Institute of Biochemistry
(Faculty of Science)
Biochemistry (BIOC) Courses
Biochemistry in a Modern Society
Explore biochemistry's real-world applications, cutting-edge research, and transformative technologies. Learn through case studies and collaborative group work about how biochemistry revolutionizes industries, medicine, and environmental stewardship in this dynamic course.
Prerequisite(s): Enrolled in a Biochemistry program.
Workshop, three hours per week
Cellular Biochemistry
Cellular functions and their interrelationships. Introduction to thermodynamics, membrane structure and function, transport mechanisms, basic metabolic pathways, energy production and utilization, communications between cells. It is strongly recommended that Biology Majors and Honours students take this course in their second year of study.
Also listed as BIOL 2200.
Precludes additional credit for BIOL 2201, CHEM 4401.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOL 1003 and BIOL 1004) or (BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1104), (CHEM 1006 or CHEM 1002).
Lectures three hours a week, laboratory or tutorial four hours a week.
Physical Biochemistry
Energy of biological systems, molecular interactions, diffusion principles, introduction to protein folding, structure and thermodynamics, ligand binding and nucleic acid structures; experimental design and data management.
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 2200 (can be taken concurrently with BIOC 2300) and MATH 1007 and MATH 1107, and PHYS 1007 or PHYS 1003.
Lectures three hours a week, tutorials three hours a week.
Independent Research I
Students carry out a laboratory research project under the supervision of a faculty member from the Institute of Biochemistry. A research report must be submitted by the last day of classes for evaluation by the Director and Faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite(s): restricted to Honours students of second-year standing in a Biochemistry program with a GPA of 10.0 or higher in first year, and approval of the Director and a Faculty supervisor.
Laboratory research for at least three hours a week over two terms.
Research Methods and Skills in Biochemistry
An introduction to research methods in biochemistry. Includes modern information literacy, study designs, descriptive and inferential statistics, and effective communication of research. Examples drawn from current issues in biochemistry.
Prerequisite(s): 2nd year standing in a Biochemistry program.
Workshop, three hours per week.
Bioinformatics
A practical exploration in the application of information technology to biochemistry and molecular biology. Insight into biological knowledge discovery via molecular structure and function prediction, comparative genomics and biological information management.
Also listed as BIOL 3008 and COMP 3308.
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 2200 or BIOL 2200, or BIOL 2201.
Lecture two hours a week, computer workshop three hours a week.
General Biochemistry I
This course examines biological macromolecules as well as their chemistry, structure and function. Enzymatic reactions and their regulation, as well as carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism, is emphasized. Students apply knowledge of course concepts to relevant scientific problems (disease, development).
Prerequisite(s): (BIOC 2200 or BIOL 2200), and (CHEM 2203 and CHEM 2204) or (CHEM 2207 and CHEM 2208).
Lectures three hours a week.
General Biochemistry II
This course examines secondary metabolism, membrane composition/synthesis, cell communication, and flow of genetic information within a biological system. Emphasis is on understanding molecular structures, the reactions/processes they facilitate, and their regulation. Students apply knowledge of course concepts to relevant scientific problems.
Practical Biochemistry I
Introduction to experimental biochemistry and the theory and concepts dealt with in BIOC 3101, and BIOC 3202.
Precludes additional credit for BIOC 3006 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 2200/BIOL 2200 and CHEM 2203. CHEM 2204 and (BIOC 2300 or CHEM 2103) are also recommended. It is highly recommended that BIOC 3101 and BIOC 3202 be taken concurrently.
Laboratory four hours a week, tutorial one hour per week.
Practical Biochemistry II
Introduction to experimental biochemistry and the theory and concepts dealt with in BIOC 3101, BIOC 3102, and BIOC 3202.
Precludes additional credit for BIOC 3006 (no longer offered).
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 3103. It is highly recommended that BIOC 3102 be taken concurrently.
Laboratory four hours a week, tutorial one hour a week.
Biophysical Techniques and Applications
Theory and applications of current biochemical/biophysical instrumentation and techniques including biophysical spectroscopy, molecular structure determination, calorimetry, and mass spectrometry.
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 2200 or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Biochemical Pharmacology
Biochemical principles of pharmacology, including receptor mechanisms, signal transduction, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics. Genome-wide association studies, pharmacogenomics, and personalized medicine will also be included.
Lectures three hours a week.
Independent Research II
Students carry out a laboratory research project under the supervision of faculty member from the Institute of Biochemistry. A research report must be submitted by the last day of classes for evaluation by the Director and Faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite(s): restricted to Honours students of third-year standing in a Biochemistry program with a GPA of 10.0 or higher in second year, and approval of the Director and Faculty supervisor.
Laboratory research for at least three hours a week over two terms.
Co-operative Work Term
Practical experience for students enrolled in the co-operative option. Students must receive a satisfactory evaluation from their work term employer; and present a written report describing their work term project. Graded Sat or Uns.
Prerequisite(s): registration in the Biochemistry co-operative option and permission of the Institute.
Methods in Biochemistry
Principles and applications of modern biochemical methodology, including ultracentrifugation, electrophoresis, ELISA, EMSA, experimental planning, ligand binding kinetics, fluorescence spectroscopy, affinity purification, and in vitro translation.
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 3103 and BIOC 3104 or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and discussion two hours, laboratory four hours a week.
Industrial Biochemistry
The application of biochemistry to the production of biological compounds useful in nutrition, medicine, and the food and chemical industries. General strategies for efficient production of these compounds by controlling the activities of living cells or enzymes.
Lecture three hours a week.
Biochemical Regulation
Regulation at the transcriptional, translational and metabolic level; regulation of cell and subcellular organelle function and other timely topics may be included.
Membrane Biochemistry
Biochemical and biophysical aspects of biomembrane structure and function. Topics may include: membrane lipids and proteins, lipid polymorphism, model membranes, liposomes, membrane biogenesis, the membrane cytoskeleton, membrane trafficking, membrane fusion, exocytosis and signal transduction across membranes.
Computational Systems Biology
Modeling and simulation of metabolic and regulatory networks towards understanding complex and highly dynamic cellular systems. Biotechnological applications include metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and drug discovery.
Also listed as COMP 4308.
Prerequisite(s): BIOC 3101 or permission of the Institute.
Lecture one and a half hours per week, workshop one and a half hours per week.
Biochemistry of Disease
The biochemical basis of disease including genetic and metabolic disorders such as cancer, neurological degenerative conditions, diabetes, stroke and microbial infections.
Lectures three hours a week.
Immunology
The organization and function of the immune system, including the anatomy of the immune system, the properties and behaviour of cells of the immune system, and the molecular and genetic bases of the immune response.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3201 or permission of the Institute.
Lectures three hours a week.
Advanced Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering
Theory and application of current techniques and developments in cell culture as applied to research questions in the field of stem cells and tissue engineering.
Also listed as BIOL 4201.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3201 or permission of the Institute.
Laboratory four hours per week, tutorial one hour a week.
Mutagenesis and DNA Repair
A mechanistic study of mutagenesis and DNA repair. Topics include DNA structure perturbations, spontaneous and induced mutagenesis, the genetics and biochemistry of DNA repair and recombination, and the role of mutations in the development of genetic disease and cancer.
Prerequisite(s): BIOL 3104 and BIOL 2200/BIOC 2200, or permission of the Institute.
Lectures and tutorial three hours a week.
Secondary Metabolism and Natural Products Biochemistry
Structure, biochemical derivation and function of secondary metabolites such as toxins and antibiotics. Examples from plant, fungal and animal systems.
Lectures three hours a week.
Protein Biotechnology
An advanced lecture, discussion and seminar course covering the theory, development and current techniques of protein and enzyme engineering. Topics to be discussed may also include applications in biotechnology, nanotechnology and new frontiers in basic and applied research.
Lectures two hours a week, workshop two hours a week.
Principles of Toxicology
Basic theorems of toxicology with examples of current research problems. Toxic risk is defined as the product of intensive hazard and extensive exposure. Each factor is assessed in scientific and social contexts and illustrated with many types of experimental material.
Also offered at the graduate level, with different requirements, as BIOL 6402, CHEM 5708, for which additional credit is precluded.
Lectures three hours a week.
Directed Special Studies
Independent or group study, open to third- and fourth-year students to explore a particular topic, in consultation with a Faculty supervisor. May include directed reading, written assignments, tutorials, or laboratory or field work.
Special Topics in Biochemistry
Specific topics of current interest. Topics may vary from year to year.
Lecture, seminars, or workshops three hours per week.
Honours Essay and Research Proposal
An independent research study using library resources. The candidate will prepare a critical review of a topic and research proposal approved by a faculty adviser. Evaluation will be based on a written report and a poster presentation of the project.
Precludes additional credit for BIOC 4906 (no longer offered), BIOC 4908 [1.0].
Prerequisite(s): fourth-year standing in an Honours Biochemistry program and permission of the Institute.
Research Project
Students carry out a research project approved by the Director, under the supervision of a faculty member of the Institute, in either the Biology or Chemistry departments. Evaluation is based on a written thesis and poster presentation.
Precludes additional credit for BIOC 4906 and BIOC 4907.
Prerequisite(s): (BIOC 3103 and BIOC 3104) and (BIOC 3101 and BIOC 3102) or equivalent, and eligibility to continue in Honours Biochemistry or in Biochemistry and Biotechnology.
Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca