Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biochemistry
Teaching staff
Students may ask lecturers questions at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class time, students must make an appointment by email:
Sara Hernández (shernandez@uic.es)
Reyes Carballar (rcarballar@uic.es)
Pedro Mateos (pmateosaparicio@uic.es)
Alessandro Giampietro (agiampietro@uic.es)
Introduction
Nowadays, illnesses are explained in molecular terms, and knowledge of Biochemistry and Cell Biology is indispensable for correctly analysing aetiology, making diagnoses, administering treatment and assessing therapeutic processes. This is why future medical professionals must know how the human body works on a biochemical and molecular basis.
This subject aims to give medicine students a global view of the basic aspects of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and of scientific methodology in general. It has been designed in a practical way, each topic focusing on those concepts and situations that facilitates the comprehension associated to a professional vocation in the field of medicine.
Pre-course requirements
The subject does not require any specific administrative condition. However, in order to follow the course successfully, you should have the following knowledge:
- Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology at secondary school level.
Objectives
By the end of this course, students must have acquired the basic knowledge indicated in the programme, but above all, must have acquired a new perspective of the human body.
The mission of this subject (and, therefore, its final objective) is for students to gradually enter into the molecular logic of life and to understand the functioning of the human body as the coordination of myriads of molecules acting at the same time.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 07 - Understand and recognise normal structure and function of the human body at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ and systemetic levels, at different stages of life and in both sexes.
- 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
- 31 - Understand, critically evaluate and know how to use sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health care information.
- 34 - Ability for critical thinking, creativity and constructive skeptisim with a focus on research within professional practice.
- 36 - Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving using the scientific method.
- 37 - Acquire basic training for research.
- CB-1 - To have acquired advanced knowledge and demonstrated, within the context of highly specialised scientific and technological research, detailed comprehension based on theoretical and practical aspects and a working methodology from one or more fields of study.
- CB-5 - To transmit in a clear and unambiguous way to a specialised or non-specialised audience, the results of scientific and technological research projects and innovation from the field of the most advanced innovation, as well as the most important concepts which they are based on.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the structure and function of biomolecules.
- Apply the principles of inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry in the study of biomolecules and fundamental biochemical processes.
- Know the structure and composition of cells.
- Know the main metabolic routes.
- Understand and integrate metabolic regulation systems.
- Be curious about what is considered normal and knows how to formulate questions and hypotheses.
- Have the basic tools to orally present data, results or theoretical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Syllabus
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) Students in first call:
- 20% Mid-term examination.
- 55% Final exam.
- 15% Preparation and participation in clinical cases.
- 5% Class attitude and participation at all the teaching methodologies,
- 5% Examination of practical lessons.
2) Students in second call: same criteria as in the first call.
3)Students who have sat the examination twice or more: The assessment criteria will be the same for first and second call. Class participation, practical lessons and clinical case studies grades are saved for the next sitting, so attendance of these sessions is not mandatory. Students will be allowed to repeat attendance to practices, clinical cases and practical lessons to obtain a new grade if they wish.
General points to consider concerning the assessment system:
1) In the final exam, a minimum grade of 5 must be obtained in order to be able to average the marks of continuous evaluation (case, attitude and partial methods).
2) Examinations will be in multiple choice format with 4 options of answer, counting +1 the correct answer and -0.25 for each error.
3) 10% of the examination questions may cover concepts not explained in the classroom but contained in the recommended reading.
4) Participation in class means the contribution of interesting ideas or the presentation of pertinent questions that help to improve the quality of the session, whether master's lesson, clinical case or ABP.
5) Attendance:
- Regular attendance to lectures and case methods is recommended. Lecture’s attendance is not mandatory, but students will have to follow the standards indicated by the instructors.
- Attendance to clinical cases (MC), problem-based learning (PBL) and practical lessons is mandatory and students must attend in the assigned groups.
- The expulsion of student from lectures, case methods or PBL will have a negative impact on the evaluations. The expulsion of a student from the laboratory classroom will mean the automatic fail of the subject.
Bibliography and resources
General biochemistry:
- LEHNINGER. Principles of Biochemistry. Ed. Reverté.
- DEVLIN. Biochemistry. Ed. Reverté.
- STRYER. Biochemistry I i II. Ed. Reverté.
- MCKEE. Bioquímica. Las bases moleculares de la vida. Ed. MC Graw Hill.
Cell biology:
- LODISH. Molecular Cell Biology. Ed. Panamericana.
- ALBERTS. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Ed. Omega.
Metabolism:
- HARVEY, FERRIER. Biochemistry. Ed. Wolters Kluwer.
Review of general biology:
- FREEMAN. Biology. Ed. Addison-Wesley.
Evaluation period
- E1 25/01/2021 09:00h
- E2 06/07/2021 09:00h