Course Director: David Mann, Ph.D.
Biochemistry is the science concerned with cellular constituents at the molecular level and all the reactions that take place within a living cell. A biochemical understanding of molecular and cellular components in health enables physicians to appreciate how the properties and function of these components are altered in disease. Biochemistry is fundamental to understanding all branches of the life sciences. The course is offered during the first two terms of medical school and is composed of both lectures and workshops. Workshops are conducted with small groups using case-based learning to illustrate the application of biochemical concepts in a clinical setting.

BIOC 1511 Biochemistry I
This course features modules on protein structure and enzymes emphasizing structure-function relationships; cell biology emphasizing how cells move, grow, and divide; molecular biology emphasizing the role of nucleic acids in the storage and expression of genetic information; and intermediary metabolism emphasizing the degradation and synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids. Clinical aspects as well as the regulation and coordination of biologic processes during the fed and fasted states are emphasized. The workshops introduce the biochemical basis of common clinical laboratory tests and/or they illustrate clinical applications of biochemical concepts.

BIOC 1522 Biochemistry II
This course has modules on human nutrition emphasizing the importance of nutrition in health and preventive medicine; human genetics emphasizing the inheritance of selected genetic disorders; and tissues and organs emphasizing the customization and adaptation of biochemical pathways in specialized cells. Workshops feature a modified problem-based learning environment. Working in teams, students research various aspects of a case and orally present their findings to their small group.