Module: Biomolecules & Metabolism

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Biomolecules & Metabolism
Module Code	BCH1003 (ITS: BE201)
Faculty	Biotechnology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

To equip students with fundamental skills to comprehend and evaluate the spectrum of biological macromolecules essential to maintenance of cell function and respiration.

Learning Outcomes

1. Comprehend the structural and functional complexity of macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins & lipids)
2. Comprehend the mechanistic nature of a metabolic pathway
3. Evaluate the basic chemistry that underlies the structural properties of different macromolecules
4. Evaluate how disruption in macromolecule function and metabolism can lead to human disease
5. Analyse enzyme performance using basic mathematical models of reaction kinetics

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	8	Online/F2F: Biological macromolecules - structure, function, regulation.
Lecture	8	Online/F2F: Cellular metabolism - understanding metabolic pathway mechanisms.
Tutorial	10	Online/F2F: Lecture review, Q&A, in-class quizzes, gamification strategies.
Independent Study	99	Course revision and quantitative exercises in enzyme assay kinetics. Individual lecturer interactions and queries. Incentivised participation in virtual study groups.
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10137	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Konstantinos Gkrintzalis	Module Teacher	Keith Rochfort

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Loop Quiz	Formative online CA to examine understanding of macromolecules (e.g. Online quiz).	10%	Week 6
Loop Quiz	Formative online CA to examine understanding of metabolic pathways (e.g. Online quiz).	10%	Week 12
Formal Examination	Summative exam covering all course content.	80%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Content 1 (F2F/Online)
Proteins: Classical amino acid structures, properties, and categories. Non-classical amino acids. Protein structural hierarchy. Protein sequencing and protein purification. Post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination).

Content 2 (F2F/Online)
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrate stereochemistry. Carbohydrates and disease. Complex carbohydrates (e.g. chitin, glycogen, cellulose).

Content 3 (F2F/Online)
Lipids: Fatty acids, glycerides, phospholipids, sphingolipids, steroids, cholesterol, and lipoproteins. Lipids in disease.

Content 4 (F2F/Online)
Enzymes: Enzyme classification, functions and cellular mechanisms of regulation. Quantitative analysis of enzyme catalytic function (enzyme kinetics). Properties of enzyme inhibitors.

Content 5 (F2F/Online)
Metabolism: Bioenergy concepts (RMR, BMR, ATP and NADPH/NADH.) The phosphagen system. Glycolysis, TCA cycle, electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Anaerobic glycolysis. Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and TG metabolism.

Learning activities (transversal skills, novel pedagogies, critical thinking, problem solving)
In-lecture/tutorial: Digital animations to bring complex figures and concepts to life, real-world scenario-style questions to promote critical thinking around core biochemical principles, quantitative techniques to analyse enzyme performance. Online: Gamification strategies to promote student engagement, understanding and content revision (e.g. biochemistry crosswords, identifying errors deliberately engineered into figures/graphs/scenarios), virtual quizzes to enable formative and summative assessment.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Roger Miesfeld & Megan McEvoy: 2017, Biochemistry, 1st Edition, V.W.Norton, 978-0-393-630

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None