This course aims to introduce the structural, biophysical and chemical principles of key biological macromolecules found in living organisms. You will use your understanding of the underlying molecular bases and functions of the macromolecules involved in various biochemical reactions to solve problems related to nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins. You will also develop the ability to conduct biochemical experiments in the lab and design new molecules based on knowledge of the protein data bank.
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Year Taken: AY 14/15, Sem 2
I actually really disliked using PyMol. PyMol is used extensively in the computer lab practical sessions. I think we only had 1 wet lab and like 4-5 computer labs. It’s kinda a steep learning curve for me probably due to the complex structures of the polymers that daunted me; it’s recommended to take some time to explore this for fun in the beginning of the sem. Otherwise, the course content is manageable and I like how the content is structured into different topics that all link to the same overarching concept of different types of polymers present (namely nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates). The topic I found most challenging came from the carbohydrates section (carbohydrates & vitamins). Based on the lecturer who’s the course coordinator of Biochemistry II next year, there will be a lot of focus on the vitamins part. Course content is carried forward more heavily for this module compared to the others.
This review was reposted with the kind permission of Min. Originally published at https://dancingwithroses.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/year-1-semester-2-module-reviews/
June 27, 2021
