B.D.

S COURSE
BIOCHEMISTRY/SYLLABUS
(With effect from 2010-11 onwards)

Page 2 of 127
3. BIOCHEMISTRY, NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
a) AIMS AND SCOPE
The major aim is to provide a sound but crisp knowledge on the biochemical basis of
the life processes relevant to the human system and to dental/medical practice. The
contents should be organized to build on the already existing information available
to the students in the pre-university stage and reorienting. A mere rehash should be
avoided.
The chemistry portion should strive towards providing information on the
functional groups, hydrophobic and hydrophilic moieties and weak valence forces
that organise macromolecules. Details on structure need not be emphasised.
Discussion on metabolic processes should put emphasis on the overall change,
interdependence and molecular turnover. While details of the steps may be given,
the student should not be expected to memorise them. An introduction to
biochemical genetics and molecular biology is a must but details should be avoided.
The exposure to antivitamins, antimetabolites and enzyme inhibitors at this stage,
will provide a basis for the future study of medical subjects. An overview of
metabolic regulation is to be taught by covering hormonal action, second
messengers and regulation of enzyme activities. Medical aspects of biochemistry
should avoid describing innumerable functional tests, most of which are not in
vogue. Cataloguing genetic disorders under each head of metabolism is unnecessary.
A few examples which correlate genotype change to functional changes should be
adequate.
At the end of the course the student would be able to acquire a useful core of
information, which can be retained for a long time.
b) THEORY: 70 HOURS
Sl. HOURS
TOPIC
No. ALLOTTED
CARBOHYDRATES 12 hours
Definition, biological importance and classification. Monosaccharides –Glucose,
1
fructose, Galactose, mannose
Reactions reducing property, oxidation osazone, Molisch test, isomers, anomers
1
epimers
Disaccharides-lactose, maltose, sucrose
1
Glycosidic bond, amino sugars, deoxy sugars
Polysaccharides. Structures of starch and glycogen, Mucopolysaccharides Dietary
1
1 fibres.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of dietary carbohydrates. Mechanism of uptake of
1
monosaccharides, associated disorders(in brief)
Outlines of glycolysis, fates of pyruvate Gluconeogenesis. 2
Introduction to glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, regulation 2
Significance of pentose phosphate pathway. Formation and importance of
1
glucuronic acid.
Regulation of blood glucose. Diabetes mellitus and related disorders. Evaluation of
2
glycemic status.
LIPIDS 9 hours
Definition, biological importance and classification. Fats and fatty acids. Essential
2
fatty acids. Introduction to compound lipids. Cholesterol.
Digestion and absorption of lipids 1
2 Beta oxidation of fatty acids. 1
Fatty acid synthesis, (in brief) 1
Ketone body formation and utilization 1
Outlines of cholesterol synthesis and compounds formed from cholesterol 1
Plasma lipoproteins: Formation, function and dyslipidemia, Atherosclerosis. 2
ENZYMES 6 hours
3
Definition, classification, specificity and active site. Cofactors. 1

Page 50 of 127
 Factors affecting enzyme action 2
Enzyme inhibition 2
Clinical important enzymes-AST,ALT,ALP,ACP,LDH,CK,ENOLASE,GGT 1
PROTEINS 9hours
Amino acids: Classification.
Introduction to peptides, peptide bond
3
Proteins: Classification. Charge properties. Buffer action.
Levels of protein organization Denaturation.
Digestion and absorption of proteins.
Nitrogen balance. Essential amino acids. Protein quality and requirement (methods
2
4 for evaluation of protein quality to be excluded).
Protein-calorie malnutrition. BMR, Balanced diet.
Ammonia metabolism. Urea formation. 1
Reactions of amino acids-transamination, trans methylation, trans sulfuration 1
Compounds formed from glycine 1
Biologic importance of aromatic amino acids, sulphur containing amino acids, Amino
1
acidurias (in brief)

INTEGRATION OF METABOLISM
5 2 hours
High energy compounds, Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation.
VITAMINS 5 hours
Fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K, sources, functions, daily requirements, deficiency,
2
6 toxicity
Water soluble vitamins B, C, sources, functions, daily requirements, deficiency,
3
toxicity
ACID BASE BALANCE
7 4 hours
Buffers, respiratory and renal regulation, disorders, analysis
MINERALS 4 hours
Classification, daily requirement. Calcium and phosphorous: sources, uptake,
1
excretion, function. Serum calcium regulation
8 Iron: sources, uptake and transport. Heme and nonheme iron functions; deficiency 1
Iodine: Brief introduction to thyroxine synthesis. General functions of thyroxine.
1
Fluoride: function, deficiency and excess
Indications of role of other minerals 1
HAEMOGLOBIN 3 hours
Structure, synthesis, degradation 1
9
Hemoglobinopathies 1
Jaundice 1
PLASMA PROTEINS
10 Classification and separation. Functions of albumin. A brief account of 2 hours
immunoglobulins. Biochemistry of AIDS.
11 LIVER FUNCTION TESTS 1 hour
12 KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS 1 hour
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 8 hours
Nucleic acids: Building units. Nucleotides. Outline structure of DNA and RNA. 2
Formation and degradation of nucleotides. Gout. Examples of associated genetic
2
disorders
13
Introduction to replication and transcription Antimetabolites and antibiotics
2
interfering in replication, transcription
Outline of translation process. 2

c) PRACTICALS & DEMONSTRATION: 60 hours

i. Practical: 45 hours
Sl.No. Procedure Hours
Reaction of glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose
1. 12
Urea, Uric acid, Creatinine
2. Reactions of albumin/Cascin/Gelatin 4
3. Reactions of urea, uric acid, creatinine 4
4. Normal & abnormal constituents of urine 8
5. Estimation of serum protein 2
6. Estimation of blood sugar 2

Page 51 of 127
 7. Estimation of serum creatinine 2
ii. Seminars: 15 hours
d) SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
Type of Questions for written examination
Type of Questions Marks
Structured Essays
14
1x 14marks
Brief structured Essays
16
2 x 8marks
Short Answers
20
5x4marks
Total 50
i. Theory
University written Examination: 50Marks
University Viva: 15Marks
Internal Assessment: 10 Marks
ii. Practicals:
Internal Assessment: 10 Marks
University Practicals
: 40Marks
Mark distribution for University practical examination;
One procedure for quantitative estimation 15 marks
One procedure for qualitative analysis 20 marks
Practical Work record: 5 Marks

The following Procedures are suggested for University Practical Examination:

Quantitative Estimation (Any ONE estimation to be done)
Estimation of blood sugar/serum creatinine/blood urea
Qualitative Analysis (Any ONE analysis to be done)
Identification of sugar/albumin/urea/uric acid/creatinine
Urine Analysis – normal constituents
Report of abnormal urine

Page 52 of 127