-
-
- Transfer Credit
- Online Learning
- Events
- Custom Programs
-
-
-
- Academic Services
- Course and Program Information
- Student Aid
-
-
-
Berkeley Global
Get an introduction to some of the basic chemical, physical and biological processes responsible for the survival and growth of humans and other complex life forms, bacteria and viruses. Explore the basic chemistry and overall structure of the most important biological macromolecules, including the study of enzyme catalysis; cellular architecture; intermediary metabolism; and special processes such as photosynthesis, biological oxidation and energy production. You also study the various ways that biological systems react to their environment. Learn to apply these topics to aspects of exercise, nutrition or inborn errors of metabolism.
Prerequisites: College-level courses in elementary chemistry and biology required; one or two semesters of organic chemistry recommended.
Course Outline
Expand or collapse section
What You'll Learn
- Water and the Building Blocks of Life
- pH and buffers
- Buffers in our bodies
- The forces that built biochemistry
- Biomolecules: DNA, Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins
- The Central Dogma
- Nucleotides and nucleic acids
- Amino acids and proteins
- Membranes and Cellular Structures
- Membrane composition and cellular structure
- Transport of molecules and ions across membranes
- Enzyme action and kinetics
- Enzyme thermodynamics
- Enzyme principles
- Enzyme kinetics
- Enzyme regulation
- Enzyme inhibition
- Basics of Metabolism
- Metabolic themes
- Digestion, indigestion and disease
- Using Glucose and Other Carbon Sources as Fuel
- Glycolysis overview
- Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex
- The Citric Acid Cycle
- Electron transport
- ATP synthesis
- In Times of Need: How We Access Stored Metabolic Fuel
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glycogen degradation
- Fatty acid degradation
- Amino acid degradation
- In Times of Plenty: How We Store Metabolic Fuel
- Glycogen synthesis
- Fatty acid synthesis
- Lipid synthesis
- Cholesterol synthesis and transport
- Synthesizing the Building Blocks of Life
- Amino acid biosynthesis
- Nucleotide metabolism
- Photosynthesis and hexose sugar synthesis
- Your Genes: Reproduction and Maintenance
- DNA replication
- DNA damage and repair
- How Cells Read and Interpret DNA: Gene Structure and Gene Expression
- Bacterial genes and transcription
- Eukaryotic genes and transcription
- Splicing and RNA processing
- The genetic code, tRNA and ribosomes
- Translation
How You'll Learn
- Reading and writing assignments
- Multimedia lectures
- Discussions
- Self-study assignments
- Worksheets
- Online discussions
- Quizzes and a final exam
Is This Course Right for Me?
This course will benefit students looking for an introduction to biochemistry as an undergraduate or as a post-graduate preparing for graduate school or post-baccalaureate programs in the health professions. This course will also be useful for anyone looking to refresh their knowledge for personal or employment purposes. Please ensure that you have fulfilled prerequisite coursework prior to enrollment.
Loading...
Sections
Spring 2025 enrollment opens on October 21!