Chemistry and biochemistry, biology and genetics 1

Module Chemistry and biochemistry

1. Knowledge and Understanding

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

- describe the molecular basis of biological systems through the study of the main classes of biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids);

- understand the relationship between the chemical structure and biological function of biomolecules in living systems;

- know the fundamental principles of enzymatic catalysis, enzyme kinetics, and the regulation of major metabolic pathways;

- understand the organization and integration of major cellular metabolic processes and their role in maintaining homeostasis;

- become familiar with the scientific language of biochemistry, useful for understanding physiological and pathological processes of health relevance.

2. Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding

Students will be able to:

- apply the principles of biochemistry to interpret the main physiological processes of the human body;

- understand the biochemical bases of physiological conditions and some clinically relevant metabolic alterations;

- correlate basic biochemical knowledge with data from common laboratory tests;

- use biochemical knowledge to better understand the mechanisms of action of certain drugs and healthcare interventions.

3. Making Judgements

The student will be able to:

- critically interpret basic biochemical information relating to physiological and pathological processes;

- evaluate the biological significance of simple laboratory data in relation to the patient's health status;

- recognize the interpretative limitations of biochemical information in a clinical context;

- develop a basic approach to scientific reasoning applied to biomedical sciences.

4. Communication Skills

The student will be able to:

- clearly and correctly express the main concepts of general biochemistry;

- use appropriate scientific language in describing biological and metabolic processes;

- communicate biochemical information relevant to healthcare education in a concise manner;

- actively participate in discussions and exchanges with faculty and colleagues.

5. Learning skills

Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired:

- the ability to independently delve into biochemistry content useful for understanding pathophysiological processes;

- an appropriate study method for integrating biochemistry knowledge with other biomedical disciplines;

- the foundation necessary to undertake subsequent courses in the areas of biology, physiology, and clinical care.

Frontal lessons with learning tests at the end of the lesson. Theoretical-practical exercises and/or practical laboratory techniques.

In order to be able to understand and attend the course profitably, it is useful for the student to have a fair knowledge of the basic elements of general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry and cellular biology, as well as the basic foundations of general physics.

Atomic structure: the nucleus and electrons. Organization of electrons around the nucleus and electronegativity. The chemical bond. Chemical equilibrium (acid-base equilibrium). Oxidation-reduction reactions. pH, pK, and buffer systems. Families of carbon compounds, nomenclature, physical properties, their characteristic reactions and biological relevance: Saturated, unsaturated, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Functional groups: alcohols, phenols, and sulfur-containing analogues; carbonyl compounds (aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, and their derivatives). Amines. Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Lipids: fatty acids, simple lipids, complex lipids, and steroids. Proteins: amino acids and the peptide bond, structural organization. The main metabolic pathways and their control sites: carbohydrate, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. The Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Vitamins and their implications in metabolism and pathologies

Chemistry and Biochemistry

CHEMISTRY

1. Chimica e Biochimica (solo per la parte di chimica e propedeutica biochimica) – M. Bertoldi, D. Colombo, O. Marin, P. Palestini - EdiSES

BIOCHEMISTRY

2. Introduzione alla Biochimica di Lehninger – D.L. Nelson, M.M. Cox – ZANICHELLI

3. Biochimica medica – Siliprandi, Tettamanti – PICCIN

The examination is written. 

The following parameters will be taken into account for the attribution of the final grade:

Score 29-30 cum laude: the student has an IN-DEPTH knowledge of the subject, has excellent communication skills and masters the technical-scientific language.

Score 26-28: the student has a GOOD knowledge of the subject and explains the topics clearly using appropriate technical-scientific language;

Score 22-25: the student has a DISCRETE knowledge of the subject, even if limited to the main topics and explains the topics quite clearly with a reasonable command of language;

Score 18-21: the student has the MINIMUM knowledge of the subject and explains the topics clearly enough although the language skills are poorly developed;

Exam not passed: the student DOES NOT HAVE THE MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE required of the main contents of the course. The ability to use specific language is very poor or non-existent and he is not able to apply the acquired knowledge independently.

1. Describe the structure and functions of carbohydrates. What are the main types of carbohydrates and how are they classified?

2. Explain the structure and functions of lipids. What are the main types of lipids and how are they classified?

3. Describe the structure and functions of proteins. What are the different levels of protein structure and how do they influence their function?

4. What are enzymes and how do they catalyze chemical reactions? Explain the mechanism of enzyme action.

5. Explain the role of the liver in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.