General biochemistry

Duration

35h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Lucien Bettendorff

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The aim of this course is to bring about an overview of the chemical reactions going in living cells. The program is divided in four parts :
1. molecular constituants of living cells, including proteins and nucleic acids
2. The biochemical reactions: energetics, kinetics and mechanisms
3. The metabolism
4. Storage and transfer of information

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, the students should be able:
1. To recognize the main molecular components of living organisms and their characteristics
2. To understand the basic chemical reactions occurring in living cells, their bioenergetics, the importance of enzymes that catalyze these reactions as wells as the required cofactors.
3. To follow the courses of humain and pathological biochemistry.
4. To give an overview of the techniques used in biomedical laboratories and to understand their principles.
5. To discern established facts from hypotheses and critically examine published literature in the field of general biochemistry.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

General biology, chemistry and physics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures Program and schedule are detailed in the Vade-mecum.  The material will be dispensed through lectures. The active participation of the students is encouraged. During the lectures, the topics will be illustrated through examples, learning strategies and exercices to allow a better understanding of the course.
Practical works Program and schedule detailed in the Vade-mecum. The participation is compulsary.
Two sessions are organized during the six-month period and which relate to the techniques of handling of proteins: chromatography, proteins quantification, enzymatic activity measurement and electrophoresis

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

The slideshows, complete course notes and knowledge tests are accessible via eCampus.
The students are encouraged to ask questions before and after the lectures and during the breaks.

Recommended or required readings

Students can access complete course notes through the e-campus website along with all supporting material (slide shows...). The slide shows presented during the course will be available through e-campus a couple of days before the course if possible. Recommended reading: Principles of Biochemistry, 4th edition, 2012 Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Charlotte W. Pratt. Singularités: Jalons sur ses Chemins se la Vie, Christian de Duve (2011)

Assessment methods and criteria

Written examination on material seen during the lectures and practical works will be organized according to the general program of the studies. Specific questions pertaining to the practical works count for 15% of the total.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The absence at a practical session should be notified to Ms Sabrina DeIuliis (Sabrina.DeIuliis@ulg.ac.be) as soon as possible and accompanied by a medical certificate.

Contacts

Professor Lucien Bettendorff, Research Director F.R.S.-FNRS
GIGA-Neurosciences, GIGA-Research,
Tour de Pharmacie (B36), level 1 L.Bettendorff@ulg.ac.be
Tel.: 04 366 5967
Assistants : Laurence Delacroix (ldelacroix@ulg.ac.be), Christel Pequeux (C.Pequeux@ulg.ac.be) and Sabine Wislet (S.Wislet@ulg.ac.be).
Secretary : Larisia Bourdoux (04 366 59 50)(larisia.bourdoux@ulg.ac.be).