BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani, Pilani Campus

SECOND SEMESTER 2021-22

COURSE HANDOUT
Date: January 13, 2022

In addition to part-I (General Handout for all courses) printed on page 1 of the Timetable book, this
portion gives further specific details regarding the course.

Course No. : BIO F211

Course Title : Biological Chemistry

Instructors : Meghana Tare, PhD (Instructor in-charge)

Office : 3277-J, New Science Block

Telephone Extn : X5635

Email : meghana.tare@pilani.bits-pilani.ac.in

1. Course description: This course is intended to offer an introduction to the world of Biological
Chemistry. The course deals with the structure, properties, and significance of the major groups of biochemical
compounds (amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids), the bioenergetics, enzyme
mechanisms and regulation of the central metabolic pathways. Efforts will be made to include the recent
advances and methodologies related to biochemistry. This would help students going for higher level activities,
appreciation of biochemical problems, evaluation and problem solving.

2. Text Book (T)

Mary K. Campbell and Shawn O. Farrell, Biochemistry, 7th edition, International edition, copyright
2012 (Thompson Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning)

3. Reference Books (RB)

a) D. Nelson & M Cox. Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, Palgrave, 4th Ed.
b) Donald Voet et al., Biochemistry, Wiley, 1993

4. Attendance
Attendance is required in order to gain understanding to various aspects of the course. Attendance will be
monitored based on appearing in virtual classroom. Besides, surprise evaluation components can be held during
class/tutorial hours, for which, no make-up will be given.

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

5. Course Plan:

Module Reference
Lecture Sessions (Tentative) Learning Outcomes
Number
L1-4 Chemical nature of Biomolecules, organization of Orientation to the course and
I Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes, how cells use energy. T1 Introduction to Biological Chemistry
L5-L7 Chemistry of carbohydrates
Understanding the Carbohydrates
II. Structure and stereochemistry, reactions, some important T16 Chemistry
oligosaccharides and polysaccharides and their biological roles
L8-L10 Nucleic acid structure, Nucleic acid chemistry, other Understanding the Biochemistry of
III.
functions of Nucleic Acids R(a) 8, T9 Nucleic Acids
L11-L14 Lipids and proteins are associated in membranes, T8 Understanding the lipid structure,
IV
membrane structure functions and Biological membranes
L15-L18 Amino acids and peptides, three dimensional
V structure of proteins, protein purification and characterization T3,4,5 Amino acids, Peptides and Proteins
techniques
T6,7 Learn the Enzyme types, apply
L19-L22 Classification, Enzymes Kinetics and mechanism of
understanding of protein structure to
VI action, Inhibitors and regulators, Allosteric enzymes,
understand mechanism of catalytic
Isoenzymes
action, regulation and inhibition.
L23-L24 Bioenergetics and thermodynamics, chemical logic
Learn about Bioenergetics and apply it to
VII and common biochemical reactions, phosphoryl groups R 13 different types of Biochemical reactions
transfer and ATP, biological oxidation- reduction reactions
Learn the (a) role(s) of glucose and other
L24-L27 Glycolysis, `Reversal of Glycolytic sequence T16-T19 isomers in the cell and apply toward
VIII Utilization of carbohydrates, Regulation of glycolysis, Pentose utilization and production of energy; (b)
phosphate pathway, Citric acid cycle, Glyoxylic acid cycle differential glucose metabolism in
diseases conditions.
Understand and learn the Oxidative
T20 phosphorylation and apply to different
IX L28-L29 Components involved in ETC, Respiratory chain, mechanisms to produce energy in the
cell.
Apply the structural aspects of lipid
L30-L32 Hydrolysis and transport of fats, β-oxidation, T21 biochemistry in learning the metabolism
X Oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids, Formation of Ketone of lipids and differentiating the
bodies, Biosynthesis of fatty acids. metabolism in normal and diseased
conditions
T22 Learn the Biochemistry involved in
XI L33-L34 Path of carbon-Calvin cycle, C4 pathway
Photosynthesis in plants.
XII T23 Apply the understanding of structure of
L35-L40 Catabolism of amino acids, Assimilation of
Amino Acids to learn the metabolism of
ammonia, Urea cycle and formation of uric acid, Purine
nitrogen; how proteins and amino acids
Biosynthesis, Pyrimidine Biosynthesis, Salvage pathway.
are utilized, fate of nucleic acids in the
body.

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 BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Pilani
Pilani Campus
AUGS/ AGSR Division

6. Evaluation Scheme
Please note that majority of evaluation components will be held in the online mode. (Max. Marks=200 for the course)

Component Duration Weightage Date & Time Nature of component

(%) (Close Book/ Open
Book)
Mid Semester Test 90 minutes 30 <TEST_1> CB or OB; TBD
Comprehensive Examination 3h 30 <TEST_C> PARTLY OB
Quizzes During tutorial 20 TBD CB
hours/may be surprise
Assignments (In class and During tutorial 20 TBD CB/OB/Can be oral or
take home) hours/announced verbal too

7. Chamber Consultation Hour: TBD. (By appointment)

8. Notices: Put via Nalanda/Google classroom Announcements. It is mandatory to register over Google Classroom
and virtual/online assessment platforms; as and when directed by IC, or, AUGSD.
9. Make-up Policy: Make up may be granted for Quizzes, only for genuine cases after verification of each case.
Decision of the instructors will be final for make-up policy.
10. Notes:
(A) It is mandatory to register over Google Classroom and virtual/online assessment platforms; as and when directed
by IC, or, AUGSD.
(B) You are requested to ensure the Connectivity at all times during the classes/evaluation components.
(C) Some components can; and, will be conducted within the class hours as a surprise component.
(D) Some of the components, may change subject to institutional policies (mode of teaching, mode of evaluations etc.)
pertaining to pandemic situations. Your kind cooperation is requested through the semester.

Meghana Tare
Instructor-in-charge
Course No. BIO F211