MBV-KJM1030 – General biochemistry and biological chemistry
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The fundamentals and concepts of biochemistry will be presented, including synthesis, structure and functions of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Students will be given an introduction to central metabolic pathways, which illustrate the function of molecules, and they will be able to understand how these pathways are regulated.
Learning outcome
After completing this course, we expect the student to have the following competence:
• Basic knowledge of the organization of the cell, cell membranes and organelles.
• Know the structure and function of biological molecules like nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids.
• Know the function of enzymes as biological catalysts, and enzyme kinetics.
• Be familiar with the concepts of metabolic pathways, glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway and oxidative phosphorylation, and how these pathways are regulated.
• Have insight into and knowledge to the main metabolic signaling pathways.
• Know the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
-
Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
KJM1001 – Introduction to chemistry (continued) or KJM1100 – General chemistry (continued) or KJM1110 – Organic chemistry I (continued) or similar course.
Recommended previous knowledge
KJM1110 – Organic chemistry I (continued). Admission to the course will be granted to students only having a background from KJM1001 – Introduction to chemistry (continued) orKJM1100 – General chemistry (continued), however, these students will need to be prepared to take on a higher workload to compensate for their lack of knowledge in organic chemistry. It is therefore strongly recommended also to have passed KJM1110 – Organic chemistry I (continued) or a similar course before admission, or to take KJM1110 – Organic chemistry I (continued) in the same semester.
Overlapping courses
The course overlaps 5 ECTS credits with MBV1050 – Biochemistry I: Structure and function of biomolecules (discontinued) and MBV2050 – Biokjemi II - Bioenergetikk og metabolisme (continued), and 7 ECTS credits with previous courses KJM2200 – Biological Chemistry (discontinued) and MBV1030 – General biochemistry (discontinued).
Teaching
Teaching takes place throughout the semester with approximately 60 hours of lectures, 24 hours coursework.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
A compulsory 4 hours midterm exam (counts 50 %) and 4 hours final exam (counts 50 %) will be given. Both exams must be passed in order to pass the course.
A retake exam of the midterm exam will be offered to those who fail or withdraw during the exam or have valid absence from the exam (doctors certificate).
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Calculator
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English. If you would prefer to have the exam text in English, you may apply to the course administrators.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.