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What is Biochemistry? What are the prerequisites? How to do well in BICH 440 and 441.
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Who is Martyn Gunn?
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Here is my home
page and my autobiography.
Read my teaching philosophy and tips on successful study habits.
Read about my research.
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What is Biochemistry? What are the prerequisites? How to do well in BICH 440 and 441.
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Read my teaching philosophy and tips on successful study habits.
Read about my research.
The chemistry of life processes.
Albert Lehninger was more eloquent:
In BICH 440 we emphasize molecular structure and function, and the
interaction of molecules at the molecular level, while in BICH 441 we
examine the extraction, transformation and utilization of energy, or
metabolism, it's regulation and control.
Your objective is to learn to think like a biochemist!
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The prerequisite for BICH 440 is six (6) hours of organic
chemistry. For BICH 441 the prerequisite is a passing grade in BICH
410 or 440.
I'm the advisor for Biochemistry and Genetics, and a member of the
ATMentors program. I'm available to answer your questions
about biochemistry, career options, golf, or anything else.
I have open office hours: see me after class, or just drop by
Bio/Bio 338 or 104.
If you prefer make an appointment: call Ms. Khara Onstott at
845-0198 or Ms. juanita Withem at 845-5032 or call me at 845-5541.
Even call me at home, 696-4516, but before 10pm please!
The hardest part about metabolism is learning the various metabolic
pathways and the structures of all the intermediates. Most students
view this as an endless series of mind numbing metabolic
intermediates, structures and enzymes. However I will reveal the
logic of the pathways to make learning and comprehension easier for
you. For example, I will show you how to recognize that many enzyme
mechanisms follow the simple principle of addition and elimination on
the beta-C.
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What is Biochemistry?
Biochemists study life processes at the molecular level;
biochemists are interested in the molecular interactions of
bio-molecules.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, ASBMB, has this definition on their
web page: Molecular basis of life processes.
But can this goal of understanding life be answered by a reductionist approach?
A reductionist approach has been highly successful in describing
biochemistry both qualitatively and quantitatively. For example, we
have a good understanding of protein structure and function, the
pathways of metabolism and the regulation of enzyme activity. But it
is my contention that in order to understand life we must take a
holistic, systems approach. If our goal as biochemists truly is to
understand life, I believe we must examine the biochemistry of the
system itself not just its individual parts, and we must understand
control of the system not just the regulation of each enzyme.
Prerequisites:
BICH 440 and 441 are the first two courses in a three (3)
semester sequence of general biochemistry and molecular biology (BICH
440, 441 & 431).
How to do well in BICH 440 & 441.
Come to class prepared! Read the textbook before class.
My goal is to have you think holistically about metabolism, its
integration and control. We will take a systems approach rather than
a reductionist approach to analyzing the complex situations arising
in disease states.
To get the most out of the course it is important that you commit the
basic information to long-term memory as it will help you understand
interrelationships and control. Also I will use a problem-based
approach in several classes throughout the semester. You will benefit
more from this if you know the metabolic pathways.
I have a publishers CD-ROM that you can borrow. Visit the web
site for the textbook
and the authors.
Questions on any subject may be sent directly to jmgunn@tamu.edu
Course Objectives
Remember to always think like a biochemist -- molecular
interactions!