Biochemistry (BCH)
Curricular bridge between high school and college for high school and transitional students. A "hands on" introduction to fundamentals in Microbiology and Biochemistry. Bacterial isolation, identification and growth using aseptic technique, microscopy, and metabolic analysis. Experiments with DNA isolation and analysis, protein isolation, and purification, and enzyme kinetics. Lectures and readings on background, theory and applications of these techniques. Field trips to university and industry research laboratories. This course is part of the Summer College in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (SCIBLS) as well as other pre-college, transitional and early-college programs and is offered as 4 week intensive course. Applicants should have completed high school courses in biology and chemistry. Students must have completed no more than 30 credit hours. Departmental approval is required for current NCSU students.
Typically offered in Summer only
Introduction to curriculum and career requirements for biochemistry and being a successful student at NCSU. Emphasis is placed on curricular requirements, interactions with faculty and students in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, introduction to key resource programs on campus, exposure to research opportunities and ongoing career planning. Enrollment is limited to new or transfer Biochemistry majors with less than 45 hours.
Typically offered in Fall only
Role of Biotechnology in Society is an introductory science course that takes a semi-technical look at the emerging role of biotechnology in human society. Expectations are that students will gain an appreciation for biotechnology and gain the ability to understand how biotechnology works. Offered only in Poland through Study Abroad Program (4-week course).
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Typically offered in Summer only
This course provides a descriptive survey of the concepts of physical chemistry with emphasis on their use in applications designed to characterize and manipulate biological molecules and systems. Topics are drawn from thermodynamics (bonding, protein folding energies, linkage, specostropic and differential scanning calorimetric binding measurements), kinetics (enzymatic catalysis, perturbation techniques), statistical mechanics (distributions, ensembles, molecular mechanical & dynamics calculations), electrochemistry, hydrodynamics (diffusion, friction, electrophoresis, viscosity, sedimentation, organism size and shape), quantum mechanics (wave functions operators, uncertainty principle, dipoles, orbitals and resonance energy coupling), and spectroscopy (absorbance and light scattering, fluorescence, nuclear and electronic paramagnetic resonance, MR imaging and x-ray diffraction).
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is an introduction to the basic principles of biochemistry. It emphasizes biochemical structures, properties, and functions, including enzyme kinetics and major metabolic processes. It can serve as a prerequisite for BCH 452 with permission of the department. This course is designed for those students who are not majoring in Biochemistry and do not require a more comprehensive introduction to biochemistry. It is not intended for graduate students. Credit is not allowed for both BCH 351 and BCH 451. Prerequisites CH 223 (or CH 227) and BIO 183 are required. CH 201 (or CH 203) is strongly recommended, but not required.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Introduction to and survey of the fundamental principles of biochemistry, emphasizing the chemistry of living organisms, chemical structures, and interactions of and between biomolecules.
Prerequisite: CH 101 (or CH 103), CH 102 (or CH 104), CH 201 (or CH 203), CH 202 (or CH 204), CH 221 (or CH 225), CH 222 (or CH 226), CH 223 (or CH 227), CH 224 (or CH 228), and BIO 183
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Laboratory experiences in this course are designed to compliment the first semester undergraduate biochemistry course, BCH 451. Basic skills to be mastered include the use of volumetric equipment, spectrophotometers, chromatography, and electrophoresis. You will also learn to assay small quantities of biological materials and analyze lab data. You will learn to manipulate biochemical materials from three of the four major subgroups: proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates. You will determine structural elements at a number of analytical levels and learn how to think about their functional capabilities. We will emphasize theoretical information, while discussing how the techniques work. The explanations discuss how the techniques work. We focus on how consecutive methods are interconnected to form process chains.
P: CH 101 (or CH 103), CH 102 (or CH 104), CH 201 (or CH 203), CH 202 (or CH 204), CH 221 Organic Chemistry I (or CH 225), CH 222 (or CH 226), CH 223 (or CH 227), CH 224 (or CH 228), BIO 183 and BCH 451 (may serve as corequisite or prerequisite).
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins. Synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Gene expression and Regulation. Methodologies of recombinant DNA research. Credit is not allowed for both BCH 453 and BCH 553.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Hands on experience with the techniques of molecular biology and protein purification. Cloning and expression of a eukaryotic gene in bacteria will be performed followed by purification of the eukaryotic gene product. Microanalysis of DNA, RNA and protein.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Principles of protein structure and function, protein folding, enzymology, ligand binding, protein transport, and metabolic pathways.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
A learning experience in agriculture and life sciences within an academic framework that utilizes facilities and resources which are external to the campus. Contact and arrangements with prospective employers must be initiated by student and approved by a faculty adviser, the prospective employer, the departmental teaching coordinator and academic dean prior to the experience.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
A learning experience in agriculture and life sciences within an academic framework that utilizes campus facilities and resources. Contact and arrangements with prospective employers must be initiated by student and approved by a faculty adviser, the prospective employer, the departmental teaching coordinator and the academic dean prior to the experience.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Offered as needed to present materials not normally available in regular BCH departmental courses or for new BCH courses on a trial basis.
Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
An advanced laboratory to give students practical experiences in purification and quantitative characterization of enzymes and nucleic acids. Studies with carbohydrates and membrane lipids. Credit may be applied toward biotechnology minor.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins. Synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Gene expression and Regulation. Methodologies of recombinant DNA research. Credit is not allowed for both BCH 453 and BCH 553.
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Principles of protein structure and function, protein folding, enzymology, ligand binding, protein transport, and metabolic pathways.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Introduction to molecular biology for teachers. Emphasis will be on developing basic laboratory skills applicable to middle or high school biology classes. Teachers will develop their own labs during the last week of class. This is an intensive three-week class, five hours per day. Students should have at least one biotechnology course before enrolling in this course. Prior secondary school teaching experience preferred.
Typically offered in Summer only
This course is offered alternate even years
Study of hormonal, enzymatic and molecular-genetic regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; emphasis on mammalian species.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate odd years
The study of topics of special interest by small groups of students instructed by members of the faculty.
Prerequisite: BCH 451
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Introduction to the current understanding and methods used for the study of structures, thermodynamics and conformational dynamics of proteins, nucleic acids and membranes.
Typically offered in Fall only
The study of topics of special interest by small groups of students instructed by members of the faculty.
Prerequisite: BCH 451
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Critical study of special problems and selected topics of current interest in biochemistry and related fields.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in BCH
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Performance of highly directed research by biochemistry students in one or more laboratories of student's choice prior to beginning thesis research. Each laboratory experience lasts 5 weeks and given 1 hr. of credit. No more than 4 credits earned inBCH 692.
Prerequisite: BCH 451
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirement of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Spring only
Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Thesis research
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their thesis.
Prerequisite: Master's student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Introduction to the current understanding and methods used for the study of structures, thermodynamics and conformational dynamics of proteins, nucleic acids and membranes.
Typically offered in Fall only
Biochemistry of DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing and translation. Development of key concepts, techniques and applications relating to mechanisms and regulation of these processes by analysis of primary literature.
Typically offered in Spring only
Regulation of cellular processes, membrane structure and function, signal transduction, protein trafficking/sorting, secretion, photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation.
Typically offered in Fall only
On demand. Theory and application of scanning electron microscopy, including specimen preparation, microscope alignment and operation, performance evaluation, interpretation of problems and darkroom technique. (Limited to 8 students with prior approval of instructor.)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing with some biological background
Typically offered in Spring only
Fundamental and practical aspects of biological macromolecular structure, thermodynamics, hydrodynamics, kinetics and spectroscopy with emphasis on mechanisms in functionally important structural transformations.
Prerequisite: BCH 451; one sem. of physical chemistry
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate years
Basic principles and practice of protein crystallography and the application of molecular dynamics to evaluate structural models. The computer lab provides hands-on experience in structure determination, refinement, model building, and molecular dynamics using CHARMM.
Typically offered in Fall only
This course is offered alternate odd years
An advanced graduate class involving integrated approaches to complex biological questions at the molecular level, encompassing biochemistry, cell biology and molecular genetics. The course will focus on an important, current area of research in eukaryotic biology using the primary scientific literature, and will involve class discussions, oral presentations, and a written research proposal.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate years
Study of well-defined models of steroid and protein hormone action via lectures, assigned readings and discussions. Students add breadth to the course and depth to their own understanding by searching the literature and writing or lecturing about a particular hormone of their own choosing.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate years
An advanced treatment involving integrated approaches to biological problems at the molecular level, encompassing biochemistry, cell biology and molecular genetics. Broad, multidisciplinary approaches to solving research problems in biology and thecritical study of primary scientific literature, the development of a research proposal, oral presentations and class discussions.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate years
An advanced course in enzyme kinetics and mechanisms with particular emphasis on experimental design and interpretation. The first half of the course covers the derivation and application of single and multisubstrate kinetic equations, inhibition and pre-steady state kinetics. The second half of the course covers fundamental chemical and physical principles of enzyme catalysis and specificity.
Typically offered in Spring only
This course is offered alternate even years
Weekly seminars on topics of current interest given by resident faculty members, graduate students and visiting lecturers.
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
The study of topics of special interest by small groups of students instructed by members of the faculty.
Prerequisite: BCH 451
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Critical study of special problems and selected topics of current interest in biochemistry and related fields.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in BCH
Typically offered in Spring only
Performance of highly directed research by biochemistry students in one or more laboratories of student's choice prior to beginning thesis research. Each laboratory experience lasts 5 weeks and given 1 hr. of credit. No more than 4 credits earned inBCH 692.
Prerequisite: BCH 451
Typically offered in Fall only
Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall and Spring
For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Spring only
Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
Dissertation research
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer
For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Summer only
For students who have completed all credit hours, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertations.
Prerequisite: Doctoral student
Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer