ORC-13803 Bio-organic Chemistry for Life Sciences

Course

Credits 3.00

Language of instruction:

Dutch

Contents:

The course Bio-organic Chemistry for Life Sciences gives a conveniently arranged introduction in bio-organic chemistry, with a focus on natural products. Structure and reactivity of molecules, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and interactions between molecules form the backbone of this course. It forms a solid basis for further studies in life sciences. The course is composed of lectures, tutorials and a practical part.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- recognize structure and understand reactivity of different classes of organic compounds;
- identify and apply basic organic chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms;
- apply basic knowledge on biomolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids;
- demonstrate basic practical laboratory skills and techniques in organic chemistry.

Activities:

Study the textbook following the presented study guide and exercise assignments from the Online Web-based Learning tool. During the tutorials questions from the reader are exercised and discussed with the teacher. In the practical part, which is closely related to the theoretical part, different basic laboratory skills are exercised, like extraction and chromatography, making use of natural products, like fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, and peptides. To work safely and concern for the environment are important aspects in this part.

Examination:

Multiple-choice exam.

Literature:

Reader, Practical manual and textbook: Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry 7th ed. and OWLv2 Access Card by J. McMurry. ISBN 9-781-473-73937-6. Available at the WUR-shop.