FDSC20100 Agricultural Biochemistry

Academic Year 2020/2021

The main aim of this module is to introduce students to how living cells (animal and plant) can extract energy from highly reduced organic molecules (i.e. carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and convert them to a usuable form of energy suitable to the living cell. Various metabolic pathways will be covered, as will the control mechanisms and interactions of the metabolic pathways operative in the cells.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: Explain how living cells can extract, transform and utilise energy from their environment. Predict how the mammalian organism reacts to various states of nutrition, which it may be subjected to over a period. Assess the role, mode of action and interaction of various hormones involved in nutrient metabolism.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction General concepts and key terminology
Enzymes – Nomenclature, action, key factors on enzyme activity, inhibition
Digestion - Ruminant and Monogastric digestion
Metabolism of carbohydrates Glycolysis
Metabolism of carbohydrates – Gluconeogenesis
Glycogen – Formation breakdown and regulation of its metabolism
Regulation of Glucose Metabolism
Structure and function of mitochondria
The citric acid cycle
Oxidative phosphorylation – Electron transport chain
ATP synthesis and energetic considerations
Photosynthesis – Light reactions – Photosystems in plants
Photosynthesis – Calvin cycle
Metabolism of fatty acids – Lipid oxidation
Metabolism of fatty acids – Ketone bodies and their metabolic role
Metabolism of fatty acids – Biosynthesis of a new fatty acid
Lipid transport and role of lipoproteins
Protein degradation and turnover – Amino acids nomencalture and synthesis
Amino acid catabolism
Amino acid biosynthesis
Urea cycle
Role of hormones in regulation of body functions
Metabolic enzymes: Insulin and glucagon
Integration of metabolic pathways – Role of organs –Food intake and starvation

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Tutorial

2

Computer Aided Lab

8

Autonomous Student Learning

70

Total

104

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module content is delivered via a series of lectures at the end of each lecture a series of multiple choice questions are addressed based on the content of the lecture. Two in term MCQ's (not negatively marked) are held which contribute 10% each to the final marks and a tutorial going through questions similar to those on the MCQ is held after each MCQ. Student complete 4 labs with experiments (which may be held online) designed to align with and compliment the lecture material. 1 week after the lab the students hand in a worksheet which is corrected and returned after 2 weeks with a breakdown of where errors have occurred. Each worksheet contributes 5% of the final marks (20% overall). The final exam is worth 60% of the final mark and is a MCQ (not negatively marked). 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

CHEM 00020 Introductory chemistry
CHEM 10040 The Molecular World


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Required:
CHEM10010 - Intro to Biomolecules

Incompatibles:
FDSC20020 - Nutritional Energy Metabolism


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ during the semester work 10% of final mark not negatively marked Week 6 n/a Graded No

10

Lab Report: Worksheet submitted based on data provided by the module co-ordinator Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Examination: Final end of semester MCQ, 80 question not negatively marked Unspecified No Graded No

60

Multiple Choice Questionnaire: MCQ during the semseter worth 10% of final mark, not negatively marked Week 11 n/a Graded No

10


Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

For the lab components students receive feedback in the form of a breakdown of each question on a worksheet with a commentary on where errors have occurred within 2 weeks after handing in the worksheet. For the in term MCQ's students receive their mark within 7 days and an in-class tutorial is held in which questions on the MCQ are addressed. A series of of online MCQ's quizzes are also available in which the student is told whether or not they have given the correct answer. At the end of each lecture the module co-coordinator goes through a number of MCQ questions based on the lecture topic.

Biochemistry – Berg, Tymoczko, Stryer

Textbook of biochemistry with clinical correlations – Devlin

Biochemistry – Zubay

Biochemistry – A case orientated approach -Montgomery

Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at molecular level, 3rd Ed - Voet

Harper's illustrated biochemistry by Murray, Robert K