Courses

Summer

200 Level
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BIOC 202 – Introductory Medical Biochemistry

Introduction to proteins and enzymes, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose homeostasis.
The course emphasis is on human biochemistry and it is designed for students going into health science fields. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 202, BIOC 203 or BIOL 201.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of CHEM 203 , CHEM 223, CHEM 233
Equivalents: BIOC 202, BIOC 203, BIOL 201

Course Coordinator: Michael Krisinger
Telephone: 604-827-1700
Email: mike.krisinger@ubc.ca

Textbook: Recommended Lehninger: Principles of Biochemistry (Seventh edition), Worth Publishers, 2017.


Fall/Winter

200 Level
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BIOC 202 – Introductory Medical Biochemistry

Introduction to proteins and enzymes, carbohydrate metabolism, and glucose homeostasis.
The course emphasis is on human biochemistry and it is designed for students going into health science fields. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 202, BIOC 203 or BIOL 201.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: CHEM 203, CHEM 223, CHEM 233
Equivalents: BIOC 202, BIOC 203BIOL 201

Course Coordinator: Warren Williams
Telephone: 604-822-8729
Email: warren.williams@ubc.ca

Textbook:
 Recommended Lehninger: Principles of Biochemistry (Seventh edition), Worth Publishers, 2017. Please find more details in the course information below.

Course Outline 2024W – T1

Course Outline 2024W – T2


BIOC 203 – Fundamentals of Biochemistry 

Amino acids and proteins. Enzymes and enzymology. Human metabolic pathways. Structure, function and metabolism of carbohydrates including glycogen storage and gluconeogenesis. Restricted to students in Biochemistry specializations. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 202, BIOC 203 or BIOL 201.

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: BIOL 200 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 223
Co-requisites: CHEM 213

Course Coordinator: Warren Williams
Email: warren.williams@ubc.ca
Telephone: 604-822-8729

Course Outline 2024W


300 Level
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BIOC 301 – Biochemistry Laboratory

Techniques by which the chemical and physical properties of fundamental components of the cell are studied.

Credits: 3
Co-requisite: One of BIOC 302BIOC 303

Course Coordinator: Jason Read
Telephone: 604.822.7253
Emailjaread@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 302 – General Biochemistry

Metabolic reactions of lipids, steroids, amino acids and nucleotides; the biochemistry of replication, transcription and translation. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 302 or BIOC 303.

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: One of BIOL 201BIOC 202BIOC 203 and one of CHEM 203, CHEM 223, CHEM 233
Equivalents: BIOC 303

Course Coordinator: Eden Fussner-Dupas
Email: eden.fussner@ubc.ca

Textbook: Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry (7th edition). Nelson, D. L., Cox, M. M., Freeman and Company 2017.
Course Outline 2024W


BIOC 303 – Molecular Biochemistry

Structure, function and metabolism of lipids, amino acids, proteins and DNA; the biochemistry and molecular biology of membrane transport, channels and cell receptors; the DNA replication, transcription, translation and protein homeostasis. For students in Biochemistry and Honours programs in other life sciences. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 302 or BIOC 303.

Credits: 6
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 202BIOC 203BIOL 201 and either (a) CHEM 213 or (b) CHEM 233

Course Coordinator: Franck Duong (Term 1), Thibault Mayor (Term 2)
Telephone: 604-822-5975
Email: Dr. Duong – fduong@mail.ubc.ca, Dr. Mayor – mayor@msl.ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 304 – Contemporary Biochemical Research

Exploration of the breadth and importance of biochemical research to present day challenges in medicine and biotechnology. Detailed experimental research case studies of novel biochemical methods used to address pressing and ongoing biochemical issues.

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: CHEM 213
Co-requisites: BIOC 303

Course Coordinator: Calvin Yip
Telephone: 604-827-3976
Email: calvin.yip@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2022W


BIOC 398 – Internship Work Placement I 

Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic laboratory for three or four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Completion of academic third year in Biochemistry major or honours program is required.


BIOC 399 – Internship Work Placement II


Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic research setting for four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: BIOC 398


400 Level
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BIOC 402 – Proteins: Structure and Function

Structural components of proteins, classification by primary, secondary and tertiary structure, protein chemistry and purification, peptide and protein synthesis by chemical means and three-dimensional structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 302BIOC 303BIOT 380. (A minimum standing of 65% recommended in these courses.)

Course Coordinator: Calvin Yip
Telephone: 604-827-3976
Email: calvin.yip@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2022W


BIOC 403 – Enzymology

Kinetic analysis, catalytic mechanisms, transition state stabilization and regulation of activity, strategies for active site characterization and case studies of well-documented enzyme systems. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 403, CHEM 413 or CHEM 569.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: BIOC 402. (A minimum standing of 65% is recommended.)

Course Coordinator: Natalie Strynadka
Telephone: 604-822-0789
Email: mcjs@mail.ubc.ca


BIOC 404 – Biochemical Methods

Theory and application of classical and emerging technologies in biochemical research. Emphasis on using primary literature and oral presentation skills. Restricted to Honours students in Biochemistry or others with permission of the instructor.

Credits: 3

Course Coordinator: Sriram Subramaniam
Telephone: 604-822-8621
Email: sriram.subramaniam@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 410 – Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function

Chemical, physical and biological properties of nucleic acids and their role in replication, transcription, translation and regulation of expression of genetic material. Credit will be granted for only one of BIOC 410 or BIOC 510.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Either (a) all of BIOC 303BIOL 335 or (b) BIOT 380. (A minimum standing of 65% is recommended in these courses.)

Course Coordinator: Eric Jan
Telephone: 604-827-4226
Email: ej@mail.ubc.ca

Course Outline 2022W


BIOC 420 – Advanced Biochemical Techniques

Multi-week experiments in areas of contemporary biochemistry research using classical and modern techniques. Emphasis on experimental design, technique, critical analysis of data, and scientific communication skills. Restricted to Honours students in Biochemistry and others with permission of the instructor.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 404FSCT 480

Course Coordinator: Scott Covey
Email: scott.covey@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 421 – Recombinant DNA Techniques

Multi-week experiments involving contemporary nucleic acid research, cloning and recombinant protein engineering. Emphasis is on experimental design, critical analysis of data and scientific communication skills. Restricted to Major students in Biochemistry.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: All of BIOC 301BIOC 410

Course Coordinator: Scott Covey
Email: scott.covey@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 440 – Concepts in Molecular Biology

Developing areas of molecular biology, focusing on experimental design and data analysis. Signal transduction, the use of model eukaryotes, and the regulation of gene expression.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 303, BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402BIOC 410

Course Coordinator: Ivan Sadowski
Email: sadowski@mail.ubc.ca

Course Outline 2022W


BIOC 448 – Directed Studies in Biochemistry

A laboratory project with written report (3 or 6 credits) allowing a student to undertake an investigation on a specific topic as agreed upon by the faculty and student.

BIOC 448A Directed Studies in Biochemistry
BIOC 448B Directed Studies in Biochemistry

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: Permission of the Department Head is required

Course Coordinator: Lindsay Rogers
Email: lindsay.rogers@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 449 – Honours Thesis

A research problem under the direction of a faculty member. Restricted to Honours students.

Credits: 6
Restricted to Honours Students

Course Coordinator: Lindsay Rogers
Telephone: 604-822-0511
Email: lindsay.rogers@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 450 – Membrane Biochemistry

Biochemistry of membranes and membrane proteins, membrane fusion, electrical signaling, and the involvement of membrane proteins in disease and drug development.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 303BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402BIOC 410

Course Coordinator: Filip Van Petegem
Telephone: 604-827-4267
Email: petegem@mail.ubc.ca


BIOC 460 – Advanced Techniques in Biochemistry

Theoretical basis and practical applications of a selection of advanced techniques currently used in biochemical research. Topics will vary.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 303BIOT 380 and all of BIOC 402BIOC 410

Course Coordinator: Sheila Teves
Telephone: 604-827-2044
Email: sheila.teves@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 470 – Biochemistry and Society: Current Issues

Biochemical basis of select global challenges. Critical evaluation of primary literature to form evidence-based opinions and communicating biochemistry as it relates to several controversial societal issues.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: One of BIOC 302BIOC 303

Course Coordinator: Lindsay Rogers
Telephone: 604-822-0511
Email: lindsay.rogers@ubc.ca

Course Outline 2023W


BIOC 498 – Internship Work Placement III

Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic laboratory for three or four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: BIOC 399

Course Coordinator: Scott Covey
Email: scott.covey@ubc.ca


BIOC 499 – Internship Work Placement IV

Approved and supervised technical work experience in an industrial or academic research setting for four months. Technical report required. Restricted to students admitted to the Internship Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Credits: 3
Prerequisites: BIOC 498

Course Coordinator: Scott Covey
Email: scott.covey@ubc.ca