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  • Berkeley Global

Biochemistry

MCELLBI X105

41566
Delivery Options Online

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

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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.

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Sections

Section 053

Start Anytime

Type: Online, Start Anytime

Instructor:

  • Geoffrey Sargent

Cost: $1,300.00

See section 053 Details

Type Online, Start Anytime

Dates
Start Now, you have 180 days to complete this course once enrolled.

Delivery Options

Online

Available for Credit

3 semester units

Section Notes

Online, enroll anytime. This continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course. On average, 3-semester unit courses will take approximately 45 hours of instructional time and 90 hours of study time.

Students must score a 70% or higher on the final exam to pass the course.

The Start Anytime Course Orientation: Science (UNEX 1406) is required for all students taking Start Anytime Continuous Enrollment online science courses. Please enroll in the free, short orientation, where you will explore tips on how to be successful and gain familiarity with requirements and procedures. 

Section Materials

  • Textbook

    (Mandatory)

    Biochemistry: A Short Course by John L. Tymoczko, Jeremy M. Berg, Gregory J. Gatto Jr., Lubert Stryer

    © 2019 W. H. Freeman 4th edition ISBN 1319114636 Textbook ISBN: 9781319114633

Fall 2025 enrollment opens on June 16!

This course applies to the following programs:

Advanced Biosciences Program

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Required Courses

  • Current Topics in the Biosciences

Electives

  • Biochemistry
  • The Biology of Human Cancer
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Genetics
  • Genomic Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Human Nutrition
  • Immunology
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • Introduction to Human Physiology
  • Introduction to Human Physiology
  • Introduction to Parasitology
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Mammalian Systemic Physiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology of the Cardiac and Respiratory Systems
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Principles of Infectious Diseases and Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • Principles of Molecular Biology
  • Quantitative Analysis: Applications in Clinical Chemistry
  • Stem Cell Biology, Research and Discovery
  • Virology
  • Principles of Toxicology
  • Microbiology Laboratory
  • Virtual Hematology Laboratory
  • Pathophysiology
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Biology of Aging

Course of Related Interest

  • Genetic Variant Interpretation Workshop

Learn More About This Program

Clinical Laboratory Scientist Preparatory Program

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Core Courses (Choose 2)

  • Biochemistry
  • Biochemistry
  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Quantitative Analysis: Applications in Clinical Chemistry

Electives

  • Blood Banking and Transfusion Medicine
  • Concepts of Physics
  • Endocrinology
  • General Human Anatomy
  • Genetics
  • Human Anatomy Laboratory
  • Human Physiology Laboratory
  • Introduction to Biostatistics
  • Introduction to Human Physiology
  • Introduction to Human Physiology
  • Introduction to Parasitology
  • Introduction to Statistics
  • Mammalian Systemic Physiology
  • Microbiology Laboratory
  • Pathophysiology
  • Physics I
  • Physics II
  • Principles of Infectious Diseases and Emerging Infectious Diseases
  • Principles of Molecular Biology
  • Principles of Toxicology
  • Virology
  • Virtual Hematology Laboratory
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Biochemistry
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Quantitative Analysis: Applications in Clinical Chemistry

Course of Related Interest

  • Genetic Variant Interpretation Workshop

Learn More About This Program

Notes

Departmental contact for academic questions: extension-science-online@berkeley.edu

Instructional Types

Live Online
Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). Learn more about the Live Online format.
Online, Start Anytime
Continuous enrollment course begins when you enroll. You have a minimum of 90 days and a maximum of 180 days to complete the course.
Online, Fixed Date
Enroll in this course by its start date and complete it by its specified end date. There are no live sessions, but plenty of opportunities to collaborate with your classmates and instructor.
Classroom
Take classes in-person at one of our buildings or partner locations.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

All of our courses are taught in English. If English is not your first language, please use the following test scores as guides in order to be successful:

  • TOEFL: 90
  • IELTS Academic Format: 7
  • DAAD: C1
  • TEM-4 or TEM-8: Level 70
  • Duolingo: 125

Note: You do not need to submit test scores.

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Course Fee

Geoffrey Sargent

R. Geoffrey Sargent, Ph.D., earned his undergraduate degree in applied biology at Georgia Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in biochemistry and biophysics at Oregon State University. He pursued postdoctoral studies at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now Cancer Research UK) and Baylor College of Medicine, studying somatic cell genetics and molecular genetics, respectively. Dr Sargent has worked in the Bay Area since 1998, directing research programs and in senior leadership roles at multiple biotechnology companies. Dr Sargent has long-standing research interests in the mechanisms of DNA damage and repair, nucleotide metabolism, and stem cell biology. He teaches Biochemistry and Stem Cell Biology courses here and at other Bay Area universities. Dr Sargent is also the CSO and a founder of GeneTether, Inc a Bay area startup company developing high efficiency gene targeting technologies.

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