Biochemistry Laboratory I - BCH377H1

This is an introductory laboratory course for specialist students in Biochemistry, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. Experiments in this course aim to illustrate and build upon some of the concepts described in BCH242Y, and serve as a foundation for more advanced training in subsequent biochemistry laboratory courses. 

Please Note: This course is restricted at all times to students who are enrolled in the Specialist Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Programs

Topics covered include:

• Properties of buffers.
• Enzyme properties and kinetics (Michaelis-Menten analyses).
• Protein purification and analysis, including chromatography, spectrophotometric protein assays, enzyme assays, SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry analysis.
• Isolation of genomic DNA, PCR analysis, and agarose gel electrophoresis.
• Methods to study protein unfolding (chemical and thermal denaturation), and protein expression, stability and degradation (western blotting and enzyme assays).

Prerequisites:
BCH242Y
Students must be enrolled in Specialist Biochemistry, Immunology, Molecular Genetics or Microbiology Programs

Exclusions:
BCH370H, CHM379H 

Scheduling:
Tuesdays 9 am - 1 pm, AND Thursdays 11 am to 12 noon

Enrollment Cap:
40

Method of Student Evaluation:
30% Assignments (4)
25% Journal-Style Report
15% Performance & Development
30% Final Exam

Textbook: 
The laboratory manual will be provided on Quercus for students to print out themselves.  There is no textbook required for this course.

Recommended (optional) resources: 
Fundamental Laboratory Approaches for Biochemistry and Biotechnology, A.J. Ninfa and D.P. Ballou, Fitzgerald Scientific Press, 1998.
Biochemical Calculations, 2nd ed. Segel, I.H. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York (1976)