CH360  UO  Physiological Biochemistry

Spring Term, 2007, CRN 38103

Carol Higginbotham, Ph.D.

  201 Ochoco                       383-7552              chigginbotham@cocc.edu

Office Hours:  M 8:30-10 am, T 10-11:30 am, 2:50-3:35 pm, R 2:50-3:35 pm

Text:  Concepts in Biochemistry, 2/e by Rodney Boyer, Brooks-Cole ITP, 2002 (ISBN 0-534-38006-9), or similar.

Required Supplementary materials: Scientific calculator

Prerequisite: Some biology (General, cell, genetics recommended), Organic Chemistry (CH242 or 335 or equivalent), calculus recommended. 

When and where this course meets:

Lecture meets in CSB 117 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-2:50 pm.

Course Goal:  This course is designed to give a broad overview of biochemistry.  We will include discussions of the major classes of macromolecules, the roles they play in living cells, and the ways living organisms store and transfer biological information and energy.

Learning Resources:  In addition to the text, learning resources will be available via the web.  Detailed instructions on finding and using these sites will be given during the course.  If you have the option, you may also want to get a copy of the text that includes the accompanying CD.

Class Policies and Grading:

Attendance:  is expected.  You have a contribution to make to the class, so we want you here!  Credit may be given for in-class activities.  Contact me beforehand if you must miss class or if you will be late.  I will not accept late assignments.  In the event of an emergency keeps you from an exam, you must contact me ahead of time to discuss the problem.  If I do not hear from you before the exam period has ended, you earn a zero for that exam. 

Class time:  will be spent on lectures, discussions, problem-solving sessions, and group work activities.  Please do not be let yourself be intimidated by the interactive approach.  It will benefit you to participate enthusiastically, and I will keep the atmosphere in the classroom respectful and kind at all times. 

Homework:  will be assigned occasionally and will be handed in for credit. Homework assignments may include problem sets, written work describing ideas, people, or experiments I want you to investigate, presentations, perhaps even some experiment design of your own.

Cheating:  I may seem nice, but I do not tolerate cheats:  I give zeros and will report incidents to the college administration.  If you have questions about what does and does not constitute cheating, talk to me before you turn in any questionable work.  Note that plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty.  When you use words or ideas that are not your own you are required to cite the source.

Contacting me:  Feel free to phone, email, or stop by anytime.  If you come at an inconvenient time, I may ask you to set up an appointment but I will not be unhappy that you asked.

If you are having trouble:  Students will have access to their grade record through WebGrade, at http://www.eclassinfo.com.  Instructions for accessing this resource will be given in class.  If you have concerns about your grade at any time, let me know.   Face your problems before they become insurmountable.

Grading:  Grades will be calculated on percentages.  I do not keep records of letter grades, but record percent scores or absolute scores and then convert those into letter grades at the end of the course.  Points can be earned from:

            Homework and quizzes                                                  = 40%

            Exams:  2 exams (a midterm and a final)                                    = 60%                                       % score = (earned points/possible points) x 100

Grades will be assigned on a standard percent scale, where:

            94 - 100% = A, 90 – 93.9 = A-, 87- 89.9 = B+, 84 – 86.9 = B, 80 – 83.9 = B-, etc.

It is in your interest to keep all returned work should a discrepancy in our records come up. 

Some general comments:  As a one term course, we do not have enough time to study many biochemical topics in depth.  My goal is to provide you with a broad exposure to the discipline.  As a result, you may recognize certain differences from other chemistry courses.

Topics go by quickly, there is a lot of reading, and the course tends to be more descriptive and less problem-based than other chemistry courses.  It is crucial that you keep up with the reading so that you can make good use of lecture time.  Be vocal, and seek connections between what you are learning in biochem and what you already know from other courses, especially general biology, molecular and cellular biology or organic chemistry.

I also want you to know at the outset that I may misunderstand your background in biology.  If I assume you know something that you do not know, alert me quickly.  Our class is small enough to allow for real discussion, and if you do not understand something it is likely that someone else in the room also does not.  Think of it as a favor to others (as well as yourself) to speak out.