Course Specifics:
Instructor: Dr. Jason C. Hurlbert
Office: Sims 301B
Office hours: M 10:30-11:30, R 12:30-1:30 and by appointment
Phone: 323-4928
E-mail: hurlbertj@winthrop.edu
Meeting Times:
Monday and Wednesday, 5:00 – 6:15PM, Sims 105
3 credit hours
Textbook: Biochemistry by T.A. Brown
Course Outline and Objectives:
We will cover the following topics during the semester:
Along the way, I hope to show you how important the field of chemistry is in everyday life. We will spend the initial part of the course firming up material covered in General Chemistry I, then move into the chemical basis for many biological processes, and finish by studying specific metabolic pathways from a chemical point of view. In addition, the course will serve to help build your critical thinking skills and develop effective study habits, traits you'll need regardless of your chosen career goals.
| Week | Topic |
| 1 | Course Introduction, Organic Chemistry Functional Groups |
| 2 | Naming Organic Molecules |
| Behavior of Organic Molecules/Intermolecular forces | |
| 3 | General Acid/Base Theory and Weak acid/base theory |
| 4 | Buffers |
| 5 | Review for Test 1 |
| Test 1 | |
| 6 | Amino acids: Structure and Behavior |
| Proteins 1: Structure and Folding | |
| 7 | Proteins 2: Enzymes |
| 8 | Proteins 3: Enzyme control/regulation and active sites |
| 9 | Review for Test 2 |
| 10 | Test 2 |
| Reaction mechanisms: Why do enzymes and substrates react the way they do? | |
| 11 | More mechanisms |
| Lipids and Biological Membranes | |
| 12 | Carbohydrates |
| 13 | Glycolysis |
| 14 | Glycolysis continued |
| Review for Test 3 | |
| 15 | Test 3 |
Throughout the semester, I will distribute and collect 3 problem sets from you. These problem sets will be due on the dates given in the course calendar (found on the "Course Schedule" page of this website). Please feel free to work in groups on these problems. However, make sure that you understand how these problems are solved as you may be required to present the solutions to the class during the recitation sections. Each problem set will count as 30 points towards your final grade.
The biggest hurdle to doing well in this course is staying up with the information. Students that have done well in prior offerings of this class have read the material presented BEFORE coming to class, have read through theiir notes after class and have come to my office hours to ask questions about the material. We will have 7 in-class quizzes throughout the semester on the dates given in the course calendar. Each quiz will cover material given in previous lectures and are meant to keep you on pace with the material. Due to the combinatorial nature of the material taught in the course, falling behind in one section will cause problems learning subsequent material, so staying current with the topics is paramount to success in the course. Each quiz will count as 10 points towards your final grade.
Test 1 (18 September, 2019)
Test 2 (21 Octobe4, 2019)
Test 3 (25 November, 2019)
Each test will have a value of 100 points
The final exam is cumulative and you must make at least a 50% on the exam to pass the course. The final exam will cover the entire course and will have a value of 200 points
Total Possible Points = 660 Points
A: 90 - 100% (594-660 pts)
B+: 86 - 89% (568-593 pts)
B: 77 - 85% (508-567 pts)
C+: 74 - 76% (488-507 pts)
C: 66 - 73% (435-487 pts)
D: 56 - 65% (370-434 pts)
F: <55% (<370 pts)