CHEM 271

Biochemistry I (3 credits)

I found this to be one of the more challenging courses, as there is a TON of information to learn in a short amount of time. Additionally, each week there is a tutorial (with a quiz) or a 4-hour lab (with a report). In other words, this course will keep you busy throughout the semester.

Course Outline 

Lectures: I recommend you read up/glance through the material prior to lecture. I know that every professor says to do this, and no one ever has the time. But for this course, you can’t expect to retain all the information at each lecture if it’s the first time you’re being exposed to it. The slides are all figures and tables from the textbook. (I suggest you get a copy of the textbook, Berg)

Labs/Tutorials: Every week alternates between labs and tutorials. For the labs, have a lab coat, lab goggles (or prescription glasses) and lab notebook. Pre-labs are required prior to entering each lab session. Be in touch with your TA on what he or she expects for the lab report, as every TA has their own style of grading. The tutorials usually have a quiz at the end or an assignment due at the next tutorial. The quiz would cover material from the previous week’s lectures. The assignments involve using biochemistry computer software.

  • There are three programs you’ll be introduced to in this course during the tutorial:
    1. FirstGlance in Jmol
    2. ProteinLab
    3. EnzymeLab (note, this program is only available in the computer lab at school. You can download the free trial, or pay on your own for the real version)
  • Note, there is another website you will be introduced to called GenBank. There will be an assignment due in class using this website.

Exams: As it goes with every other chemistry course, the exam style greatly depends on the professor you have. If you have Prof. Paul Joyce, expect many applied and essay-type questions. Here is an old midterm by him, and here is an old final.

SL sessions: As far as I’m concerned, the SL sessions for this course have been suspended temporarily due to university budget cuts. I encourage you to reach out to the department to ask for them to reinstate it for this course.

Additional Resources: