Course code Biol5009

Credit points 3

Human Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures20

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes4

Independent study hours57

Date of course confirmation12.01.2024

Responsible UnitInstitute of Food

Course abstract

The aim of course is to give students knowledge about static biochemistry, enzymology, metabolism and elements of molecular biology. The tasks of present course are to master:
1) basics topics on static biochemistry: proteins, lipids, sugars, nucleic acids – their structure and functions;
2) fundamentals of enzymology with elements of enzyme kinetics;
3) bioenergetics, and common metabolic pathways as well intermediary aspects of sugar, lipid and amino acid metabolism;
4) basic of molecular biology, gene structure, gene expression;
5) principles of regulation of metabolism;
6) to gain an understanding of digestive biochemistry: human digestive tract function, nutrient digestion, absorption and transport in the body;
7) influence of biologically active compounds of food on metabolism.
The course is taught in Latvian.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge:
1) the general conceptions of biochemistry are achieved;
2) the knowledge about basis of molecular biology is mastered;
3) the theoretical knowledge about relations between nutrition and metabolism is obtained;
Skills:
4) students can evaluate the biochemical transformation of food components in the metabolic pathways of human organism;
5) students can evaluate the influence of biologically active substances and vitamins on human metabolism;
Competencies:

6) students will gain competencies that will enable them to understand the interaction between human metabolism and nutrients.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lectures
1. Biomolecules. L2
2. Enzymology, compound proteins. L2
3. Basics of metabolism, energetic metabolism. L1
4. Carbohydrate metabolism. L2
5. Lipids metabolism. L2
6. Nitrogen metabolism. L2
7. Biochemistry of digestion. L2
8. Water and ion exchange, transport. L1
9. Basics of molecular biology and genetics. L2
10. Vitamins and microelements. L2
11. Biologically active substances in food, its impact on metabolism.
Laboratory works
1st laboratory work. Protein isolation and detection.
2nd laboratory work. Digestion of carbohydrates.
3rd laboratory work. DNA extraction.

4th laboratory work. Detection of vitamins.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Attendance at lectures and laboratory works and seminars is mandatory. The total evaluation of the results achieved by the students in the study course consists of:
1) successfully passed intermediate test – written test (biomolecules, protein isolation, and demonstration, enzymology, composite proteins, general basics of metabolism, energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, nitrogen metabolism) (20%);
2) successfully passed intermediate test – written test (digestive biochemistry, water and ion exchange, their transport, basics of molecular biology and genetics, vitamins and microelements, biologically active substances in food) (20%);
3) 4 laboratory works (protein extraction and detection, carbohydrate digestion, DNA extraction, vitamin demonstration) (20%);

4) written exam – test (40%).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

The independent work of the students is organized individually assigning the following tasks:
1) independently prepares for seminars, laboratory works and intermediate examinations, and final examination;

2) to study literature related to the course topics.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Attendance at lectures and laboratory works and seminars is mandatory. The total evaluation of the results achieved by the students in the study course consists of:
1) successfully passed intermediate test – written test (20%);
2) successfully passed intermediate test – written test (20%);
3) 4 laboratory works (20%);

4) written exam – test (40%).

Compulsory reading

1. Stryer, L. (1995) Biochemistry. Freeman.
2. Lehninger, A.L. et al, (2005) Lehninger principles of biochemistry. Freeman.
3. Brody, T. (1999) Nutritional biochemistry. Academic Press.

4. Vīgants, A. (2008) Cilvēka bioķīmija un molekulārā bioloģija. LU Akadēmiskais apgāds.

Further reading

1. Metzler, D. (2006) Biochemistry. Hartcourt publishers.
2. Lewin, B. (2006) Genes. 7th edit. Oxford University Press.

3. Musil, J., Novakova, O., Kunz, K. 91980) Biochemistry in schematic perspective. Avicenum, Czech Medical Press.

Periodicals and other sources

1. The Journal of Nutrition.
2. The Virtual Library of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology.
3. Journal of Nutritional Education.

4. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.