, and their importance in Indigenous culture. The class will use multidisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to understanding plants and their medicinal properties. *** Prerequisite: 30 credit hours and one of the following courses at the 100 level: Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, English, Indigenous Studies, or Psychology.*** * Note: Biochemistry, Biology and Chemistry students can use this course in their program as an elective only. *

BIOC 220 - Biochemistry I - Biomolecules

This course is intended to offer an introduction to the world of Biochemistry. The course deals with the structure, properties, and significance of the major groups of biochemical compounds (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and vitamins). Related areas such as pH and buffers will also be discussed and typical procedures for investigation of these materials will be performed in the laboratory. *** Prerequisite: BIOL 100 and CHEM 105 ***

BIOC 221 - Biochemistry II - Metabolism

This course will present the bioenergetic principles, enzyme mechanisms and regulation of the central metabolic pathways. Topics include glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, the citric acid cycle, metabolic regulation of glucose and glycogen metabolism, the urea cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and photosynthesis. The laboratory experiments will demonstrate metabolic principles. *** Prerequisite: BIOC 220 and CHEM 140 *** * Note: BIOC 221 replaces BIOC 320 and students cannot receive credit for both. *

BIOC 312 - Analytical Chemistry III - Instrumental Analysis

Introduction to instrumental chemical analysis techniques including: GC, HPLC, ion chromatography, flame AAS and OES, GFAAS, capillary electrophoresis, size exclusion chromatography. Lab component: Experiments in instrumental analysis. *** Prerequisite: CHEM 210 and CHEM 215 *** * Note: Students can only receive credit for one of BIOC 312 and CHEM 312. *

BIOC 321 - Biochemistry III - Macromolecules

This class examines the biochemical properties of biomacromolecules including proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The structure and functional roles of the macromolecules as well as the regulation of their bioactivities will be studied. The laboratory will deal with the isolation, characterization, and quantitative determination of macromolecules. *** Prerequisite: BIOC 221 (formerly BIOC 320) ***

BIOC 330 - Enzymes

Lectures will discuss the fundamentals of enzyme chemistry: kinetics, inhibition, structure and mechanism, activity control, and protein folding and evolution. *** Prerequisite: BIOC 221 (formerly BIOC 320) *** * Note: BIOC 330 replaces BIOC 420 and students cannot receive credit for both. *

BIOC 340 - Biophysics

This introductory biophysics course examines the theoretical concepts and instrumentation design for microscopic techniques used to probe biological systems. We will investigate the key biological questions that can be addressed with each method. We will mainly focus on light-, fluorescence-, transmission electron-, and scanning electron microscopies with a brief introduction to atomic force microscopy. ** Corequisite: BIOC 321 **

BIOC 390 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry - an AA-ZZ series.

Selected topics in Biochemistry as defined by the individual instructor for courses at the intermediate level.

BIOC 391 - Research Experience

This course is intended for students who wish to gain experience in biochemical research under the direction of a Biochemistry/Chemistry faculty research advisor. Students will carry out an independent research project, and will have an opportunity to develop an appreciation for experimental preparation, methods, analysis, and scientific report writing. *** Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Head and the faculty research advisor.*** * Note: Research positions are limited. Students with a strong background in courses in the subdiscipline of research interest will be given preference.* * Note: Students can only receive credit for one of BIOC 391 and CHEM 391. * * Note: Students can use this course in their program as an elective only. *

BIOC 401 - Honours Research

Honours biochemistry students will carry out independent research under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to submit a research proposal and to present a summation of their research progress. * Note: Students can only receive credit for one of BIOC 401 and CHEM 401. *

BIOC 402 - Honours Thesis

A continuation of the research project started in BIOC 401. Students will complete their research projects, submit a written research thesis and give an oral presentation and defence of the thesis. * Note: Students can only receive credit for one of BIOC 402 and CHEM 402. *

BIOC 427 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the needs of groups of senior undergraduate students.

BIOC 428 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the needs of groups of senior undergraduate students.

BIOC 429 - Selected Topics in Biochemistry - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the needs of groups of senior undergraduate students.

BIOC 430 - Chemical Biology

Chemical biology can be defined as an interdisciplinary science where chemistry is applied to problems in biology. Topics include protein engineering/directed enzyme evolution, chemical genetics, genomics/proteomics, DNA/protein microarrays, catalytic antibody, ribozyme/DNAzyme, metabolic engineering, combinatorial biosynthesis, DNA nanotechnology, chemical ecology, bio-mimicry, biosensors, membrane transporters, etc. *** Prerequisite: BIOC 330 ***

BIOC 440 - Advanced Microscopy

This advanced biophysics course examines the theoretical concepts and instrumentation associated with scanning probe microscopy techniques, such as atomic force- and near-field scanning optical microscopies, that are used to address biochemical/biological questions. There will be a special focus on lipid systems, but applications to proteins, carbohydrates and whole cells will also be discussed. *** Prerequisite: BIOC 340 ***

BIOC 490 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students.*

BIOC 491 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses are designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students. *

BIOC 492 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students. *

BIOC 493 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students. *

BIOC 494 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students. *

BIOC 495 - Directed Readings - an AA-ZZ series.

Courses designed to meet the specific needs of individual students. * Note: These courses are restricted to honours students.*

BIOC 821 - Physical Biochemistry

This upper level course serves to introduce the student to physical biochemistry, the study of biological systems using physical techniques. We will investigate the principles that underscore each physical technique and the biological questions that each method can address. Emphasis will be placed on techniques that apply to protein systems.

BIOC 822 - Biochemical Control Mechanisms

Control mechanisms for the regulation of metabolic pathways and biosynthesis of macromolecular components in procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms, examined in terms of regulation of enzyme synthesis and activity as well as the regulation of RNA and DNA synthesis.

BIOC 827 - Selected Topics Biochemistry

Advanced topics in biochemistry related to student and staff interest: nucleic acids, vitamins, co-enzymes, enzymes and biophysics. May be repeated for credit if the topic is different.