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Biochemistry
CHEM450 | 4 Credits
Biochemistry gives you an introduction to the chemistry of life. You'll explore how biomolecules like proteins, lipids, and DNA are structured and function, and how cells regulate energy use and metabolism to stay alive and responsive.
Professor:
About Biochemistry
What You’ll Learn
Our Biochemistry online course is designed to provide you with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of biochemistry.
- Identify weak interactions in aqueous systems, ionizations of water, and buffers against pH changes in biological systems.
- Contrast primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins and their effects on binding and interactions.
- Sort monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and glycoconjugates.
- Understand nucleic acid structure and chemistry.
- Contrast the functions and features of lipids when acting as signals, cofactors, and pigments.
- Understand the relationship of membrane dynamics with their composition and architecture.
- Explain how the G Protein, gated ion channels, regulation of transcription and cell cycle achieve biochemical signaling.
- Identify the effects of bioenergetics and thermodynamics on metabolism.
- Explain the role of glycogen and glycolysis in metabolic pathways.
- Articulate the citric acid cycle.
- Understand the digestion, mobilization, and transport of fats.
- Articulate the role of ATP in oxidative phosphorylation.
- Explain the biosynthesis of fatty acids, triacylglycerols and membrane phospholipids.
- Understand the role of hormone regulation on metabolism.
- Articulate how genes, chromosomes, DNA, RNA, and other proteins are used as information pathways.
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WANT US TO CHECK?Course Details
Concepts from the structure and function of biomolecules to the regulation of cellular metabolism are discussed during this online Biochemistry course for college credit.
ACE-Recommended
ACE Code:
OOSL-0114
Flexible Schedule
36-day Average Course Completion
Healthcare Courses Have Transferred Over 43,400 Times
$47,300,000 Saved on Healthcare Tuition
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites to take Biochemistry. Completion of Organic Chemistry I and II or their equivalent is strongly encouraged, though not required.
Course Text
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost.
- Nelson, David L., et al. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 8th ed., Macmillan Learning, 2021. ISBN: 9781319322342
The text is provided digitally as part of the course enrollment. Students may find used, new, or rental print copies by searching for the ISBN.
Course Checkpoints
The Foundations of Biochemistry
- Cellular Foundations
- Chemical Foundations
- Physical Foundations
- Genetic Foundations
- Evolutionary Foundations
Water, the Solvent of Life
- Weak Interactions in Aqueous Systems
- Ionization of Water, Weak Acids, and Weak Bases
- Buffering against pH Changes in Biological Systems
Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
- Amino Acids
- Peptides and Proteins
- Working with Proteins
- The Structure of Proteins: Primary Structure
The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins
- Overview of Protein Structure
- Protein Secondary Structure
- Protein Tertiary and Quaternary Structures
- Protein Denaturation and Folding
- Determination of Protein and Biomolecular Structures
Protein Function
- Reversible Binding of a Protein to a Ligand: Oxygen-Binding Proteins
- Complementary Interactions between Proteins and Ligands: The Immune System and Immunoglobulins
- Protein Interactions Modulated by Chemical Energy: Actin, Myosin, and Molecular Motors
Enzymes
- An Introduction to Enzymes
- How Enzymes Work
- Enzyme Kinetics as an Approach to Understanding Mechanism
- Examples of Enzymatic Reactions
- Regulatory Enzymes
Carbohydrates and Glycobiology
- Monosaccharides and Disaccharides
- Polysaccharides
- Glycoconjugates: Proteoglycans, Glycoproteins, and Glycolipids
- Carbohydrates as Informational Molecules: The Sugar Code
- Working with Carbohydrates
Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
- Some Basic Definitions and Conventions
- Nucleic Acid Structure
- Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Other Functions of Nucleotides
Lipids
- Storage Lipids
- Structural Lipids in Membranes
- Lipids as Signals, Cofactors, and Pigments
- Working with Lipids
Biological Membranes and Transport
- The Composition and Architecture of Membranes
- Membrane Dynamics
- Solute Transport across Membranes
Biochemical Signaling
- General Features of Signal Transduction
- G Protein–Coupled Receptors and Second Messengers
- GPCRs in Vision, Olfaction, and Gustation
- Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
- Multivalent Adaptor Proteins and Membrane Rafts
- Gated Ion Channels
- Regulation of Transcription by Nuclear Hormone Receptors
- Regulation of the Cell Cycle by Protein Kinases
- Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressor Genes, and Programmed Cell Death
Introduction to Metabolism
- Bioenergetics and Thermodynamics
- Chemical Logic and Common Biochemical Reactions
- Phosphoryl Group Transfers and ATP
- Biological Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
- Regulation of Metabolic Pathways
Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, and the Pentose Phosphate Pathway
- Glycolysis
- Feeder Pathways for Glycolysis
- Fates of Pyruvate
- Gluconeogenesis
- Coordinated Regulation of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis
- Pentose Phosphate Pathway of Glucose Oxidation
The Metabolism of Glycogen in Animals
- The Structure and Function of Glycogen
- Breakdown and Synthesis of Glycogen
- Coordinated Regulation of Glycogen Breakdown and Synthesis
The Citric Acid Cycle
- Production of Acetyl-CoA (Activated Acetate)
- Reactions of the Citric Acid Cycle
- The Hub of Intermediary Metabolism
- Regulation of the Citric Acid Cycle
Fatty Acid Catabolism
- Digestion, Mobilization, and Transport of Fats
- Oxidation of Fatty Acids
- Ketone Bodies
Oxidative Phosphorylation
- The Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain
- ATP Synthesis
- Regulation of Oxidative Phosphorylation
Lipid Biosynthesis
- Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids and Eicosanoids
- Biosynthesis of Triacylglycerols
- Biosynthesis of Membrane Phospholipids
- Cholesterol, Steroids, and Isoprenoids: Biosynthesis, Regulation, and Transport
- Biosynthesis of Amino Acids, Nucleotides, and Related Molecules
- Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism
Biosynthesis of Amino Acids
- Molecules Derived from Amino Acids
- Biosynthesis and Degradation of Nucleotides
Hormonal Regulation and Integration of Mammalian Metabolism
- Hormone Structure and Action
- Tissue-Specific Metabolism
- Hormonal Regulation of Fuel Metabolism
- Obesity and the Regulation of Body Mass
- Diabetes Mellitus
Genes and Chromosomes
- Chromosomal Elements
- DNA Supercoiling
- The Structure of Chromosomes
DNA Metabolism
- DNA Replication
- DNA Repair
- DNA Recombination
RNA Metabolism
- DNA-Dependent Synthesis of RNA
- RNA Processing
- RNA-Dependent Synthesis of RNA and DNA
- Catalytic RNAs and the RNA World Hypothesis
The Metabolism of Glycogen in Animals
- The Structure and Function of Glycogen
- Breakdown and Synthesis of Glycogen
- Coordinated Regulation of Glycogen Breakdown and Synthesis
Protein Metabolism
- The Genetic Code
- Protein Synthesis
- Protein Targeting and Degradation
Regulation of Gene Expression
- The Proteins and RNAs of Gene Regulation
- Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria
- Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
Assignments & Grading
Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Assignments for this course include:
- 4 Graded Exams
- 1 Graded Midterm
- 1 Graded Finaly
This course has an open-book Final Exam. No calculators are permitted.
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- Basic computer skills
- Any required course materials
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Launching Your Healthcare Journey
Biochemistry helps you understand life at the molecular level from how cells produce energy to how enzymes, DNA, and proteins work together to keep us alive. Whether you're heading into healthcare, research, or biotech, this course gives you the scientific foundation employers and graduate programs are looking for.
Why it matters:
- Healthcare is one of the fastest-growing industries, with 1.8 million new jobs expected between 2022 and 2032.
- Biochemistry helps you understand life at the molecular level — an essential skill for careers where you need to understand how the body works at a chemical level.
How this course sets you up for success:
Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, and Paramedic/EMT
How this course sets you up for success:
Biochemistry is an important step in your science education, whether you’re aiming for lab research or clinical work. Build a strong foundation for a rewarding career in healthcare and science today.
4 Credits
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