Course 2024-2025

Biochemistry and Cell Biology III [MMEDB243]

  • 3 credits
  • 26h+15h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired a good knowledge of several key metabolic pathways and their regulation.

Objectives

General objectives :

- To know and understand the normal functioning of the human body at the molecular and cellular level

- Acquire the molecular and cellular bases necessary to understand the physiopathological mechanisms

- Learn to follow an experimental protocol and to write a rigorous scientific report using appropriate vocabulary

Specific objectives :

- knowledge and understanding of the main metabolic pathways .

- understand the chemistry of the main metabolic reactions

- build an integrated view of the main metabolic pathways

- acquire sufficient knowledge to be able to read a scientific article on metabolism

- be able to read and understand scientific data from the  literature, presented in the form of a diagram or graph

- Understanding of the molecular basis of selected examples of human diseases

- In depth understanding of various subject areas through practical manipulations in the laboratory

- learn and practice a range of biochemistry and cell biology analysis techniques (practical work)

- learn to analyse experimental results, to represent them graphically, and to write a scientific report

- learning to work in a team

Content

- Pentose phosphate pathway

- Metabolism of triacylglycerols, fatty acids, and ketone bodies

- Amino acid metabolism and urea production

- Nucleotide and folate metabolism

- Heme metabolism

- Practical work


Prerequisites

The teaching units from one of the following lists:

  1. Biochimie et biologie cellulaire I [MMEDB105]
  2. Biochimie et biologie cellulaire II [MMEDB106]

Co-requisites

Biochimie et biologie cellulaire IV [MMEDB244]

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra lectures, power point presentations, use of blackboard and/or graphic tablet. Three sessions of practical work in the laboratory.

 

Evaluations

Theoretical part:

written exam with MCQs and/or open questions.

Practical part (TPs):

written examination including exercises in calculation, reflection and interpretation of results. The grade may be adjusted according to the results of the entrance tests (described below), the behaviour of the student in the practical room and the quality of the reports submitted at the end of the session. The global mark of the teaching unit will take into account the mark obtained in the theoretical examination and the mark of the practical work with a weighting of 17/3 (17 for the theoretical part, 3 for the practical part). Practical work is compulsory. Students are requested to respect the timetable established by the secretariat. In case of time conflicts or long-standing medical appointments, students should contact Mrs. I. Hamer to change groups Hamer (isabelle.hamer@unamur.be). No changes will be accepted without prior authorisation from the assistant. In case of absence for unforeseen medical reasons, students must send a copy of the medical certificate to Mrs. I. Hamer as soon as possible, at the latest on the first day of the course and in any case within one week of resuming activities. A catch-up session will then be organised. Absence from a single practical session will be penalised by a loss of 3 points out of 20 in the final mark of the teaching unit. If a student does not attend two or three practical sessions, he/she will not be allowed to register for the theoretical examination of the course, neither in the first nor in the second session. Before each lab session, students will be asked to carefully read a pdf file containing theoretical concepts and an experimental protocol and then answer a few questions on the subject. The pdf file and the questionnaire will be available on WebCampus one week before the lab session. This questionnaire is an entry test. Wearing a lab coat is mandatory. The students who will have to repeat the theoretical exam in the second session will be exempted from the practical part if they have obtained a practical mark equal or superior to 10/20 in the first session. The mark of the teaching unit will be calculated according to the same weighting 17/3 and will integrate the practical work mark obtained in the first session. The students who will have to retake the theory exam in the second session will also have to retake a written exam on the practical work if they have obtained a practical work mark lower than 10/20 in the first session. The mark of the teaching unit will be calculated according to the same 17/3 weighting and will include the practical work mark obtained in the second session. Students who will have to repeat the course in a subsequent year and who have obtained a mark of 10/20 or more in the practical course will be exempted from the practical course. The mark they will receive for the course will be the mark obtained in the theory examination only. However, upon requests at the beginning of the term, the student may retake the practical examination. In this case, the 17/3 weighting will be applied with the new practical work mark. Students who will have to repeat the course in a subsequent year and who have obtained a mark of less than 10/20 in the practical course will be required to retake the practical examination but without repeating the laboratory exercises. A revision session will be organised during the term to bring them up to standard. 

Recommended readings

Specific materials uploaded to webcampus Reference books (not essential but recommended): - Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry (Nelson, Cox): Freeman - Harper Biochemistry (Murray, Bender, Botham, Kennelly, Rodwell, Weil): de boeck Pubmed

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de médecine
rue de Bruxelles
61
5000 NAMUR
P. 081724347
F. 081724327
administration-medecine@unamur.be

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree
BlockCredits
Bachelier en médecine23