Academic Year/course:
2017/18
441 - Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
29239 - Structural Biochemistry
Syllabus Information
Academic Year:
2017/18
Subject:
29239 - Structural Biochemistry
Faculty / School:
229 - Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y del Deporte
Degree:
441 - Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
ECTS:
7.0
Year:
1
Semester:
First semester
Subject Type:
Basic Education
Module:
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5.1. Methodological overview
The learnig process designed for this subject is based on the following:
This is a core subject and aims for students to assimilate and appropiately use biochemical and molecular concepts on which, ultimately, the aunderstanding of physiological (including nutritional) processes rest. To achieve these goals the course covers a series of activities which include: i) lectures, ii) practice sessions and problem-solving sessions.
5.2. Learning tasks
1. Lectures program (50 hours onsite).
2. Laboratory practice sessions (17.5 hours onsite).
3. Problem-solving sessions (4 hours onsite).
5.3. Syllabus
LECTURES (50hr)
SECTIONI. PHYSICOCHEMICAL BASIS OF BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES.
1. Life: A chemical function. 2. Chemical bonding and molecular structure. 3. Water: structure and physicochemical properties. 4. Weak interactions in aqueous media. 5. Organic compounds. 6. Chemical reactions in living organisms. 7. Bioenergetics.
SECTION II. COMPOSITION, STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF MACRONUTRIENTS.
8. Amino acids, peptides and proteins. 9. Protein structure. 10. Protein function and nutritional importance of proteins. 11. Carbohydrates: structure, function and nutritional importance. 12. Carbohydrates: Fiber. 13. Lipids: structure, function and nutritional importance. 14. Nucleotides and nucleic acids: structure and function.
SECTION III. REGULATORY NUTRIENTS.
15.- Functions and mechanisms of action of water-soluble vitamins. 16. Functions and mechanisms of action of fat soluble vitamins. 17. Macrominerals. 18. Microminerals. 19. Trace elements.
LABORATORY SESSIONS
P1. Introduction to laboratory work. Preparation of solutions.
P2. Rating solutions.
P3. Use and operation with a pH meter. Titration curve of an amino acid.
P4. Electrophoresis of serum proteins.
P5. Starch hydrolysis and determination of reducing sugars.
P6. Quantitative determination of cholesterol.
P7. Extraction and separation of plant pigments.
PROBLEM SOLVING SEMINARS (4hr).
PSS1 (2hr)
PSS2 (2hr)
5.4. Course planning and calendar
This subject covers 19 theoretical chapters, 7 practice sessions and 2 problem-solving sessions (in small groups). There will be 4 lectures sessions per week (lasting 1 hour) and 4 sessions per week of practices and/or problem-solving seminars. On average students wil attend one of these practical session every week and a half (consult official timetables).