BCHM 100A: INTRODUCTORY BIOCHEMISTRY

FALL 2015 SYLLABUS

Instructor:

Emily Westover, westover@brandeis.edu; Kosow 108, ext. 6-2304

Open Office: M 1-2; W 11-12 or by email appointment

Assistants:

Patrick Finneran (pfinneran@brandeis.edu); Lindsey Lamarche

(lamarche@brandeis.edu); TDB ???

Meetings:

Lecture 10:00 10:50 am, MWH, Schwartz 106

Recitation 6:30 7:50 pm, H, TBD

Textbook:

Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson and Cox, 5th or 6th Ed.

Learning Objectives
Biochemistry illuminates the molecular details of living things. In your studies this semester, you will:
explain biological phenomena using chemical and biochemical terminology, facts and concepts;
evaluate the relationship between molecular structure and function;
describe and construct metabolic pathways with chemical detail; and
communicate biochemical concepts effectively.
You will show your achievement of these learning objectives through:
Pre-class questions (1 pt. per class, 30 pts. max.)
o You will submit thoughts and questions on assigned reading & class material by 11:59 pm
prior to each class. Please refer to Latte for the current reading schedule and your PCQ
Scorecard.
Recitation (8 pts. each, 6 best scores will be recorded)
o Quizzes will be given during each recitation and will be based on material covered in the
previous weeks classes and posted Problem Set.
My Biochemistry Project (22 pts.)
o You will choose a molecule to describe in biochemical detail in a short (~350 word) essay.
3 Midterm Exams (100 pts. each)
o Exams will be given on Thursday, October 1, October 29 and November 19 during
the recitation period (6:30-7:50 pm) and will be comprehensive.
Final Exam (100 pts.)
o The final exam is comprehensive and currently scheduled for Friday, December 18 at
9:15 a.m -12:15 p.m. *Do not make travel arrangements that interfere with this exam.*
Expectations

I ask you to stay apprised of information given in class and via LATTE.
During class, I ask you to only use electronic devices to participate in class activities.
I expect you to completely follow the Universitys Academic Integrity policies.
If you need a University-sanctioned accommodation, please contact me immediately.
For your final grade, I will only consider your 3 best exam scores and your 6 best quiz
scores. To be fair to all students, I do not give make-up quizzes or exams.
I hope you will learn biochemistry; to this end, all assessments will be comprehensive.
Please note that as per University policy, success in this 4 credit hour course is based on the
expectation that students will spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in
preparation for class (e.g., readings, PCQs, recitations, preparation for quizzes and exams).
I will assign letter grades based on percentage of total points earned: A: >93%, A-: 93-90, B+: 8985, B: 84-80, B-: 79-75, C+: 74-70, C: 69-65, C-: 64-60, D+:59-55, D: 54-50, F: <50%.

Fall 2015 BCHM 100a Schedule (subject to change)

1

Date
H 8/27

Topic
Biochemistry is cool!

Lehninger Sections
1.1-1.3

Recitation

2
3
4

M 8/31
W 9/2
H 9/3

5
6

W 9/9
H 9/10*

7
8
9

W 9/16
H 9/17
M 9/21

10

H 9/24

11
12
13

T 9/29*
W 9/30
H 10/1

14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

W 10/7
H 10/8
M 10/12
W 10/14
H 10/15
M 10/19
W 10/21
H 10/22
M 10/26
W 10/28
H 10/29
M 11/2
W 11/4
H 11/5
M 11/9
W 11/11
H 11/12
M 11/16
W 11/18
H 11/19
M 11/23

35
36
37
38
39

M 11/30
W 12/2
H 12/3
M 12/7
W 12/9

Wonderful world of water

2.1-2.2
Buff buffers
2.2-2.3
All about amino acids
3.1
Recitation, Q1
Monday, September 7: No Class
Primarily proteins
3.2-3.4
Proteins in the secondary
4.1-4.2
No Recitation (Mon)
Monday, September 14: No Class
1, 2, 3, 4 protein structure, I want more
4.3
Fold it
4.4
Recitation, Q2
In a Bind
5.1
Wednesday, September 23: No Class
Great globins
5.1
Recitation, Q3
Monday, September 28: No Class
Can you cooperate?
5.1
Breathe, just breathe
5.1
Review
Ch 2 - 5
Midterm #1
Monday, October 5: No Class
Enzyme-atic
6.1
Project Topic Due
Energetic enzymes
6.2
Recitation, Q4
Block that enzyme
6.3
Exemplary Enzymes
6.4
Sweet sugars
7.1
No Recitation (Retreat)
Crack the carbonyl
13.2, 13.4
Metabolism boost!
13.1
Whats in your metabolic toolbox? (part 1)
Various pages
Recitation, Q5
Whats in your metabolic toolbox? (part 2)
Various pages
Whats in your metabolic toolbox? (part 3)
Various pages
Review
Ch 2 7, 13
Midterm #2
Chop that sugar
14.1
Glorious glycolysis
14.1-14.3
Cycle the citrate
16.1, 16.2
Recitation, Q6
Cycle the citrate again
16.1, 16.2
OxPhos is the Boss
19.1, 19.2
Amazing ATPase
19.1, 19.2
Recitation, Q7
Break down the fat
10.1, 17.1-17.3
Pimp that PLP
18.1, 18.2
Review
Ch 2-7, 13-17, 19
Midterm #3
Eureka Urea!
18.2, 18.3
Project Due
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov 25 and 26: No Class, No Recitation
Break em amino acids down (part 1)
18.2, 18.3
Break em amino acids down (part 2)
14.5
Sugar shuffle
14.4
Recitation, Q8
How to make fat
21.1
R-E-G-U-L-A-T-E
15.1-15.3, 23.1-23.3
FINAL EXAM: Friday, December 18, 9:15 a.m. 12:15 p.m.

No Recitation