00061 - Biochemistry

Learning outcomes

The course provides knowledge in the human metabolism and fundamentals of hormonal metabolic regulations.

Course contents

Prerequisites: To best approach the learning experience, it is helpful to have basic knowledge of general chemistry and organic chemistry. The lecturer will, however, briefly resume the main concepts necessary for a better understanding of the course topics.

Course Contents: Introduction to the study of biochemistry. Composition of living matter and introduction to the study of biomolecules. Water as a solvent: properties of aqueous solutions. Osmotic pressure: biological implications. pH and biological buffers.

Carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids and sterols. Nucleosides, nucleotides and polynucleotides. DNA and RNA. Structure and properties of amino acids. Peptide bond. The structural levels of protein organization. Classification of proteins. Examples of fibrous and globular proteins: collagen, myoglobin, hemoglobin.

Structure, function and classification of enzymes. Mechanism of catalysis. Regulation of enzyme activity. Hydrosoluble vitamins and coenzymes.

Bioenergetics. Introduction to metabolism: catabolism and anabolism. High-energy compounds. Role of ATP in metabolism. Carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis. Lactate recycling and muscle metabolism. Glycogenesis and glycogenolysis. Gluconeogenesis. Insulin, glucagon and adrenaline: glycemia regulation. Krebs cycle. Respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Notes on lipid metabolism: Lipolysis, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, ketone bodies.

Readings/Bibliography

E. Chiricozzi, D. Colombo, F. Magni, O. Marin, P. Palestini, V. Tugnoli "Elementi di Chimica e Biochimica" EdiSES

M. Stefani, N. Taddei “Chimica Biochimica e Biologia applicata” Zanichell

Teaching material can be downloaded through Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Short guided problem-solving activities, interactive classroom quizzes.

Assessment methods

Biochemistry is one of the four modules of Biochemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology I.C. (Integrated Course).

The I.C. learning assessment consists of a written test lasting a total of 2h 30’, including open-ended questions, multiple-choice tests and true/false questions. The score of each question will be reported on the test. Further specifications will be provided during the lessons by the lecturers of the individual courses included in the I.C. Biochemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology. During the exam, the use of support materials such as textbooks, notes, or electronic devices is not permitted. The use of AI is prohibited. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Assessment is designed to verify that students have achieved the learning outcomes of the course and have acquired the expertise in integrating the course contents.

To pass the integrated course exam and proceed with the official recording of the grade, students must achieve a passing mark (18/30) in all subjects (biochemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology) included in the integrated course. The final grade will be calculated as the average of the grades obtained in the individual modules of the integrated course.

The Biochemistry test consists of three open-ended questions to be completed within 45 minutes. Each question has a maximum score of 10.5 points if done correctly and comprehensively; the score will gradually decrease in the case of errors (in content or terminology) or incompleteness of the answer. The score awarded will be equal to the sum of the scores obtained in the individual questions. For students registered in A.Y. prior to 2026/27, the Biochemistry test continues to be oral.

The Biology test consists of three treatises to be completed within 45 minutes. Each treatise is divided into short-answer open-ended questions, sentence completion questions, true/false questions and representations. Each treatise has a maximum score of 10.5 points if done correctly and comprehensively; the score will gradually decrease in the case of errors (in content or terminology) or incompleteness of the answer. The score awarded will be equal to the sum of the scores obtained in the individual treatises. For students registered in A.Y. prior to 2026/27, the Biology test continues to be oral.

The Anatomy test consists of 31 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 35 minutes. Each question has four answer options, of which only one is correct. Questions left unanswered and those with incorrect answers do not award any scores (0 points). Achieving 31 correct answers out of 31 corresponds to a grade of 30 cum laude.

The Physiology test consists of 33 true/false questions to be completed within 25 minutes. Each correct answer is worth one point; incorrect answers do not incur any penalty. If a student obtains 18 points, the final grade will be 18; if 19 points are obtained, the final grade will be 19, and so on. If more than 30 points are obtained, the final grade will be 30 with honors (30 cum laude).

To book an exam, the student must use AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm).

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Teaching material can be downloaded through Virtuale (https://virtuale.unibo.it/).

Scientific videos to clarify metabolic processes. Self-assessment tools will be provided.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Taddei