230012 The Chemistry of Life

Detaljer
Inst. for Grundvidenskab   90 %
Inst. for Plantebiologi   10 %
Tidligst mulig placeringBachelor 1. år
VarighedTo blokke
 
Pointværdi15 (ECTS)
KursustypeBachelorkursus
 
EksamenSluteksamen

skriftlig prøve


Skriftlig auditorieeksamen

Alle hjælpemidler tilladt

Beskrivelse af eksamen: 3 timers skriftlig prøve

Vægtning: 100%



bestået/ikke bestået, intern censur

Eksamensdatoer:
07 April 2006
 
Forudsætninger for indstilling til eksamen1) To carry out at least 7 of the 9 laboratory exercises.
2) To obtain 25 (out of 34) points from hand-in exercises (1 pt), lab. reports (2 pts) and PBL presentations (3 pts).
 
Rammer for undervisningUsually two double lectures/week, one theoretical exercise/week and one laboratory exercise/week. Some weeks with PBL instead of TE or TE instead of LE.
 
BlokplaceringBlock 2
Ugestruktur: B, skal koordineres med IGVs andre førsteårskurser

Block 3
Ugestruktur: B, Skal koordineres med IGVsandre førsteårskurser
 
UndervisningssprogEngelsk
 
Kompetenceområder
Basic Sci.
Knowledge of biochemically important aspects of organic chemistry and selected aspects of general chemistry.
Understanding of central aspects of biochemistry (intermediary metabolism, genes, protein synthesis, structure and function of proteins and enzymes).
Understanding of some connections from biochemistry to anatomy, physiology and molecular genetics (e.g. time- and size-scale, biochemical differences between leaves, roots and storage organs and tissues, primary vs. secondary metabolites, the genetic code.)
Knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects of some experimental methods, with focus on analytical methods such as chromatography, gel electrophoresis, UV spectroscopy and enzyme assay.
Knowledge of scientific papers, as medium of scientific communication.
Basic knowledge of written and oral communication.

Appl. Sci.
Knowledge of the role of biochemistry in plant breeding and quality assessment.

Eth. Val.
Awareness of scientific honesty
 
Kursets målsætning
The course aims at giving a basic understanding of the biochemistry of plants, based on:
1) A minimal basis of general and organic chemistry.
2) A chemical and biochemical understanding of important plant components: Primary and secondary metabolites, polysaccharides, and proteins.
3) Description of plant physiological processes at the cell level: Respiration, photosynthesis, molecular genetics and an introduction to biosyntheses.
4) Introductory reading of original scientific papers.
 
Kursusindhold
The Chemistry of Life covers the structures, properties, reactions and functions of plant metabolites and macromolecules, and describes the network of reactions which together constitutes plant biochemistry. After an introduction to organic chemistry, we focus on a chemical and biological understanding of primary metabolism, i.e. the part of metabolism that is common for all plants, and which includes the biosynthesis and degradation of biomolecules, and how plants obtain energy for the life processes.

The curriculum includes: The reactivity, including acid-base and redox properties, of some important functional groups: alcohol, phenol, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, ester, amine and amide. The structure, properties and biological functions of selected hydrocarbons, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids and secondary metabolites. Properties of enzymes, including reaction mechanisms, thermodynamic aspects, basal kinetics and cofactors. Primary metabolism and respiration, including thermodynamic aspects, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, citric acid cycle, glyoxylate cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, protein biosynthesis and photosynthesis.

The 9 laboratory exercises comprise:
A1+2) Pipettes, pH determination and titration.
A3) Compound identification based on reactivity and solubility.
B) Plant oils: Saponification and fatty acid profile.
C) Amino acids: Identification based on titration and TLC.
D) Plant pigments: Extraction of carotenoids and anthocyanins, TLC and UV spectroscopy.
E) Partial purification of horse radish peroxidase.
F) Isolation and hydrolysis of starch.
G) Kinetic constants of horse radish peroxidase.
H) Extraction, reduction and alkylation of barley storage proteins, SDS PAGE.
 
Undervisningsform
The curriculum is presented in lectures. Problem solving is practiced in theoretical exercises. Laboratory exercises demonstrate experimental work and its' interpretation. A PBL case integrates the competences obtained in the course, introduces scientific papers and demands written and oral communication of some sophistication. Intensive self study of curriculum and exercises is a vital part of the course.
 
Litteraturhenvisninger
Selected sections of: Ouellette, R. J. (1998) Organic Chemistry, a Brief Introduction, 2. Ed. Prentice Hall, or another book of general organic chemistry. Exact course litterature will be communicated later.

Horton H. R., Moran L. A., Ochs R. S., Rawn J. D., Scrimgeour K. G. (2002) Principles of Biochemistry, 3. Ed. Prentice Hall.

Selected sections of: Raven P. H., Evert R. F., Eichhorn S. E. (1999) Biology of Plants, 6. Ed. Freeman, or another book with an introductory treatment of molecular genetics and protein synthesis. Exact course litterature will be communicated later.

Bukh, Tulinius, Agerbirk. Laboratory Exercises, The Chemistry of Life. Most recent edition. Samfundslitteratur.
Tulinius, Bukh, Agerbirk. Theoretical Exercises, The Chemistry of Life. Most recent edition. Samfundslitteratur.
 
Kursusansvarlig
Niels Agerbirk, nia@life.ku.dk, Institut for Grundvidenskab/Biokemi og naturproduktkemi, Tlf: 35332438
Poul Erik Jensen, peje@life.ku.dk, Institut for Plantebiologi og Bioteknologi/Laboratorium for Molekylær Plantebiologi, Tlf: 35333340
 
Studienævn
Studienævn NSN
 
Kursusbeskrivelsesomfang
forelæsninger27
teoretiske øvelser26
praktiske øvelser36
projektarbejde9
forberedelse311
eksamen3

412