Biochemistry and Biotechnology Home Page
Faculty
Wesley R. Harris, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Director
Ph.D., Texas A&M University
George Gokel, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Ph.D., University of Southern California
Xuemin Wang, E. Desmond Lee and Family Fund Endowed Professor of Plant Sciences
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Keith J. Stine, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Teresa Thiel, Professor of Biology; Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University
Cynthia M. Dupureur, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Michael R. Nichols, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ph.D., Purdue University
Wendy M. Olivas, Associate Professor of Biology
Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center
Jane A. Starling, Associate Professor of Biology Emerita
Ph.D., The William Marsh Rice University
Chung F. Wong, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Ph.D., University of Chicago
Lisa Schechter, Assistant Professor of Biology
Ph.D., Harvard University
Bethany Zolman, Assistant Professor of Biology
Ph.D., The William March Rice University
Marc Spingola, Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology
Ph.D., University of New Mexico
General Information
Degrees
The Biochemistry and Biotechnology Program provides academic programs leading to the undergraduate B.S. degree or the graduate M.S. degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology. These degrees are offered in cooperation with the Department of Biology and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Faculty members in this program are engaged in teaching and research in areas such as biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, cell biology and developmental biology. Majors have the opportunity through coursework, laboratories, seminars and research experience to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enter the workforce or to go on with further graduate education.
Career Outlook
The emerging Biotechnology sector is increasing the regional and national demand for workers with significant training in molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. The St. Louis metropolitan area has long been a major center for biochemistry and biotechnology, and in the past decade it has become a national hub for life sciences research and development activity. A degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology provides students with the training they need to become part of the broad biotechnology and life sciences industries.
Undergraduate Studies
Degree Requirements
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology
General Education Requirements
Students must satisfy the university and college general education requirements. Some math or science courses required for the major may be used to meet the science and mathematics requirement of the university. There is no foreign language requirement for the degree.
All Biochemistry & Biotechnology majors are required to take a capstone seminar (either CHEM 4797 or BIOL 4797) during the semester in which they plan to graduate (the winter semester for students graduating in the summer). Students may not receive credit for both CHEM 4797 and BIOL 4797).
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Option
Up to 18 credit hours may be taken on a satisfactory /unsatisfactory (s/u). Excluded from this option are required courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Non-major Biology or Chemistry courses
Courses in Biology with a number less than 1800 and courses in Chemistry with a number less than 1100 do not count toward the credit hours required for a major in biochemistry and biotechnology.
1) Biology Core Courses
BIOL 1811, Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms
BIOL 2012, Genetics
BIOL 2013, Genetics Laboratory
BIOL 2482, Microbiology
BIOL 2483, Microbiology Laboratory
BIOL 3622, Cell Biology
2) Chemistry Core Courses
CHEM 1111, Introductory Chemistry I
CHEM 1121, Introductory Chemistry II
CHEM 2223, Quantitative Analysis
CHEM 2612, Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2622, Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 2633, Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3302, Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences
3) Math and Physics Core Courses
MATH 1030, College Algebra
MATH 1035, Trigonometry
MATH 1100, Basic Calculus or MATH 1800, Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
PHYSICS 1011, Basic Physics
PHYSICS 1012, Basic Physics
4) Biochemistry and Biotechnology Core Courses
BIOL 4602, Molecular Biology OR
BIOL 4612, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria (if both courses are taken, one can be used as an elective)
BIOL 4614, Biotechnology Laboratory I OR
BIOL 4615, Biotechnology Laboratory II (if both courses are taken , one can be used as an elective)
BIOL/CHEM 4712, Biochemistry
CHEM 4733, Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 4722, Advanced Biochemistry
BIOL 4797, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Seminar OR
CHEM 4797, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Seminar (Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4797 and CHEM 4797)
5) Biochemistry and Biotechnology Elective Courses- 6 credit hours chosen from the following courses:
BIOL 4550, Bacteria Pathogenesis
BIOL 4602, Molecular Biology
BIOL 4612, Molecular Genetics of Bacteria
BIOL 4614, Biotechnology Laboratory I
BIOL 4615, Biotechnology Laboratory II
BIOL 4622, Molecular Cell Biology
BIOL 4632, Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
BIOL 4642, Plant Biology and Biotechnology
BIOL 4652, Virology
BIOL 4842, Immunobiology
BIOL 4905, Research (up to 3 credit hours)
BIOL 4920, Selected Topics (when relevant)
CHEM 3643, Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 3905, Chemical Research (up to 3 credit hours)
CHEM 4772, Physical Biochemistry
Electives
Recommendations include basic statistics (MATH 1310 or MATH 1320), computer science, public speaking (COMM 1040), foreign language, ethics, and undergraduate research.
Research Opportunity
Students are encouraged to complete a minimum of 2 credit hours of undergraduate research, which provides an opportunity to gain research experience under the supervision of a faculty member. The project will normally include a review of the literature, laboratory experience and a final research report.
Minor in Biology
Students who complete the B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology may also obtain a minor in biology by completing BIOL 1821, Introductory Biology : Organisms and the Environment. The minor must be approved by the chair of the Department of Biology. At least 9 hours of the biology course credits must be taken in residence at UMSL. Candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in the minor, and none of the courses may be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (s/u) basis.
Minor in Chemistry
Students who complete the B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology will also fulfill the course requirements for a minor in Chemistry. A GPA of at least 2.0 is required for the courses presented for the minor. At least three courses toward the Chemistry minor must be completed at UMSL.
Learning Outcomes
Students often think of the physical and life sciences as areas in which one masters a collection of “scientific facts”. However, an education in Biochemistry & Biotechnology involves much more than memorizing facts. Students in this program will develop a well-rounded set of competencies in several critical areas. These include:
- Discipline-Specific Knowledge. Graduates from this program will have a solid foundation in the content areas of chemistry, biology, and biochemistry. A certain emphasis on specific, descriptive data is necessary. But the larger emphasis is on a clear understanding of the overriding principles and theorems of these areas that allow students to evaluate specific data within a larger context.
- Laboratory Skills. Scientists not only learn the results of others, they work in the lab to generate new knowledge. Graduates will learn the basic skills associated with performing laboratory experiments in chemistry, biology, and biochemistry, and they will learn how to critically evaluate their data. This includes an appreciation of the potential sources of error associated with laboratory measurements.
- Problem Solving Skills. Graduates will develop the ability to solve problems in their discipline. In part, this expands on laboratory skills, as students learn how to interpret and evaluate their data. These skills also include learning how to take general principles from various areas of chemistry, biochemistry, and biology and apply them to the solution of specific problems.
- Communication Skills. Graduates must not only be able to solve problems, they must also be able to communicate those solutions to others. Graduates will learn how to write scientific reports and papers and will be able to make effective oral presentations of their results and ideas.
- Scientific Literacy. Scientists must be able to build on the previous work of others and to put their new results into the larger context of the field. This requires the ability to work effectively with the scientific literature. Graduates will be able to use the specialized search engines associated with the vast literature in chemistry, biology, and biochemistry to find and retrieve information. Graduates will also have the knowledge background necessary to read papers from the literature with good comprehension.
- Professional Ethics. Graduates will understand and respect the accepted standards of conduct associated with the scientific profession. This will include honestly and objectively evaluating and reporting data and demonstrating the proper respect for the published work of others.
Graduate Studies
Degree Requirements
Master of Science in Biochemistry and Biotechnology
The Biochemistry and Biotechnology Program offers two types of Master of Science degrees. One is a non-thesis option suitable for those with laboratory research experience or for others, such as educators, who do not require research experience. The other option includes laboratory-based research under the supervision of one the program faculty members, leading to a written thesis. All students admitted to the graduate program are considered to be in the non-thesis program. They may transfer into the thesis program after they have been accepted as a thesis student by one of the faculty.
M.S. Admission Requirements
Applicants to the M.S. program must submit completed application and personal data forms, two letters of recommendation from faculty at previously-attended colleges or universities, and transcripts of all previous postsecondary academic work. Applicants whose undergraduate degree is from a university outside of the United States must submit GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, and analytical). For students with a degree from a U.S. university, submission of Graduate Record Examination scores, although not required, is highly recommended. Admission as a regular graduate student requires graduation from an accredited college with a minimum grade point overall and in biology and chemistry courses of 3.0 (where A=4.0). Students will generally be expected to have a completed a major in biology, chemistry, biochemistry or biotechnology. In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants should have completed an undergraduate course in biochemistry (equivalent to Biology/Chemistry 4712). Successful applicants will typically have completed courses in organic chemistry, cell biology, and genetics. Applicants may be asked to make up any deficiencies in these areas as a condition of enrollment.
All international applicants, except those from countries where English is the primary language, must take the TOEFL. Ordinarily, a score of 213 on the computer-based exam (550 on the paper-based exam or 80 on the internet-based exam) or better is required.
Requirements
Both the thesis and non-thesis options require a total of 30 graduate credit hours, of which at least half must be at the 5000-level or above. A maximum of 12 or 5 credit hours of Graduate Research (BIOL or CHEM 6905) may be applied toward the 30 credit hour total for the thesis or non-thesis options, respectively.
1) Required Courses
CHEM 4722, Advanced Biochemistry
CHEM 5774, Bioinformatics
BIOL 4614, Biotechnology Laboratory I or BIOL 6615, Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II
BIOL 6602, Advanced Molecular Biology or BIOL 6612, Advanced Molecular Genetics of Bacteria
BIOL 6889, Graduate Seminar
2) Elective Courses
CHEM 4733, Biochemistry Laboratory
CHEM 4764, Interdisciplinary Topics in Biochemistry
CHEM 4772, Physical Biochemistry
CHEM 5794, Special Topics in Biochemistry
CHEM 6787, Problem Seminar in Biochemistry
CHEM 6905, Graduate Research
BIOL 4842, Immunobiology
BIOL 5069, Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 6550, Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis
BIOL 6602, Advanced Molecular Biology
BIOL 6612, Advanced Molecular Genetics of Bacteria
BIOL 6615, Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II
BIOL 6622, Advanced Molecular Cell Biology
BIOL 6632, Advanced Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
BIOL 6642, Advanced Plant Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering
BIOL 6652, Advanced Virology
BIOL 6699, Graduate Internship in Biotechnology
BIOL 6889, Graduate Seminar
BIOL 6905, Graduate Research
BIOL 6920, Topics in Biology (2-5 credits), when relevant.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites may be waived by consent of the instructor. Some courses as indicated in the course description may be taken concurrently with the listed offering. Consult an adviser for further information.
Biology Courses
*Note – Majors in Biochemistry and Biotechnology are not required to take BIOL 1821; hence it is not a prerequisite for BIOL 2012, BIOL 2482, or BIOL 3622 for these majors.
BIOL 1811 Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms (5), [MI, MS]
Prerequisite: A minimum of high school chemistry, ENGL 1100 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently), and placement into college algebra or higher. Required for students intending to major in biology or take specified biology courses at the 2000-level or above. This course presents an introduction to some of the principles of biology and scientific methodology applied to the molecular/cellular through organ system levels of organization. Topics include: cell structure, metabolism, reproduction, heredity and major physiological processes regulated by organ systems. Three hours of lecture, three and one-half hours of lab, and one hour of discussion per week.
BIOL 2012 Genetics (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1811 [biology majors must also take BIOL 1821] and CHEM 1111 or [CHEM 1082 plus CHEM 1091]. Fundamental principles of inheritance, including classical genetic theory as well as recent advances in the molecular basis of heredity. Three hours of lecture per week.
BIOL 2013 Genetics Laboratory (2)
Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in BIOL 2012, or by consent of instructor. Laboratory to accompany BIOL 2012. Three and one-half hours of organized laboratory time per week. Students may need to return to the laboratory at unscheduled times to complete some exercises.
BIOL 2482 Microbiology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1811 [majors must also take BIOL 1821] and CHEM 1111 [or CHEM 1082 plus CHEM 1091]. Study of microorganisms, their metabolism, genetics, and their interaction with other forms of life. Three hours of lecture per week.
BIOL 2483 Microbiology Laboratory (2)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2482 (may be taken concurrently). Experimental studies and procedures of microbiological techniques. Three and one-half hours of organized laboratory time per week. Students will need to return to the laboratory at unscheduled times to complete some exercises.
BIOL 3622 Cell Biology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1811 [biology majors must also take BIOL 1821], CHEM 1111, 1121 and 2612 or equivalents. Examination of the basic biological processes of cells.
BIOL 4550 Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 2482, BIOL 2012. Examination of the strategies bacterial pathogens use to infect animals. Topics include host immune responses to infection, bacterial virulence factors, regulation of bacterial virulence, and the cellular and molecular approaches used to study host-parasite interactions. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 6550 and BIOL 4550.
BIOL 4602 Molecular Biology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and 4712. A study of the principles of molecular biology, with emphasis on understanding the genetic regulation of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and function in the eukaryotic cells. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4602 and BIOL 6602.
BIOL 4612 Molecular Genetics of Bacteria (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2482 and BIOL 2012. A study of the molecular biology of gene replication, transfer, and expression in bacterial cells. Topics include DNA replication, transcription and translation, mutagenesis, DNA repair and recombination, gene transfer, and the regulation of genes and global expression systems. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4612 and BIOL 6612.
BIOL 4614 Biotechnology Laboratory I (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 or consent of instructor. An introduction to the fundamental concepts that underlie the field of biotechnology. Both the basic principles of molecular biology and hands-on experience with the techniques of the field will be addressed through lectures, discussion, and a series of laboratory exercises. Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory per week. Fulfills a laboratory requirement only; may not be used to fulfill the 4000-level or above lecture course requirement for the B.A. or B.S. degree in biology. Students may not receive credit for BIOL 4614 and a comparable biotechnology course from another institution.
BIOL 4615 Biotechnology Laboratory II (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4614 and either BIOL 4602 or BIOL 4612, or consent of instructor. An in-depth look at theory and practice of biotechnology. Lectures and discussion will examine the underlying principles, and laboratory exercises will present hands-on experience with current techniques. One hour of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Fulfills a laboratory requirement only; may not be used to fulfill the 4000-5000 level lecture course requirement for the B.A. or B.S. degree in biology. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4615 and BIOL 6615.
BIOL 4622 Molecular Cell Biology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4602 and BIOL 3622, or consent of instructor. A study of the structural organization and processes of eukaryotic cells. Topics of discussion will include membrane dynamics, organelle biogenesis and function, signal reception and transduction, cytoskeleton structure and mobility, and the cell cycle. Basic concepts in these areas will be combined, covering complete signal transduction pathways and the cellular basis of disease, including cancer. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4622 and BIOL 6622.
BIOL 4632 Nucleic Acid Structure and Function (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and 4712 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Comprehensive view of structural properties of DNA and RNA that promote molecular interactions and biological function. Topics include physical properties of nucleic acids, formation and biological importance of higher order structures, RNA enzymatic activities, nucleic acid-protein interactions, and RNA metabolism. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4632 and BIOL 6632.
BIOL 4642 Plant Biology and Biotechnology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4602 or 4612. Topics may include molecular and cellular aspects of plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress and pathogen attack, using the experimental approaches of genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Plant growth manipulation and genetic engineering, including techniques required for DNA transfer and plant regeneration, as well as current and potential future applications, such as engineered resistance to stress, developmental engineering, and metabolic engineering, will also be covered. Three hours of lecture per week. Student may not receive credit for both BIOL 4642 and BIOL 6642.
BIOL 4652 Virology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and BIOL 3622. A comparative study of the structure, reproduction, and genetics of viruses. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4652 and BIOL 6652.
BIOL 4712 Biochemistry (3)
Same as CHEM 4712. Prerequisite: CHEM 2612 and either BIOL 1811 or CHEM 2622. Examines the chemistry and function of cell constituents, and the interaction and conversions of intracellular substances. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4712 and CHEM 4712.
BIOL 4797 Biochemistry and Biotechnology Seminar (1)
Same as CHEM 4797. Prerequisite: Senior standing in the Biochemistry & Biotechnology program. This course will focus on selected publications related to biochemistry and biotechnology from both refereed journals and news sources. Students are expected to participate in discussions and to prepare oral and written presentations. Completion of the Major Field Achievement Test in Biochemistry & Biotechnology is a course requirement. May not be taken for graduate credit.
BIOL 4842 Immunobiology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4712 and CHEM 2612. The fundamental principles and concepts of immunobiology and immunochemistry. Emphasis on the relation of immunological phenomena to biological phenomena and biological problems. Three hours of lecture per week.
BIOL 5069 Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology (1)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Presentation and discussion of student and faculty research projects and/or current research articles in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. May be repeated.
BIOL 6550 Advanced Bacterial Pathogenesis (3)
Prerequisites: BIOL 2482 and BIOL 2012. Examination of the strategies bacterial pathogens use to infect animals. Topics include host immune responses to infection, bacterial virulence factors, regulation of bacterial virulence, and the cellular and molecular approaches used to study host-parasite interactions. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 6550 and BIOL 4550. Students will be required to give an oral presentation and/or write an extra paper on a topic relevant to the course. Three hours of lecture per week.
BIOL 6602 Advanced Molecular Biology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and 4712, or consent of instructor. A study of the principles of molecular biology, with emphasis on understanding the genetic regulation of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and function in eukaryotic cell. Three hours of lecture per week. Students will be required to give an oral presentation and/or write an extra paper on a topic relevant to the course. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 6602 and BIOL 4602.
BIOL 6612 Advanced Molecular Genetics of Bacteria (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and 2482. A study of the molecular biology of gene replication, transfer, and expression in bacterial cells. Topics include DNA replication, transcription and translation, mutagenesis, DNA repair and recombination, gene transfer, and the regulation of genes and global expression systems. Three hours of lecture per week. Students will be required to give an oral presentation and/or write an extra paper on a topic relevant to the course. Student may not receive credit for both BIOL 6612 and BIOL 4612.
BIOL 6615 Advanced Biotechnology Laboratory II (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4614 and either BIOL 4602 or BIOL 4612, or consent of instructor. An in-depth look at the theory and practice of biotechnology. Lectures and discussion will examine the underlying principles, and laboratory exercises will present hands-on experience with current techniques. One hour of lecture and six hours of laboratory per week. Students will be required to give an oral presentation and/or write an extra paper on a topic relevant to the course. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 6615 and BIOL 4615.
BIOL 6622 Advanced Molecular Biology of the Cell (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4602, and 3622, or consent of instructor. A study of structural organization and processes of eukaryotic cells. Topics of discussion may include membrane dynamics, organelle biogenesis and function, signal reception and transduction, cytoskeleton structure and mobility, and the cell cycle. Basic concepts in these areas will be combined, covering complete signal transduction pathways and the cellular basis of disease, including cancer. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 6622 and BIOL 4622.
BIOL 6632 Advanced Nucleic Acid Structure and Function (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2012 and 4712 or equivalent or consent of instructor. Comprehensive view of structural properties of DNA and RNA that promote molecular interactions and biological function. Topics include physical properties of nucleic acids, formation and biological importance of higher order structures, RNA enzymatic activities, nucleic acid-protein interaction, and RNA metabolism. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4632 and BIOL 6632.
BIOL 6642 Advanced Plant Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 4602 or 4612. Topics will include plant cell and developmental biology, DNA transfer into plants, using mutations to identify genes and their functions, regeneration of plants in tissue culture, signal transduction mechanisms, molecular biology of plant organelles, developmental engineering, metabolic engineering, plant microbe interactions, and engineered resistance to pathogen attack. Three hours of lecture and one hour of seminar per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4642 and BIOL 6642..
BIOL 6652 Advanced Virology (3)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2482 and 2012. An advanced comparative study of the structure, reproduction, and genetics of viruses. Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion or seminar per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4652 and 6652.
BIOL 6699 Graduate Internship in Biotechnology (1-4)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and enrollment in graduate Biotechnology Certificate Program. Six credit hours maximum (maximum of eight combined credit hours of BIOL 6905 and internship). Internship will consist of period of observation, experimentation and on-the-job training in a biotechnology laboratory. The laboratory may be industrial or academic. Credit will be determined by the number of hours the student works each week and in consultation between the intern’s supervisor and the instructor. Internship assignments will be commensurate with the education and experience of the student.
BIOL 6889 Graduate Seminar (2)
Presentation and discussion of various research problems in biology. Graduate student exposure to the seminar process.
BIOL 6905 Graduate Research in Biology (1-10)
Research in area selected by student in consultation with faculty members.
BIOL 6920 Topics in Biology (2-5)
In-depth studies of selected topics in contemporary biology. May be repeated.
Chemistry Courses
CHEM 1111 Introductory Chemistry I (5) [MS]
Prerequisite: Mathematics through college algebra and trigonometry may be taken concurrently. Presents an introduction to the fundamental laws and theories of chemistry. Laboratory experiments are designed to demonstrate some aspects of qualitative and quantitative analysis and to develop skills in laboratory procedures. Chemistry majors may not include both CHEM 1082 and 1111, and both CHEM 1011 and 1111 in the 120 hours required for graduation. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week, one hour of laboratory-lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
CHEM 1121 Introductory Chemistry II (5) [MI, MS]
Prerequisite: CHEM 1111 or advanced placement. Lecture and laboratory are a continuation of CHEM 1111. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week; one hour laboratory-lecture and three hours of laboratory weekly.
CHEM 2223 Quantitative Analysis (3) [C, MI, MS]
Prerequisite: CHEM 1121. Principles and practice of elementary quantitative chemistry. The lecture treats descriptive statistics with emphasis on small samples; various types of competing equilibria pertaining to acid-base, complexometric and potentiometric titrations; and an introduction to spectrophotometric processes. The laboratory provides exercises in titrimetric, gravimetric, and spectrophotometric techniques. Both portions of the course deal with the analytical chemistry of environmentally-significant problems. Two hours of lecture and four and one-half hours of laboratory weekly.
CHEM 2612 Organic Chemistry I (3) [MS]
Prerequisite: CHEM 1121. An introduction to the structure, properties, synthesis, and reactions of aliphatic and aromatic carbon compounds. Three hours of lecture per week.
CHEM 2622 Organic Chemistry II (3) [MI, MS]
Prerequisite: CHEM 2612. A systematic study of organic reactions and their mechanisms; organic synthetic methods. Three hours of lecture per week.
CHEM 2633 Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) [C, MS]
Prerequisite: CHEM 2612 or consent of instructor. An introduction to laboratory techniques and procedures of synthetic organic chemistry including analysis of organic compounds. One hour of lecture and four and one-half hours of laboratory per week.
CHEM 3302 Physical Chemistry for the Life Sciences (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 2612 and MATH 1800 or MATH 1100, and PHYSICS 1012. Principles and applications of physical chemistry appropriate to students pursuing degree programs in the life sciences. Topics will include thermodynamics, equilibria, kinetics, and spectroscopy. This course is intended for undergraduates seeking the B.S. degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnology and does not fulfill the physical chemistry requirement for other Chemistry B.A. and B.S. degree programs.
CHEM 3643 Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2)
Prerequisites: CHEM 2223, CHEM 2622, CHEM 2633. CHEM 3022 may be taken concurrently. Identification of organic compounds by classical and spectroscopic methods; advanced techniques in synthesis and separation of organic compounds. One hour of lecture and four and one-half hours laboratory per week. Not for graduate credit.
CHEM 4712 Biochemistry (3)
Same as BIOL 4712. Prerequisite: CHEM 2612 and either BIOL 1811 or CHEM 2622. The chemistry and function of cell constituents, and the interaction and conversions of intracellular substances. Three hours of lecture per week. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 4712 and CHEM 4712.
CHEM 4722 Advanced Biochemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 4712. Selected advanced topics in the chemistry of life processes. Three hours of lecture per week.
CHEM 4733 Biochemistry Laboratory (2)
Prerequisite: CHEM 4712 (may be taken concurrently), and CHEM 2223. Laboratory study of biochemical processes in cellular and subcellular systems with emphasis on the isolation and purification of proteins (enzymes) and the characterization of catalytic properties. One hour of lecture and three and one-half hour of laboratory per week.
CHEM 4772 Physical Biochemistry (3)
Prerequisite: CHEM 3312 or CHEM/BIOL 4712. Designed to acquaint students with concepts and methods in biophysical chemistry. Topics that will be discussed include protein and DNA structures, forces involved in protein folding and conformational stability, protein-DNA interactions, methods for characterization and separation of macromolecules, electron transfer, and biological spectroscopy. Three hours of lecture per week.
CHEM 4797 Biochemistry and Biotechnology Seminar (1)
Prerequisite: Senior standing in the Biochemistry & Biotechnology program. Same as BIOL 4797. This course will focus on selected publications related to biochemistry and biotechnology from both refereed journals and news sources. Students are expected to participate in discussions and to prepare oral and written presentations. Completion of the Major Field Achievement Test in Biochemistry & Biotechnology is a course requirement. May not be taken for graduate credit.
CHEM 5774 Bioinformatics (3)
Prerequisites: CHEM 4712 or equivalent. This course introduces modern approaches in bioinformatics and computational biochemistry. Topics to be covered include a survey of biological databases, predictions from protein and DNA sequences, sequence alignment and sequence database searches, building phylogenetic trees, three-dimensional protein structure prediction, and molecular modeling and simulation.
CHEM 5794 Special Topics in Biochemistry (1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Selected topics in biochemistry. May be taken more than once for credit.
CHEM 6787 Problem Seminar in Biochemistry (1)
Prerequisite: Consent of the biochemistry staff. Problems from the current literature, presentations and discussions by faculty, students and visiting scientists. Ph.D. students may take more than once for credit. Up to three credits may be applied to the M.S. degree program.
CHEM 6905 Graduate Research in Chemistry (1-10)