Undergraduate - UnitBCH2022 - Metabolic basis of human diseases

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Offered	Clayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor Janet Macaulay

Synopsis

A general outline of cellular metabolism is provided. The material presented will illustrate normal metabolic pathways and their dysfunction in various human diseases and conditions including diabetes, alcoholism, starvation, glycogen storage diseases and juvenile developmental problems. The biochemical basis of hormonal regulation and nutrition, in both famine and disease, is presented.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

Discuss the function, interrelationship and regulation of the biochemical pathways used to generate biological energy;

Discuss the biosynthesis and explain the role of carbohydrates and lipids in metabolism;

Use Case Studies of human disorders to illustrate how metabolic processes are regulated and integrated in cells and tissues;

Relate how nutrition impacts on cellular biochemistry;

Evaluate clinically relevant metabolic problems from a biochemical viewpoint and communicate effectively to diverse audiences;

Apply scientific methodology and relevant laboratory techniques to define essential steps in biochemical pathways.

Assessment

On-line MCQ quizzes: 10%
Examinations (3 hours): 60%
Evaluation of practicals/assignments/case studies: 30%
A pass in both the final examination and practicals/small group sessions/tutorials must be obtained to pass the unit.