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LocationDomesticInternational
Gold Coast

Unit description

Provides an overview of general biochemistry to enable students to understand the role of chemical reactions in biological systems. Covers basic biochemical organisation and processes of the body, bioenergetics, selected metabolic pathways, and methods of separation and characterisation of molecules of biological interest.

Unit content

  • Review of organic functional groups, cellular structure and function, and properties of water
  • Amino acids and protein structure, function, biological roles, and metabolism
  • Enzymes, coenzymes, reaction kinetics
  • Metabolism and bioenergetics: Krebs cycle, electron transport chain and ATP synthesis
  • Carbohydrates: structure, function, biological roles, and metabolism
  • Lipids: structure, function, biological roles, and metabolism
  • Nucleic acids and protein synthesis

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1recognise the chemical and structural properties of biomolecules.
2detail the metabolic pathways of amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids in relation to chemical features, cellular location, and regulation.
3describe and illustrate the integrated nature of metabolic pathways in selected conditions.
4perform experiments, interpret data and explain the link between theory and the experimental process.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. recognise the chemical and structural properties of biomolecules.
  2. detail the metabolic pathways of amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids in relation to chemical features, cellular location, and regulation.
  3. describe and illustrate the integrated nature of metabolic pathways in selected conditions.
  4. perform experiments, interpret data and explain the link between theory and the experimental process.

Prescribed Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Tymoczko, JL, Berg, JM & Stryer, L, 2015, Biochemistry, a short course, 3rd edn, WH Freeman and Co., New York, USA. ISBN: 9781464126130.
Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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