Course Lecturer Name(s): Kafi James-Lewis Dr. Felicia Ikolo, Dr. Margit Trotz, Dr. Shellon Thomas, Dr. Mary Maj, Atoum Abdullah
Course Director Name: Kafi James-Lewis
Course Lecturer(s) Contact Information: jmcdona1@sgu.edu
Course Director Contact Information: kjames@sgu.edu
Course Lecturer(s) Office Hours: jmcdona1@sgu.edu
Course Director Office Hours: Fri 1PM – 2PM
Course Lecturer(s) Office Location: Biochemistry department, Science Building
Course Director Office Location: Biochemistry department, Science Building
Course Support: Sakai
Course Management tool: To learn to use Sakai, the Course management tool, access the link https://apps.sgu.edu/members.nsf/mycoursesintro.pdf
Course Description:
CHEM 450 is a 3-credit biochemistry course in the premedical/foundation program at SGU. It is subdivided into 4 modules. Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of pre-med biology and chemistry. The material to be covered in this course is based primarily on the power point slides and direct learning activities (DLAs), with additional information taken from the recommended text (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews).
Course Objectives:
1. Identify the organic structure of living systems mainly dealing with biomolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids.
- Describe basic elements of intercellular signaling pathways including cell surface and nuclear receptors.
- Describe the metabolic processes that generate energy in cells and important biochemical molecules are synthesized.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Identify the structures and cellular roles of the major macromolecules: amino acids and proteins, carbohydrates and polysaccharides, fatty acids, triacylglycerol, phospholipids, and cholesterol, purines, pyrimidines, and nucleic acids
- Describe the biochemical pathways of intermediary metabolism, the functional significance of these biochemical processes as well as their regulation in normal and aberrant states.
- Integrate the biochemical information covered by this course into meaningful knowledge with an emphasis on the functional significance and regulatory mechanisms governing metabolism.
- Explain that energy is required by and transformed in biochemical systems as governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
- Execute mathematical reasoning and quantitative analysis to interpret biochemical data.
- Identify biochemical mechanisms that ensure stable cellular structure and function under constantly changing external and internal conditions.
Program Outcomes Met By This Course:
BIOL-PLO2: Apply knowledge of the basic structures and fundamental processes of life at the molecular, cellular and organismal levels.
- Structure and function of proteins and their constituent amino acids
- Enzyme catalysis
- Lipids
- Metabolism
BIOL-PLO3: Apply knowledge of the structure and function of the human body to health issues. a. Metabolism
- Enzyme deficiencies
- Nutrition
iii.Poisons/drugs
BIOL-PLO4: Apply knowledge of the interaction of atoms, molecules and biochemical processes that define organic and inorganic matter.
- Oxygen binding curves of hemoglobin and myoglobin
- Enzyme catalysis
- Signal Transduction
- Metabolism (regulation and integration of metabolism)
SAS Grading Scale: Grades will be assigned as follows:
A = 89.5% or better
B+ = 84.5 - 89.4%
B = 79.5 - 84.4%
C+ = 74.5 - 79.4%
C = 69.5 - 74.4%
D = 64.5 - 69.4%
F = 64.4% or less
Course Materials:
Text: Lecture notes and lectures posted on Sakai
Supplementary Readings/Resources: Emine E. Abali, et.al Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews:
Biochemistry. 8th Edition. 2021. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia. (ISBN: 9781975155063). E-book available online through the LWW Health Library collection https://meded-lwwhealthlibrary-com.periodicals.sgu.edu/book.aspx?bookid=3073
Course Grading Requirement:
8 % Online quizzes (four online quizzes, 2% each)
23 % Exam 1
23 % Exam 2/Midterm
23% Exam 3
23% Exam 4/Final
*** Final Marks are not negotiated, they are earned through your performance on quizzes and exams
Course Requirements:
There will be four exams (Exams 1,2,3 and 4)for the course and 4 Online quizzes (Online quiz 1,2,3 and 4).
Exams will be delivered online using the Exam Soft platform. Exam ID and Exam Monitor will be enabled for all exams. Students are expected to follow all University Examination Policies and Procedures for exams as outlined in the Student Manual. Online quizzes will be delivered online using Sakai Test and Quizzes. Students that are unable to complete exams or online quizzes must submit a medical or non-medical excuse to be approved by Dean of Students Office in order to sit completion exams at the end of the semester. The breakdown for exams and quizzes are as follows:
Online Quiz 1: covers L2 and DLA 1-4
Exam 1: covers L2 and DLA 1-4
Online Quiz 2: covers L4-6 and DLA 5-8
Exam 2: covers 10% (L2 and DLA 1-4) and 90% L4-6 and DLA5-8
Online Quiz 3: covers L7-9 and DLA 9-14
Exam 3: covers 10% (L4-6 and DLA5-8) and 90% (L7-9 and DLA 9-14)
Online Quiz 4: covers L10-12 and DLA 15-18
Exam 4: covers 10% (L7-9 and DLA 9-14) and 90% L10-12 and DLA 15-18
To pass the course students require a grade of at least 69.5% (C).
Towards the end of each week, a practice quiz will be posted on Sakai. Eight (8) Sakai Practice quizzes will be available to students throughout the semester. These quizzes are for your use to gauge your understanding of course materials and to sharpen your test taking skills. These quizzes will serve as a means of recording your active participation in this course. Practice quizzes are for practice only and do not count toward your final course grade.
School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections
Academic Integrity
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).
Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.
Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.
Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).
For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.