LECTURERS:  DR P.N.B. NDIWENI (Course Coordinator)
                        PROF. L.R. NDLOVU
                        DR C. MUTISI

COURSE OUTLINE

This course students of Agriculture with a brief integrated account of  how animals and plants function at molecular level in order to establish  a theoretical base for the more specialized courses to be encountered later in their studies.

The course consists of:

1.    Approximately 36 lectures.
2.    A series of practical classes illustrating the lectures and introducing experimental and analytical
       techniques used in biochemical investigations.
3.    Term essays and assignments.
4.    Short written answers after each section of the lecture course.
5.    Mid-Semester Examination.
6.    Seminar group study and revision at the end of the semester before
       examination.
7.    End of Semester examination consisting of 5-8 questions to be answered in 3
       hours.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

Practicals and Assignments             50%
Mid-Semester Examinations           50%
                                                  100%

FINAL GRADE

Continuous Assessment               30%
Final Examinations                      70%
                                                100%
 

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES AND NUMBER OF HOURS

TOPIC                                          LECTURER         DATES         CONTACT HOURS

1. Enzymes                                       Prof. L.R.          August:
   Nature and classification,                   Ndlovu          18, 19, 21,                5 hours
   kinetics, specificity,                                                  25, 26
   mechanisms of action,
   inhibition, activation. Assay
   methods - specific activity
   purification

2. Carbohydrate Catabolism           Dr P.N.B.        August: 28
   Glycolysis TCA Cycle                     Ndiweni           September:              5 hours
   Electron Transport and                                             1,2,4,8
   Respiration chain, Oxidative
   Phosphorylation, Substrate
   Level Phosphorylation

3. Carbohydrate Anabolism            Dr P.N.B.       September:
   Gluconeogenesis                             Ndiweni           9, 11, 15,                6 hours
   Pentose Phosphate Pathway                                  16, 18, 22
   Glyoxylate cycle
   Photosynthesis - Light and
   Dark reactions

4. Lipid Metabolism Catabolism    Dr P.N.B.      September:
   Fatty acid synthesis                        Ndiweni            23, 25                   6 hours
   Biological membranes                                           October:
   Biosynthesis of membrane                                    6, 7, 9, 13
   lipids
   Biosynthesis of cholesterol

5. Protein Metabolism                   Dr P.N.B.         October:
   Biosynthesis of Amino Acids          Ndiweni         14, 16, 20,               6 hours
   Amino Acid degradation                                       21, 23, 27
   Transamination
   Urea cycle, Ketogenic and
   Glucogenice Amino Acids

6. Biosysnthesis Of Protein             Prof. L.R.         October:
   Role of DNA, RNA, Ribosomes,      Ndlovu             28, 30                 4 hours
   Polysomes                                                          November:
   Genetic Code, Initiation,                                            3, 4,
   Elongation, Termination
   Control by AMP and
   Feedback Inhibition

7. Control and Integration of       Prof. L. R.        November:
   Biochemical pathways in             Ndlovu               6, 10                  2 hours
   intermediary metabolism

8. Introduction to Biotechnology  Prof. L. R.       November:
                                                        Ndlovu             11, 13                2 hours

9. Revision                                     Dr P.N.B.       November:
                                                       Ndiweni         17, 18, 20
                                                      Prof. L.R.
                                                        Ndlovu

10. End of Semester Examinations     Dr P.N.B.       November:
                                                        Ndiweni         24, 25, 27

PRATICALS AND WRITING UP THE EXPERIMENTS

Getting accurate results is important but is not the end of the story. You need to communicate your results and ideas to others. A good laboratory report is needed to accomplish this. Your report should be subdivided into the HEADINGS listed below:

TITLE
Give the title of the practical you are reporting.

INTRODUCTION
Define the principles used and outline the theoretical background of the experiment.

MATERIALS
Give an account of reagents and equipment used together with relevant specialized apparatus (this will only be necessary for a few of the practicals you will do).

METHODS
Describe what you actually did in operational order. Do not reproduce the practical manual!

Write in past tense. Do not use first person pronouns such as I, me, we etc.

RESULTS
State what you saw not what the book or practical manual said you should observe.

DISCUSSION
Do not repeat your results.  Rather, put them into perspective. Did you  obtain the expected results? If so what are the implications of the results.  If you did not get the expected results indicate why not? Suggest possible corrective action.

Use your results to build up a logical argument. If your introduction had some questions, the answers to these must be found in your discussion.  Additionally, any questions asked in your practical manual must be addressed in your discussion.

CONCLUSION

End your report by drawing out precise scientific statements that summarize your results.

REFERENCES

List all the books, journals and other published material that you  refered to when you were reading for the practical write up, in alphabetical order of author(s) surname(s) giving authors names, year of  publications, title of article/chapter, journal or book in which it is  found, volume of journal or edition of book and pages where the articles/chapter is found.

BOOKS PLACED ON RESERVE DESK

1.  Biochemistry by Stryer QP 514-2 STR
2.  Modern Concepts in Siochemistry by Bohinski QP514.2BOH
3.  Comprehensible Biochemistry by Yudkin and ORord QP514.2YUD
4.  Outlines of Siochemistry by Conn, Stumpf, Bruering, Doi QP514.20ut.
 

PRACTICAL SCHEDULE - SEMESTER II- 1997

1      21/08/97         Properties of Enzymes I
2        28/08/97       Properties of Enzymes II
3        04/09/97       Paper Chromatography
4        11/09/97       Determination of Blood
5        18/09/97       Protein Chemistry II
6        25/09/97       Nucleic Acids
7        02/10/97       Mid-Semester Examinations

8        09/10/97       Tutorial
9        16/10/97       Tutorial
10       23/10/97       Tutorial
11       30/10/97       Tutorial
12       06/11/97       Tutorial
13       13/11/97       Tutorial
14       20/11/97       Revision
15       27/11/97       End of Semester Examinations