Registry
Module Specifications
Archived Version 2022 - 2023
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Description To equip students with fundamental skills to comprehend and evaluate the spectrum of biological macromolecules essential to maintenance of cell function and respiration. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 |
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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. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List
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Other Resources None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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