Course Focus: Biochemistry I covers the structure, function, and metabolism of carbohydrates, nucleotides, lipids, proteins, and enzymes, emphasizing their biochemical roles and interrelationships.

Major Themes: The course is organized into four modules: (1) Protein structure and function, (2) Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and DNA-based information, (3) Lipids, membranes, and transport, (4) Bioenergetics and metabolism.

Learning Objectives: Students will link concepts from general and organic chemistry to biochemistry, explain biochemical processes, identify biomolecules and their assembly, interpret biochemical data, and reason how molecular forces and thermodynamics drive structure and function.

Core Topics:

• Properties of water and buffer systems

• Amino acid structure, protein purification, sequencing, and folding

• Enzyme mechanisms, kinetics, and inhibition (v=VmaxS/(Km+S))

• Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and their structure/function

• Lipids, membranes, and membrane proteins

• Thermodynamics and bioenergetics (ΔG=ΔH-TΔS)

• Metabolic pathways and regulation

Assessment Structure: Grades are based on problem solving (5%), discussion posts (10%), quizzes (10%), four exams (60%), and a cumulative final exam (15%).

Course Activities: Include recorded lectures, synchronous discussions, problem-solving sessions, quizzes, and exams. Assignments are submitted online.

Skills Developed: Analytical thinking, data interpretation, application of chemical principles to biological systems, and scientific communication.