CHEM 120 - Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry [GEKN]

Fundamentals of Organic and Biochemistry is a one-semester survey course that introduces students to some basic principles of organic chemistry and its applications to biochemistry. The course is designed for students who have an interest in health-related topics and who are considering careers in the medical and allied fields. in the first portion of the course, the structure and reactivity of all major classes of organic compounds are discussed, these include saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds, amines, alcohols and others. During the second part of the course, the basic terminology and fundamental concepts of organic chemistry are applied to the understanding of biochemical processes. After a survey of the major categories of biochemical compounds, such as carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and proteins, several overarching themes of biochemistry are explored. These include the structure and function of enzymes, bioenergetic cycles such as the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation and important catabolic pathways such as glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation. lastly, the field of molecular biology is briefly discussed, including the role of nucleic acids and protein syntheses. The laboratory portion of the course complements the lecture by introducing students to basic experimental techniques and by reinforcing concepts discussed in lecture.

Additional Information: A student with a score of 50 or better on the Chemistry CLEP exam may enroll in this course without meeting the prerequisite requirement. Please see the Chemistry Dept. for details.

Keywords: chemistry , Biochemistry , Knowledge of the Disciplines - Natural Sciences (GEKN)  
Updates: Change to prerequisites 10/2019, effective Fall 2020; Course Rotation added 1/2015

Winter 2025 Course Sections

Fall 2024 Course Sections