Biological chemistry

Wedi cwblhau'r modiwl dylai'r myfyrwyr fedru:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of acid-base equilibria in biological systems, including pH calculations, buffers and acid/base titrations.
2. Recognise isomerism including stereochemistry and the 3D shapes of molecules.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of spectroscopic techniques for the determination of structures of organic molecules.
4. Apply fundamental basic physical chemical principles to thermodynamics and kinetics in biological systems.
5. Explain the fundamentals and core principles in organic chemistry, including orbital hybridisation, structure, stability and shape of organic molecules. Demonstrate understanding of mechanistic organic chemistry and how this applies to biomolecules.
6. Discuss and describe the major biochemical metabolic pathways/cycles within cells, including start- and end- points, intermediates, enzymes and co-factors.
7. Discuss the interaction of these pathways and cycles.
8. Independently demonstrate retained knowledge and understanding of the module material.

The module will discuss and outline the application of physical and organic chemistry to the study of biomolecules and biochemical processes. This will include thermodynamics and kinetics, structure and reactivity of organic biomolecules, acid-base equilibria and spectroscopy. These will form the basis of understanding fundamental biochemical processes, pathways and cycles. Metabolism and the functions of amino acids, sugars and lipids will be outlined.

A study of biologically important functional groups will lead to a review of the concept of pH, acids, bases and buffers. Other aspects of physical chemistry will include energetics, binding of ligands and electrochemistry, the relevance to biological processes will be emphasised with examples. The topics of chemical equilibria and reaction kinetics will be discussed by considering the role of enzymes in biological reactions. Basic concepts in stereochemistry of natural organic compounds will be described and the different types of stereoisomers (geometric and optical isomerism). Optical activity will include both the D and L system and the R and S nomenclature. Review and concepts of spectroscopic methods will be by IR, UV-VIS, MS and NMR Spectroscopy.

Fundamentals of organic chemistry will be discussed, focusing on important chemical concepts, with emphasis on biologically related chemistry to grasp the importance of organic chemistry in understanding reactions in living organisms. The structure, reactivity and synthesis of biologically important organic compounds (amino acids, nucleotides, sugars, lipids, aldehydes, ketones, aromatic compounds and heterocycles) will be broadly covered, along with the structure of proteins. The major reaction types discussed include nucleophilic substitution, electrophilic aromatic substitution, addition reactions, oxidation and reduction, eliminations and rearrangements.

The module will consider major metabolic pathways, namely; Glycolysis and gluconeogenesis; Pyruvate dehydrogenase, the Citric acid cycle; Oxidative phosphorylation; Photosynthesis; Amino acid catabolism and anabolism; Fatty acid, lipid and steroid synthesis; Metabolic disorders and the disruption of metabolism.

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn cydymffurfio a FfCChC Lefel 4