Biochemistry

Course modules feature proteins and enzymes emphasizing structure-function relationships; cell biology emphasizing how cells move and divide; molecular biology emphasizing the role of nucleic acids in expression of genetic information; intermediary metabolism emphasizing metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids; hemostasis emphasizing the mechanisms leading to platelet plug and fibrin clot formation, including tests available to identify hemostasis disorders; heme synthesis and catabolism emphasizing the clinical implications; cell cycle regulation and molecular basis of cancer emphasizing the molecular and genetic basis of cancer and tumor progression; and medical biostatistics emphasizing the concepts of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Clinical aspects of biologic processes during the fed and fasted states are emphasized. Workshops introduce the biochemical basis of clinical laboratory tests and illustrate clinical applications of biochemical concepts.

Course modules feature human nutrition emphasizing importance of nutrition in health and preventive medicine; human genetics emphasizing inheritance of selected genetic disorders; biochemistry of the organs emphasizing the customization of biochemical pathways; various types of anemia focusing on causes, lab tests and its related topics. Workshops introduce the biochemical basis of exercising muscle, myocardial infarction, obesity, common clinical laboratory tests and/or illustrate clinical applications of biochemical concepts. Selected workshops feature a modified problem-based learning environment.

This course instills basic principles in biochemistry with particular emphasis on pharmaceutical applications. Lectures address acid/base chemistry, structure and function relationships of proteins, enzymes in biochemistry, and major pathways for protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, and pertinent nutritional topics.

This course instills basic principles in molecular biology and human genetics. Lectures address nucleic acid structure, the flow of information from DNA to protein, current techniques in DNA technology including gene therapy and pharmacogenetics, the molecular basis of cancer and several topics in clinical genetics. Emphasis is placed on the pharmaceutical applications of all topics addressed.