COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course combines lecture, self-study and weekly small group student-led discussions of contemporary literature relevant to the lecture topics.
The course is both an extension of Biochemistry taught during Block 1 as well as an opportunity for students to develop a more cohesive view of the nature and regulation of human metabolism. The course will cover key areas in metabolism and will highlight relationships to clinically relevant topics and the integration and regulation of carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism.
Course Objectives: The goal of Human Metabolism: Regulation and Disease is to provide students with an understanding of the principles of the interrelated pathways of human metabolism and the ability to apply those principles to discussion of the pathophysiology and the design of new therapies for human disease.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: Textbook: Thomas M. Devlin (ed) Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlations, 6th edition. ISBN 978-0-471-67808-3
PREREQUISITES: A passing grade in, or exemption from, course 7001, Biochemistry, is required.
The student should be conversant in the basic concepts of biochemistry that are presented in the Biochemistry course prerequisite. These include, but are not limited to a familiarity with the fundamental biochemical species of amino acids, lipids, oligosaccharides and nucleic acids, biochemical energetics, the fundamental energy-producing biochemical pathways, enzymatic catalysis and enzyme regulation.
SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: Yes
STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
- Exam 1 covering sections 1 and 2: 40%
- Exam 2 covering sections 3 and 4: 40%
- Discussion 1: 5%
- Discussion 2: 5%
- Discussion 3: 5%
- Discussion 4: 5%
Students are expected to attend all lecture, discussion and exam sessions. If an absence is anticipated, the student must contact the Course Director before the session.
Attendance at the Review Sessions given throughout the course and before each exam is optional but highly recommended.
CREDIT HOURS: 4.0