BIOCHEMISTRY 461 is a challenging one-semester, two unit course for biological science, pharmacy, nutrition, microbiology, and other students. The course covers biochemistry of nucleic acids in living systems. Topics include mechanisms of DNA and RNA replication, gene transcription and translation, gene expression systems, and molecular biology of viruses, including HIV. This class is open to non-majors only.

FORMAT: Lectures and online learning will be based on notes available at the class website, the text, and some additional reading. Students are responsible for knowing the content of these materials. This is an intensive course that covers a substantial amount of information, much of which will be new to you.The class meets twice a week. At least two hours of study time per scheduled lecture period is recommended to succeed in learning the course material.

STUDENT REPONSIBILITIES: Students are expected to attend lectures and learn some course material from online content. It is very important to review material and keep up. Read the online notes, text and other assignments before each scheduled class period to facilitate achieving the learning objectives. Students are advised to print lecture notes and illustrations from the class website as study aids . STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO KNOW ALL INFORMATION ABOUT LECTURES, ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE CLASS WEBSITE HOME PAGE!

ALL CLASS MATERIALS ARE POSTED ON THE BIOCHEM 461 WEBSITE: Lecture/study schedule, notes, illustrations, objectives, sample examinations, and all relevant class materials, announcements, etc can be accessed through D2L or directly from the class WEB site:

http://www.biochem.arizona.edu/classes/bioc461/

LECTURES:    Tuesday and Thursday, 11:00 - 11:50 AM in Bio. Sciences East (BSE) 100. [NOTE: All student cell phones and pagers are to be turned off during lectures and examinations. In addition, newspaper reading, random web browsing, and talking will not be tolerated in class.]

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Don P. Bourque, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

TEACHING ASSISTANT: Michael Pham, Graduate Student, Chemistry and Biochemistry

PREREQUISITES:    Biology 181, Organic Chemistry (Chem 241a,b) Concurrent registration in or prior completion of Biochemistry 460 required.

TEXTBOOK: Biochemistry, J.M. Berg, J.L. Tymoczko, L. Stryer, 6th Edition, W.H. Freeman (2007) (required). Additional resources related to this text are found at: http://bcs.whfreeman.com/biochem6/

EXAMINATIONS, EXTRA CREDIT, AND REVIEW SESSIONS:  Three one-hour examinations (300 points total) will be given during class periods on dates indicated in the lecture schedule. There will be no cumulative final examination. Examination questions will relate to study questions and assigned reading. Most questions will similar to study questions, many of which are from previous examinations. 15-20% of the exam questions may be be new questions and may be related to assigned reading. Before each examination, Mr. Pham and Dr. Bourque will give review sessions (TBA: places, times, and dates will be found in the class schedule). Iinstructors will answer your questions by e-mail from 8 - 11:00 PM on the night before exams.

One or more opportunities will be provided to earn extra credit in this class. Opprtunities will be announced and described during the semester.

CHEATING: Cheating during exams is not tolerated. This is official notice that if a student is, or appears to be, looking around at any time during the exam, you may be asked to change seats and/or your exam may be taken from you . The faculty has the right to award a grade of zero, to file a report with the Dean of Students, or take other corrective action(s). Cheating can even result in expulson from the University. DON'T DO IT.

EXAMINATION RESCHEDULING POLICY:  Examinations must be taken at scheduled times. There will be no make-up exams or quizzes. An examination may be rescheduled for medical reasons if your illness is documented by a letter from the attending physician and if Dr. Bourque approves your request. It is the student's responsibility to contact Dr. Bourque by phone or e-mail BEFORE the examination time in case of medical problems which prevent taking examinations at the scheduled times.

GRADE APPEALS:  Appeals to Dr. Bourque must be made and explained in writing within ONE week of return of the examination or homework. Dr. Bourque will do the regrading, and your entire exam is subject to regrading. If there are grading calculation errors only, give your paper to the teaching assistants.

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: FINAL GRADES WILL BE CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS: Hour exams are worth 300 points total. Final grades will be expressed relative to a straight percentage of 300 total points possible. Final grades will be based on grade distribution statistics at the end of the course. A grading curve may lower the final grade ranges from those indicated below. Extra credit points are added to your total AFTER the grade curve is established. The following are the percentages of 300 points that are needed to achieve each grade. To estimate the minimum final grade you will earn, calculate your cumulative % points and apply the following:

A range = 90% or above
B range = 80% - 90%
C range = 70% - 80%
D range = 60% - 70%
E range = below 60%

GRADE POSTING: Grades will be posted only on the Biochemistry 461 D2L site, accessible to you through Student Link. You can estimate the letter grade you are earning as the course progresses. Dr. Bourque calculates a letter grade only once at the end of the course.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

CHANGES TO THIS SYLLABUS: The information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and missed-exam policies, may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed necessary and appropriate by the instructor.

Academic Integrity: Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted work must be the student's own. This principle is furthered by the student Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures established by ABOR Policies 5-308 - 5-403, all provisions of which apply to all University of Arizona students. This Code of Academic Integrity (hereinafter "the Code") is intended to fulfill the requirement imposed by ABOR Policy 5-403.A.4 and otherwise to supplement the student Code of Conduct as permitted by ABOR Policy 5-308.C.1.

Special needs and accommodations: Students needing special accommodations or special services should contact the Center for Disability Related Resources, 1224 East Lowell Street (East of the 6th Street Garage), 621-3268. The need for specialized services must be documented, verified, and presented to the course administrator at least two weeks prior to the first exam. We will do everything we can to enhance your learning experience.

Notice of potentially offensive material: This course will discuss the scientific topics of biological evolution, the origin of life on Earth, and sex and reproduction. These topics are important parts of the modern study of biology. Students who would be offended by a scientific treatment of these topics are urged to consider their choice of major.

Threatening Behavior: Threatening behavior is prohibited. “Threatening behavior” means any statement, communication, conduct or gesture, including those in written form, directed toward any member of the University community that causes a reasonable apprehension of physical harm to a person or property. A student can be guilty of threatening behavior even if the person who is the object of the threat does not observe or receive it, so long as a reasonable person would interpret the maker’s statement, communication, conduct or gesture as a serious expression of intent to physically harm.

Official Absence Policies: All holidays or special events observed by organized religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that particular religion. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be honored.

Last updated on 8/25/2010 By Dr. Don P. Bourque
Email: dbourque@u.arizona.edu