Medical Biochemistry (FY120)

Victoria University of Barbados
Faculty of Medicine
Department Of Basic Science

Course Title: Medical Biochemistry
Course Code: FY120
Course Credits: 5
Course Coordinator: –

MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY
Overview

The course is structured to present and explore the basic principles of biochemistry necessary for the practice of medicine and for the understanding of other pre-clinical disciplines. The mechanisms of biochemical reactions involved in energy production, biosynthesis, and degradation are covered, with attention being given to their role in disease. The biochemical functions of the major organs of the body are studied together with an overview of the metabolic interplay between organs. The mechanisms by which major pathways are regulated are examined in depth.
In the first half of the course, students are introduced to the principles of acids and bases, followed by the structure and function of proteins, particularly enzymes. The course continues with an introduction to energy production in the cell and carbohydrate biochemistry. In the second half of the course, lipid and amino acid biochemistry are taught, together with molecular biology (including structure, function, biosynthesis of RNA and DNA, protein biosynthesis, and modern gene cloning methods).
The course provides a solid biochemical foundation that students can build throughout their preclinical studies, and can use later when they are qualified physicians.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Provide students with an advanced integrated knowledge and understanding of core topics, with general principles set in particular contexts:

• Chemistry of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, etc
• Structural and Chemical Biology, including nucleic acid structure and interactions, signaling proteins and membrane proteins, enzyme kinetics and drug discovery and protein design
• Metabolism of substances and regulation in the human body