College of Arts and Sciences Education

2nd Floor, DPT Building

Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

Course Outline: BIO 221/L Chemical Biology 3 (Biomolecules)

COURSE FACILITATOR : Edgar B. Retorta, MAST Bio

Email : bsbiology@umindanao.edu.ph
Student Consultation : thru LMS, email or by phone
Mobile : 0946-272-0836
Effectivity : January 2020
Mode of Delivery : Online blended learning
Time Frame : 54 hours lecture and 108 hours laboratory
Student Workload : Expected Self-directing learning for the lecture
and with faculty interaction in the laboratory
activities.
Requisites : Bio 213/L
Credit : 5 units (3 units for lecture & 2 units for
laboratory)
3 hours for lecture and 6 hours for laboratory per
week
Attendance Requirement : A minimum of 60% attendance is required at all
schedule virtual or face to face sessions and 40%
for the laboratory activities.

Course Outline Policy

Areas of Concern Details

Contact and non-contact hours
Assessment Task Submission
This 5-unit course is 3 units for lecture and 2 units for
laboratory is a self-instructional manual designed for a
blended learning model of instruction delivery with
scheduled face to face or virtual sessions and the actual
delivery of the laboratory activities. The face-to-face
sessions and or virtual sessions shall include the summative
assessment tasks (exams, quizzes, assignments, class
participations via LMS, requirements (let’s check, let’s
analyze, in a nutshell) if warranted. It also includes the
actual laboratory performances (scheduled/if necessary) of
the given activities per week.
The submission of the assessment task shall be on the 2 nd,
4th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 16th and 18th weeks of the sem. The
assessment paper shall attach with a prescribed cover page
indicating the title of the assessment task (performance
based), the name of the coordinator, date of submission,
course code, and the name of the student. The document
should be emailed to the course coordinator or via LMS-
Blackboard.

Turnitin submission
Return of assignments
Assignment Resubmission
Laboratory activity
Re-marking of Assessment Papers You should request in writing addressed to the program
and Appeal
College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118
It is also anticipated to perform laboratory activity each
member per group in each scheduled time or period once
every week.
It is also expected that you are already paid your tuition
and other fees on or before the date of submission of the
assessment task.
To ensure the honesty and authenticity, all assessment tasks
are required to be submitted through Turnitin with a
maximum similarity index of 30% allowed. This means
that if your paper goes beyond 30%, the students will either
opt to redo her/is paper or explain in writing addressed to
the course coordinator the reasons for similarity. In
addition, if the paper has reached more than 30% similarity
index, the student may be called for disciplinary action
following with the University’s OPM on Intellectual and
Academic Honesty.
Please note that academic dishonesty such as cheating and
commissioning other student or people to complete the task
for you have severe punishments (reprimand, warning,
expulsion).
Assessment tasks will be returned to you two (2) weeks
after the submission. This will be returned by email or via
LMS-Blackboard portal in PDF file.
For the group assessment task, the course coordinator will
required some or few of the students for online or virtual
sessions to ask clarificatory questions to validate the
originality of the assessment task submitted and to ensure
that all the group members are involved.
You should request in writing addressed to the course
coordinator his/her intention to resubmit an assessment
task. The resubmission is premised on the student’s failure
to comply with the similarity index and other reasonable
grounds such as academic literary standard or other
reasonable circumstances e.g., illness, accident, or financial
constraints.
Each member of the group are required to perform
laboratory activity during the scheduled time with proper
precautionary measures to avoid close contact with each
other (if necessary). If not, a students should submit
reflections or takeaways about the event / laboratory
activity missed.
coordinator your intention to appeal or contest the score
given to an assessment task. The letter should explicitly

Grading system
Student communication
Students with special needs
College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118
explain the reasons/points to contest the grade. The
program coordinator shall communicate with the students
on the approval and disapproval of the request.
If disapproved by the course coordinator, you can elevate
your case to the program head or the dean with the original
letter of request. The final decision will
come from the dean of the college.
All culled from BlackBoard sessions and traditional
Contact
LECTURE (40%)
Course discussions/exercises – 30%
1st formative assessment – 10%
2nd formative assessment – 10%
3rd formative assessment – 10%
Final exam – 40%
LABORATORY (60%)
Laboratory discussions/exercises – 40%
1st summative assessment – 10 %
2nd summative assessment – 10%
3rd summative assessment - 10%
Final exam – 30%
Submission of the final grades shall follow the usual
University system and procedures.
You are required to create a umindanao e-mail account
which is a requirement to access the BlackBoard portal.
Then, the course coordinator shall enroll the students to
have access to the materials and resources of the course.
All communication formats: chat, submission of
assessment tasks, requests, etc. shall be through the portal
and other university recognized platforms.
You can also meet the course coordinator in person through
the scheduled face to face sessions to raise your issues and
concerns.
For students who have not created their student e-mail,
please contact the course coordinator or program head
Students with special needs shall communicate with the
course coordinator about the nature of his or her particular
needs. Depending on the nature of the need, the course
coordinator, with the program coordinator's approval, may
provide alternative assessment tasks or extension of the
deadline for submission of assessment tasks. However,
alternative assessment tasks should still help achieve the
desired course learning outcomes.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

Contact Details of the Dean Dr. Khristine Marie D. Concepcion

Contact Details of the Program
Head
LMS Facilitator
Well-being Welfare Support
Help Desk Contact Details
Library Contact
E-mail: artsciences@eumindanao.edu.ph
Phone : (082) 305-0647 local 118
Edgar B. Retorta, MAST Biology
E-mail: bsbiology@umindanao.edu.ph
Contact no: 0946-272-0836
Phone no: (082) 305-0647 local 182
Rosyl S. Matina-ao-College LMS Facilitator
E-mail:rosyl_matinao@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone:(082)300-5456/305-0647 Local 149
ZERDSZEN P. RANISES
E-mail: gstcmain@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: (082) 300-5456 / 227-5456 local 130
Hotline no: 0950-466-5431
BRIGIDA E. BACANI- Head LIC
E-mail: library@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: (082)300-5456 local 143 or 140
Hotline no. : 0951-376-6681

CF’s Voice
Good day students! I am welcoming you to this course, BIO 221/L Chemical Biology
3 (Biomolecules). At this moment, I am sure that you have the necessary knowledge in
Chemistry during your Junior High School or even for those students taking up STEM at the
senior high school level. To enhance your understanding, let us move up and explore the world
biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acid, lipids, vitamins and enzymes, as one of the
significant studies in Biology.

CO
Before proceeding to the more advanced biology-related primary subject in the
program, you must deal with this one first. You are required to: Explain the structure and
functions of the biological molecules that includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins
and nucleic acids; and its processes, which are the two primary course outcomes (CO) of the
program. Biology is one of the foundations in studying medicine, biodiversity, and research if
you want to pursue this program. If not, this course still equipped you with the fundamental
knowledge in understanding animals, which included humans. Thus, along with your
experience in General Chemistry in Junior and Senior High School, you are expected to recall
the fundamental structures, properties, compositions and changes of matter in which matter will
undergo to fully understand the entire concept in biomolecules.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

Week 1. The Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)

At the end of the unit, you are expecting to:

1. Explain the importance of biochemistry to the different disciplines.

Explain the importance of biochemistry to the different disciplines.

This course will introduce biomolecules in all living matter. As a natural

science, biochemistry is the study of chemical processes that drive biological systems. The
course explores the basic principles of biochemistry and develops the students’ appreciation
and understanding of biological networks.

BIOCHEMISTRY – it is the study of the chemistry of living

things, this includes organic molecules and their chemical
reactions. Most people consider biochemistry to by
synonymous with molecular biology.

With this week, focus shifts from analytical chemistry to biochemistry. This
week, it tackles the importance and relevance of biochemistry to other disciplines.

What is biochemistry used for?

• Biochemistry is used to learn about the

biological processes which take place in cells
and organisms.

• Biochemistry may be used to study the

properties of biological molecules, for a
variety of purposes. For example, a biochemist
may study the characteristics of the keratin in
hair so that a shampoo may be developed that
enhances curliness or softness.

• Biochemist find uses for biomolecules. For

example, a biochemist may use a certain lipid
as food additive.

• Alternatively, a biochemistry might find a

substitute for a usual biomolecule. For
example, biochemistry help to develop
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

artificial sweeteners.

• Biochemists can help cells to produce new products. Gene therapy is within the realm
of biochemistry. The development of biological machinery falls within the realm of
biochemistry.

WHAT DOES A BIOCHEMIST DO?

• Many biochemists work in chemistry labs. Some

biochemists may focus on modeling, which would
lead them to work with computers.

• Some biochemistry work in the field, studying a

biochemical system in an organism. Biochemist
typically are associated with other scientists and
engineers. Some biochemists are associated with
universities and they may teach in addition to
conducting research. Usually, their research
allows them to have anormal work schedule,
based in one location with a good salary and
benefits.

RELATIONSHIP OF BIOCHEMISTRY TO OTHER DISCIPLINES

• Molecular Genetics – the study of chromosomes and gene expression of an organism

can give insight into heredity, genetic variation and mutations.

• Molecular Biology – concerns the molecular basis of biological activity between

biomolecules in the various systems of cell, including the interactions between DNA,
RNA and proteins and their biosynthesis, as well as the regulation of these
interactions.

• Pharmacology - is the branch of biology concerned with the study of drug action,
where a drug can be broadly defined as any man-made, natural, or endogenous (from
within body) molecule which exerts a biochemical or physiological effect on the cell,
tissue, organ, or organism (sometimes the word pharmacon is used as a term to
encompass these endogenous and exogenous bioactive species).

• Chemical Biology -is a scientific discipline spanning the fields of chemistry, biology,
and physics. It involves the application of chemical techniques, tools, and analysis,
and often compounds produced through synthetic chemistry, to the study and
manipulation of biological systems.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

Physiology: Biochemistry helps one

understand the biochemical changes and
related physiological alteration in the body.
Pathology of any disease is studied through
biochemical changes.

Pathology: Based on the symptoms

described by the patient, the physician can
get a clue on the biochemical change and
the associated disorder. For example, if a
patient complains about stiffness in small
joints, then the physician may predict it to
be gout and get confirmed by evaluating uric acid levels in the blood. As uric acid
accumulation in blood results in gout.

Nutrition deficiency: In the present scenario, many people rely on taking multivitamin &
minerals for better health. The function and role of the vitamin in the body are described only
by biochemistry.

Hormonal deficiency: There are many disorders due to hormonal imbalance in especially
women and children. The formation, role of hormones in the normal body function is taught
in biochemistry by which the physician can understand the concerned problem during
treatment.

In nursing, importance of clinical

biochemistry is invaluable. When a
patient is in the hospital nurses need
to keep a watch on how his condition
is progressing through clinical
biochemistry. That is the treatment
helping him recover from said
condition etc. Almost all the diseases
or disorders have some biochemical
involvement. So the diagnosis of any clinical condition is easily possible by biochemical
estimations.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

Kidney function test: For example, in kidney disorders, other chemotherapy treatment etc
urine test help understand the extent of excretion of drugs or other metabolites, the change in
pH, the color of urine etc.

Blood test: In diabetes, biochemical analytical test for blood glucose level (above 150mg/
deciliter helps one understand the severity of diabetes disorder. Another biochemical test for
ketones bodies in urine also indicates the stage of diabetes. The appearance of ketone bodies
or ketone urea is mostly the last stage of diabetes.

Liver function tests: help understand the type of disease or damage to the liver, the effect of
any medication on liver etc.

Serum cholesterol test: Evaluation of blood cholesterol level and other lipoproteins helps
understand the proneness of the patient to cardiovascular diseases.

Prevent diseases:

It helps for prevention, treatment of

diseases and increases the production or yield.

Enhance growth:

Biochemistry gives an idea of how

the use of fertilizers can increase plant growth,
their yield, quality of food etc.

Enhance Yield:

Some hormones promote growth,

while other promote flowering, fruit formation etc.
In fisheries, use of substances to promote fish
growth, their reproduction etc can be understood.

Adulteration:

Even the composition of food

material produced, their alteration or adulteration
for example in honey can be found by biochemical
tests. Biochemistry tests help prevent contamination.

Biochemical tests for the pesticide residues or other toxic waste in plant, food grain and soil
can be evaluated. Hence during import and export of food grains a biochemical check of the
toxic residues is done to fix the quality.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

In animal husbandry, the quality of milk can be checked by biochemical tests. It also helps
diagnose any disease condition in animals and birds.

In fisheries, the water quality is regularly monitored by biochemical tests. Any drastic
change in water chemistry & composition of fishery ponds can lead to the vast death of fishes
and prawns, hence the tests are done on regular basis to see salt content (calcium content),
pH, accumulation of waste due to not changing water for long etc.

Food chemistry gives an idea of what we eat, i.e. it’ s components like
carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and etc. and also the possible physiological alteration due to
their deficiency.

The role of nutrients: Due to biochemistry the importance of vitamins, minerals,

essential fatty acids, their contribution to health were known. Hence there is a frequent
recommendation for inclusion of essential amino-acids, cod liver oil, salmon fish oil etc. by
physicians and other health and fitness experts.

The nutrients value of food material can also be determined by biochemical tests.

The physician can prescribe to limit usage of certain food like excess sugar for
diabetics, excess oil for heart & lung problem prone patients etc. As these carbohydrate and
fat diets can inhibit the recovery rate from said disorder. This knowledge is due to their idea
of food chemistry and related.

Drug Constitution: Biochemistry gives an

idea of the constitution of the drug, its
chances of degradation with varying
temperature etc. How modification in the
medicinal chemistry helps improve
efficiency, minimize side effects etc.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

The half-life: This is a test done on biochemical drugs to know how long a drug is stable
when kept at so and so temperature.

Drug storage: The storage condition required can be estimated by the biochemical test.For
example many enzymes, hormones are stored for dispensing. These get deteriorated over time
due to temperature or oxidation, contamination and also due to improper storage.

Drug metabolism: It also gives an idea of how drug molecules are metabolized by many
biochemical reactions in presence of enzymes. This helps to avoid drugs which have a poor
metabolism or those with excessive side effects from being prescribed or dispensed to the
patient.

Biochemical tests: These tests help fix the specific half-life or date of expiry of drugs.

Photosynthesis: This describes how carbohydrates are synthesized by use of sunlight,

CO2, and water in the green leaves of plants. It goes on to explain about different complex
enzymes involved in the process to combine the energy of sun within the molecule’s H2O+
CO2 in the form of carbohydrates.

Respiration: By use of above photosynthesis pathway, plants leave out Oxygen while
taking up Carbon dioxide from the air.

Different sugars: Biochemistry defines different types of carbohydrates formed in

plants like trioses (3 carbon sugars i.e., glyceraldehyde), tetroses (4), pentoses (5), hexoses
(6= glucose), heptuloses (7) etc. Heptuloses are the carbohydrates which go on to form the
nucleic acids i.e deoxyribonucliec acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA).

Plants secondary metabolites: Biochemistry also describes how the plant products
like gums, tannins, alkaloids, resins, enzymes, phytohormones are formed inside the plants.

Other functions: It also describes how plants fruits get ripened, how plant seed
germinates, the respiration process inside the plant cell, how proteins and amino acids are
formed on rough endoplasmic reticulum and fats are formed on smooth ER.
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

SELF-HELP: You can refer to the sources below to help you further
understand the lesson

Stephen H. Stoker (2017). Biochemistry (3rd edition). C & E. Publishing Inc.

Garrett, Reginald H. (2017). Biochemistry. Australia: Cencage Learning

Appling, Dean Ramsa (2016). Biochemistry : Concepts and Connections. Harlow, England:
Pearson
Smith, Janice Gorzynski (2016). General, Organic, & Biological Chemistry.Santa Barbara,
California Praeger

Berger, Alok K. (2016). Plant Physiology , Biochemistry and Biotechnology. New Rochell,
NY, Magnum Publication.

LET’S CHECK

Activity 1. You now have the basic concept and background on the importance of
biochemistry to different disciplines. Currently, it would be best if you answered the
following questions: `

1. How does the importance of biochemistry help in your locality/area?

2. What would be the best concepts in biochemistry that needs to develop in our
community?
Areas of 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points
Assessment
Ideas and What you are writing about is clear What you are writing You put thought into this, There is no clear or
content and well-expressed, including specific about is clear. You but there is no real specific explanation in
examples to demonstrate what you answered the question. evidence of learning. answer to the question.
learned. Well done! Some support may be More specific
lacking, or your information is needed, or
sentences may be a bit you need to follow the
awkward. Overall, a directions more closely.
decent job.
Use of terms Your answer included all the terms Your answer included Only one term from the No terms from the
from the lesson that applied to the several terms from the lesson is used in the lesson are used.
question asked. All terms are fully lesson, demonstrating answer. Try for a few
defined and used in the proper adequate understanding more, next time.
context. of the material.
Sentence fluency Sentences are complete and they Sentences are complete Some sentences are Sentences are
connect to one another easily when and able to understand complete and easy to incomplete or too long. It
they are read out loud. Your wring understand. Others makes reading them
“flows”. require some work. difficult.
Conventions No punctuation or structural mistakes. Use of punctuation Mistakes using end Few end marks or
No spelling errors. Your writing shows marks and capitals, as marks or capitals as well capital letters. Answers
 College of Arts and Sciences Education
2nd Floor, DPT Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax No.: (082)300-5456 Local 118

full awareness of the rules of English well as spelling, is mostly as spelling mistakes contain numerous
use. correct. Few errors exist make the writing hard to spelling or structural
in your answer read. errors.
SUBMISSION Before the deadline During the deadline One day after the Two or more days after
deadline the deadline

LET’S ANALYZE

Activity 1. We discuss the importance of biochemistry and its relationship to other

disciplines. At this time, you have to critique a journal /article about biochemistry in relation
to the program.

Areas of 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points

Assessment
Organization Strong and organized beginning Organized beg/mid/ Some organization: No organization; lack
/middle /end end attempt at a beg/mid/end
beg/mid/end
Understanding Writing shows strong understanding Writing shows a clear Writing shows Writing shows little
understanding adequate understanding
understanding
Word Choice Sophisticated use of nouns and verbs Nouns and verbs make Needs more nouns Little or no use of nouns
make the essay very informative essay informative and verbs and verbs
Reference More than three references Only two references Only one reference No reference
included