Degree in Health Engineering La Salle Campus Barcelona

Bachelor in Health Engineering

Lead the biomedical engineering that will define the medicine of the future

Chemistry and biochemistry

Description
The Chemistry and Biochemistry subject delves into the chemical bases, the structure and properties of biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids) and the chemical bases of cellular functions, with the aim of understanding at a molecular level the organization and functioning of human beings. The subject offers students an overview of the main aspects of chemistry and biochemistry that are considered basic in fields of health sciences and especially in regard to human biology.
Type Subject
Primer - Obligatoria
Semester
First
Course
1
Credits
6.00

Titular Professors

Previous Knowledge

Do not required.

Objectives

Learning Outcomes of this subject are:
1. To know and to appropriately use the own terminology related to chemistry and biochemistry.
2. To identify and to know the chemical and structural characteristics of biomolecules related to the human body and its cellular functions.
3. To acquire basic, theoretical and practical knowledge in order to be able to relate and apply it to solve issues related to human biochemistry.

Contents

1. Atomic structure and chemical bonds
2. Properties of elements
3. Acids and bases
4. Carbohydrates and carbohydrate metabolism
5. Proteins, enzymes, and protein metabolism
6. Lipids
7. Nucleic acids
8. Basic cellular structures

Methodology

The Chemistry and Biochemistry subject will combine theoretical sessions with continuous assessment, made up of different knowledge-integrating activities. The knowledge-integrating activities include different modalities, such as the guided resolution of exercises or cases, seminars in a small group format, directed work and cooperative learning. Activities will be proposed for the student to carry out at home and deliver to the teacher and others will be carried out in class, with the aim that the student actively participates in their resolution. Additionally, the student will carry out laboratory practices in which the concepts obtained in the theoretical sessions and the integrating activities will be reviewed, always with the direct supervision of a teacher. A total of 4 sessions will be held throughout the semester (2 Chemistry sessions and 2 Biochemistry sessions) in the afternoon.

Evaluation

The course is assessed through continuous evaluation (40%) and a final exam (60%).

Continuous evaluation includes four quizzes (5% each) and laboratory sessions (20%, divided between Chemistry and Biochemistry).

Evaluation Criteria

To pass the course, students must achieve at least a grade of 5 in the final exam; otherwise, the course will be considered failed and the student will need to attend the resit exam. Any activities not submitted will be graded as 0.

Basic Bibliography

Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Morgan D, Raff M, Roberts K, et al. Biología molecular de la célula. 6a ed. Barcelona: Omega; 2016.

Chang, Raymond. Química. 11ª Ed. McGraw-Hill; 2013.

Nelson, D.L.; Cox, M. Principios de bioquímica [de] Lehninger: sexta edición. Barcelona: Omega; 2015

Voet, D. y Voet, J.G. Biochemistry. 4th Ed. NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2011.

Additional Material