| CODE | PHB2506 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Human Metabolic Biochemistry | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physiology and Biochemistry | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit employs an integrated and concerted approach for the students to explore how the human body generates energy for food and synthesizes storage molecules, high-energy molecules, intermediates of reactions and signaling molecules. It examines how human metabolism is regulated in order to switch from one pathway network to another in response to a change to the physiological status of the body with particular reference to exercise, diet and disease states such as in-born errors of metabolism, diabetes and obesity. Study-unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are to focus on: - Human metabolic biochemistry by providing a description of the regulated synthesis and degradation of the major biomolecules in the human body; and - Reactions which are essential for the maintenance of a healthy body. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explain the chemistry underlying systems that are necessary for life; - Describe the central pathways of anabolic and catabolic metabolism; - Outline how pathways interact forming networks in the cell; - Outline the metabolism of different tissues; - Integrate pathways in response to the well fed state and fasting; - Describe the metabolism in selected disease states; - Discuss the influence of nutrition on metabolism; and - Explain the complex regulation of key steps in the major metabolic pathways. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Deduce the effect metabolic dysfunction has on the health of the individual; - Explain the effect of different diets on the health of the human body; - Describe the effect of different forms of exercise on the health of the body; and - Find the biochemical relationship between a metabolic dysfunction and the symptoms exhibited by the individual. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Nelson, D. L. and Cox, M. M.. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 6th edition. New York, Worth Publishers. 2013. - Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L., Gatto, G. J. and Stryer, L. Biochemistry. 8th edition. London, Palgrave Macmillan. 2015. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Therese Hunter (Co-ord.) Marita Vella |
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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