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University of Alberta
Department of Biochemistry
BIOCHEMISTRY 320 (Fall 2021) Tuesday/Thursday
9:30AM-10:50AM • ECHA 2-430
Lecturer
Dr. J. Parrish, 5-79 Medical Sciences Building [email protected] – ph. 780.492.2866
Drop-in office hours will be 2-4 p.m. on Mondays, starting September 6. Please email for
appointments outside this time. Online office hours will also be scheduled and announced on eClass.
Recommended Textbook
Fundamentals of Biochemistry (5th/4th edition) Voet, Voet and Pratt (2016, Wiley). A copy of this text is on reserve in the library; electronic versions are available from Wiley.com.
Course Content
This course is designed to enable rigorous study of the relationships between structure and function in biological molecules. Primary topics include the structure of proteins, laboratory techniques used to study proteins, and the function of selected proteins; enzyme catalysis, kinetics, and regulation; structural carbohydrates and glycobiology; the structure and properties of lipids, biological membranes and mechanisms of transport. These topics are illustrated throughout with specific examples that relate basic biochemical information to the molecular events that occur in living things. Students should develop an appreciation and detailed knowledge of how the function of different biological molecules is related directly to their structure.
Please note that all 300-level biochemistry classes build upon material covered in BIOCH 200. The instructors will assume that you are familiar with the material in BIOCH 200 and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are.
Lecture Topics, Required Readings and Learning Objectives
These will be posted on the course eClass site by the instructor, along with other relevant learning resources including background and practice material.
Personal Response System: ePoll
We will be employing the University of Alberta “ePoll” system during the term. This will require that you have a smart device or laptop in the room during the class in order to answer the questions that are posed. No grades will be assigned for this.
2 Student Evaluation
Midterm 1: October 7 75 min. 25% of total mark Midterm 2: November 4 75 min. 25% of total mark
Assignments (3): 15% of total mark (5% each)
Final Exam: December 13 2 hr. 35% of total mark (cumulative final)
**Warning: Students should verify the final exam date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.
Examination Regulations
Your student photo I.D. will be required at final exams to verify your identity.
Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes.
Students must remain in the exam room for at least 30 minutes from the time the exam commenced.
No electronic equipment of any type, other than non-programmable calculators, is to be brought to exams.
Hats should not be worn.
Cell Phones:
Cell phones MUST be put away during exams.
Student Success Centre
Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Student Success Centre (2-300 Students’ Union Building).
Student Responsibilities
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behavior (which are available online at
https://www.ualberta.ca/governance/resources/policies-standards-and-codes-of-conduct/code-of- student-behaviour) and to avoid any behavior that could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Cheating, plagiarism and misrepresentation of facts are serious offenses. Anyone who engages in these practices will receive at minimum a grade of zero for the exam or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute the weights. Any offense will be reported to the Senior Associate Dean of Science who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.
3 Students With Disabilities
Students who require accommodation in this course because of a disability are advised to discuss their needs with Accessibility Resources (AR)/Academic Success Centre in 1-80 Students’ Union Building.
STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCESSIBILITY-RELATED ACCOMMODATIONS (students registered with Academic Success Centre): Eligible students have both rights and responsibilities with regard to accessibility-related accommodations. Consequently, scheduling exam accommodations in accordance with deadlines and procedures is essential. Please note adherence to procedures and deadlines is required for U of A to provide accommodations. Contact the Academic Success Centre (https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/academic-success-centre/accessibility-resources) for further information.
Missed Examinations
To receive a final grade in BIOCH 320, a student must receive a grade for all three examinations. If a student misses a MIDTERM EXAMINATION due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons (including missing an in-person assessment due to the requirement to self- isolate when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or with a positive test result) can apply for an
excused absence. To apply for an excused absence, you must contact the instructor/course coordinator within two working days of missing the assessment or as soon as possible. If an excused absence is granted, the student may apply to have the weight of a midterm transferred to the final exam. An excused absence is a privilege and not a right. There is no guarantee that an absence will be excused.
Misrepresentation of facts to gain an excused absence is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour. In all cases, instructors may request adequate documentation to substantiate the reason for the absence at their discretion. Please note, only one midterm accommodation will be granted per student and a second missed midterm will receive a mark of zero.
To apply please contact the course coordinator, Dr. J. Parrish ([email protected]), within two working days of the missed examination. In cases other than illness you must present an affidavit from the Records Division/Examinations and Timetabling, Office of the Registrar.
The deferred midterm date, should it be required, is scheduled for Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
If a student is absent from the FINAL EXAMINATION, the raw score assigned will be zero. However, in cases of illness or other extreme circumstances the student may apply for a deferred examination.
To apply for a deferred final examination, documentation pertaining to the absence must be submitted to the student’s Faculty Office within two working days following the missed examination, as described in Section 23.5.6 of the University Calendar.
The deferred final examination, should it be required, is scheduled for Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 8:00 a.m.
If a deferred examination is granted the student is responsible for contacting the course coordinator, Dr. J. Parrish ([email protected]), immediately to confirm the place for writing. Please note that submission of an absence slip does not guarantee that a deferred examination will be granted.
Applications based on minor or inconsequential ailments or circumstances will not be approved.
Students whose records include a history of deferred examinations are warned by the Faculty of
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Science that future applications for excused absences or deferred examinations, in any course, will only be granted for truly compelling reasons.
Policy Regarding Marked Examinations Midterm Examination Papers
Following their marking and processing, your midterm examination papers will be available for viewing and pick-up during regular scheduled viewing hours for 2 weeks in 5-81 Medical Sciences Building. An answer key will be posted on eClass. As affirmed by the General Faculties Council, “the objective is an educational end: i.e., it is not a substitute for existing reappraisal procedures for the reconciliation of grades.” Should a reappraisal be requested, the examination paper will be passed to an alternative instructor in the department. This individual will be asked to re-mark the entire exam, following the instructor’s answer key, and they will be asked to assess the quality and coherence of each response. It should be understood that any resulting changes in the student’s official mark will be made without further discussion.
Final Examination Papers
When the results of final examinations have been posted on eClass, papers will be available at
scheduled viewing hours after the deferred final examination date, in 5-81 Medical Sciences Building.
As affirmed by the General Faculties Council, the objective of this “is an educational end: i.e., it is not a substitute for existing reappraisal procedures for the reconciliation of grades.” Should you believe that a grievous mistake has been made, you may apply for a reappraisal of your final examination paper as described in Section 23.5.4 (2) of the university calendar.
Assignment of Final Grades
The official marks of the examinations (midterms and final) and the online quizzes will be recorded separately. At the end of the term a composite mark will be calculated from these marks, based on the percentage weight associated with each examination. The composite marks will be ranked in order from the highest to the lowest and final grades will be assigned following General Faculties Council (GFC) guidelines. As stated in the GFC document “Marking and Grading Guidelines,” the final grade assigned will be a reflection of each student’s absolute achievement and relative performance in the class.
Disclaimer: Any typographical errors in this document are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported here.
Policy about course outlines can be found in section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.