100 LEVEL

200 LEVEL

.* Course(s) to be held during long vacation

300 LEVEL

400 LEVEL

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BCH 201: General Biochemistry I                                                    (3 Units: LH 45)

Introductory chemistry of amino acids; their properties, reactions and biological functions. Classification of amino acids: neutral, basic and acidic; polar and non-polar; essential and non-essential amino acids. Introductory chemistry of proteins; methods of their isolation, purification and identification. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures of proteins. Basic principles of tests for proteins and amino acids. Biological functions of proteins. Introductory chemistry of carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. Nomenclature of nucleosides, and nucleotides; effects of acid and alkali on hydrolysis of nucleic acids.

BCH 202: General Biochemistry II                                                  (3 Units: LH 45)

The cell theory. Structures and functions of major cell components. Cell types, constancy and diversity. Cell organelles of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Chemical composition of cells. Centrifugation; Methods of cell fractionation.  Structure, function and fractionation of extra-cellular organelles. Enzymes. Water and bio-molecules: protein, carbohydrates, lipids etc.

BCH 203: General Biochemistry Practical I                                    (1 Unit: PH 45)

Laboratory experiments designed to reflect the topics covered in BCH 201 and BCH 202. Introduction to laboratory methods and procedures employed in studying biochemical processes.

BCH 290: Industrial Attachment I                                                               (3 Units)

 Students should be attached to some industrial organizations for 12 Weeks at the 200 Level preferably during the long vacation for real-time relevant industrial experience. Students to be assessed based on seminar presentation, their reports and assessment by supervisors.

BCH 301: Enzymology                                                                       (3 Units: LH 45)

Discovery, classification and nomenclature of enzymes. Vitamins and co-enzymes; minerals in enzyme biochemistry. Fat and water soluble vitamins. Structures and functions of vitamins and co-enzymes. Genetics of enzymes. Enzyme inhibition. Mechanisms of enzyme-catalysed reactions. Effects of temperature, pH, ions and inhibitors on enzyme catalysed reactions. Derivation and significance of Michaelis-Menten equation. Allosteric/Regulatory enzymes. Active sites of enzymes. Estimation of kinetic parameters of enzyme activities. Zymogen activation, digestive enzymes etc. Production, isolation, purification and characterization of enzymes. Recent advances in enzymology.

BCH 302: Chemistry and Metabolism of Carbohydrates            (2 Units: LH 30)

Chemistry and function, isolation and purification of polysaccharides. Molecular weight determination and analytical methods for structural determination of polysaccharides. Biochemistry of important oligosaccharides and polysaccharides Degradation and digestion of carbohydrates – sugars, storage polysaccharides and cell walls. Glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the phosphogluconate pathway, the glycoxylate pathway; the pentose phosphate pathway and the Cori cycle: the Calvin pathway. Gluconeogenesis and glyconeogenesis. Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism.

BCH 303: Chemistry and Metabolism of Lipids                             (2 Units: LH 30)

Classification of lipids – fatty acids, triglycerides, glycosylglycerols, phospholipids, waxes, prostaglandins. Lipid micelles, monolayers, bilayers. Lipoprotein systems, transport protein of blood plasma. Oxidation of fatty acids. Microsomal peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids; essential and non- essential. Metabolism of acylglycerols. Degradation and turnover of phospholipids. Cholesterol biosynthesis and breakdown. Formation of ketone bodies. Integration of lipid metabolism. Acetic acid as a central precursor for biosynthesis of lipids.

BCH 304: Chemistry and Metabolism of Amino Acids & Proteins (2 Units: LH 30)

Amino acids as building blocks of proteins; the peptide bond as covalent backbone of proteins. Forces involved in the stabilization of protein structure. Protein isolation, fractionation, purification and characterization. Amino acid analysis of peptides and proteins. Methods for the determination of the sequence of amino acids in proteins. Molecular weight determination of proteins. Techniques in protein biochemistry. Oxidative degradation of amino acids and metabolism of one carbon units. Ammonia toxicity and urea formation. Biosynthesis of amino acids and some derivatives; the urea cycle; metabolism of inorganic nitrogen.  Disorders of amino acid metabolism.

BCH 305: Chemistry and Metabolism of Nucleic Acids              (2 Units: LH 30)

Structure and function of nucleic acids. DNA replication and protein synthesis. DNA repairs. The genetic code and protein synthesis.   Metabolism of purines and pyrimidines, nucleosides and nucleotides. Degradation of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Abnormalities in nucleic acid metabolism-xeroderma pigmentation and skin cancer.

BCH 306: Analytical Methods in Biochemistry            (3 Units: LH 30; PH 45)

Tissue and cell culture techniques, immunoassays, blotting, and isotopic techniques. Principles, methodologies, instrumentation and applications of electrophoresis, manometry and centrifugation techniques. Chromatographic techniques including paper, thin layer, column, gas, and high performance chromatographic techniques. . Spectroscopic techniques including uv-visible, infra-red, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. Fluorimetry, polarographic including potentiometric and electrometric measurements.   This course includes laboratory practical classes which  will provide students opportunity to practice the various techniques and familiarise themselves with the types of equipment used for the techniques.

BCH 307: Membrane Biochemistry                                                (1 Unit: LH 15)

Structure, composition and functions of biological membranes. Isolation, characterization and classification of membranes; chemistry and biosynthesis of membranes. Molecular organization of membrane components. Natural and artificial membrane bilayers – the unit membrane hypothesis. Membrane transport system – active versus passive transport systems. Transport of sugars and amino acids.

BCH 308: Food and Nutrition Biochemistry                                (2 Units: LH 30)

An introduction to the theory and application of physical and chemical methods for determining the constituents of food. Food processing, preservation and storage of traditional foods – root and stem tubers, fruits and fruit drinks, seeds and grains, greens and vegetables. Food poisoning and intoxication; prevention and cure. Food nutrients; Energy values of foods and energy expenditure by mammalians. Nutritive value of foods – carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, mineral elements and water.  Nutritional disorders, prevention and therapy. Nutritional status and nutritional requirements. Recommended dietary allowances. Assessment of nutritional status. Nutrient requirements in relation to physical activity and ageing, diet and disease, obesity and under nutrition.

BCH 310: Bioenergetics                                                                      (1 Unit: LH 15)

High-energy compounds; Chemical potentials, Electrochemical potentials, Electron transport system and oxidative phosphorylation; Regulation of ATP production. Chemical thermodynamics; Oxidations and reductions.

BCH 311: General Biochemistry Practical II                                  (2 Units: PH 90)

Laboratory methods and procedures employed in studying biochemical processes cutting across a wide spectrum of general biochemistry.

BCH 312: Principles of Endocrinology                                           (2 Units: LH 30)

Organization of the mammalian endocrine system. Chemistry and functions of hormones, mechanism of hormone action. Storage and secretion of hormones. Steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, parathyroid hormones. Role of intercellular receptors, hormone responsive elements, enhancer elements, fusion genes, Peptide hormones. Role of cyclic AMP as a second messenger. Adesylate cyclase system, protein kinase C, phosphoproteins, phosphodiesterase, phosphatases, guanylate cyclase, G. proteins. Hormones acting through calcium and phosphoinositides, calmodulin-calcium system as a mediator of hormones. Structure and synthesis of insulin. Prostaglandins.

BCH 313: Principles of Immunology                                             (2 Units: LH 30)

Blood chemistry and composition. Preparation of serum and plasma. Protein components of plasma. Innate and acquired immunity. Antigens, antibodies, cellular immunity. Antigen-antibody interactions. Immunological tolerance and suppression. Immunological anomalies, diagnostic immunology, vaccines. Structure of immunoglobulins. Combining sites of antibodies. Myeloma and hybridoma immunoglobulins. The antigen binding site. Domains of antibody molecules-gene duplication and diversification. Generation of diverse antibody specificities, clonal selection theory of antibody formation. Biological significance of clonal selection.

BCH 314: Toxicology I                                                                     (2 Units: LH 30)

Basic principles of toxicology, definition and scope; absorption and distribution of toxicants; toxicokinetics, metabolism of toxicants; comparative toxicology; elimination of toxicants and their metabolites, toxicant-receptor interactions, genetic poisons, chemical carcinogenesis; trace element toxicity, hepatotoxicity.

BCH 390: Industrial Attachment II                                                           (3 Units)

Students should be attached to some industrial organizations for additional 12 Weeks at the 300 Level preferably during the long vacation. Assessment to be based on seminar presentation, report and assessment by supervisor.

BCH 401: Enzymology                                                                            (2 Units: LH 30)

Chemistry of enzyme catalysis. Steady state enzyme kinetics. Transport kinetic methods. Ligand binding and its application to enzymology. Kinetics of multiple binding sites. Mechanisms of two substrate systems. Molecular models of allosterism. Enzyme models of allosterism. Multi-enzyme complexes. Enzyme assays and techniques in enzymology. Criteria for determining purity of enzymes. Enzyme reconstitution. Regulation of enzyme activity and synthesis.

BCH 402: Biosynthesis of Macromolecules                                      (1 Unit: LH 15)

Structures and functions of macromolecules. Biosynthesis and storage of polysaccharides, mucopolysaccharides, glycoproteins. Bacterial cell wall synthesis of complex lipids, lipoproteins and nucleic acids.

BCH 403: Tissue Biochemistry                                                        (1 Unit: LH 15)

Biochemistry of muscles, kidney, liver, and adipose tissues. General metabolism of the brain and neuronal biochemistry. Biochemistry of reproductive tissues. Detoxification and excretion in tissues.

BCH 404: Bioinorganic Chemistry                                                          (1 Unit: LH 15) Relationship between the physicochemical properties and biological functions of inorganic ions. Ligand complexes and their biochemical significance. Electrolyte metabolism. Nitrogen fixation and sulphur cycle.

BCH 405: Molecular Biology                                                            (3 Units: LH 45) Gene structure and function. Nucleic acid function and biological function. DNA sequencing and restriction endonucleases. DNA repair mechanisms. Nucleic acid replication. Regulation of nucleic acid synthesis. Genetic code and gene-protein relationship. Eukaryotic transcription. Control of gene expression. Functional analysis of the replicator structure of bacteriophage DNA. Drug-nucleic acid interactions. Initiation factor for viral DNA replication. Genetic control of viral replication. Model systems used for studying embryology at the molecular level. Model systems in differentiation studies. Control of cell proliferation. Genetic engineering and recombinant gene technology.

BCH 406: Metabolic Regulations                                                    (2 Units: LH 30)

The relationship of Krebs’ Cycle to protein, carbohydrate, lipid and nucleic acid metabolism. Integration of metabolic pathways. Turn-over rates and metabolic pools.  Regulation of enzymes of metabolic pathways-feed back inhibition versus enzyme synthesis. Catabolite repression, end product repression. Identification of different regulatory mechanisms in metabolic pathways.

BCH 407: Plant Biochemistry                                                        (2 Units: LH 30)

Organization of plant cells. The biochemistry of important plant processes and metabolic pathways. Photosynthesis; alkaloids, flavonoids and plant hormones. Biosynthesis of carotenoid pigments. Biochemistry of plant development. The plant cell wall structure, formation and growth. Lignin formation. Free amino acids, pyrimidines, purines and nucleosides in plants. Metabolism of auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins. Synthetic growth regulators and herbicides. Structure – activity relationship of plant hormones.

BCH 408: Biochemical Reasoning                                                     (1 Unit: LH 15)

Evaluation and design of experimental biochemistry from available information and data. Analysis, interpretation and inference – drawing from biochemical research data.

BCH 409: Special Topics/Seminar in Biochemistry                        (2 Units: LH 30)

Hormones, immunochemistry, oncology, brain biochemistry, monoclonal antibodies. These may be taught or seminars may be given by students.

BCH 410: Advanced Biochemical Methods (Practical)                  (2 Units: PH 90)

The purpose of this course is to familiarise students with operations of latest biochemical equipment and with methods of research, assimilation and dissemination of information. Students will therefore go round lecturers and laboratories housing specialized equipment with the aim of exposing them to such equipment under the supervision of lecturers.  Part of the course will also cover the effective use of the library, preparation of dissertations or theses, papers for journal publications and journal reviews. Special assignments and essays will be given to students.

BCH 491 & 492 : Research Projects I & II                                  (6 Units: PH 270)

Independent research findings into selected areas/topics of interest to the supervising academic staff. Students will be required to carry out literature survey on the topics, perform experiments and produce reports (preferably at the end of second semester). Students will be subjected to both seminar and oral examination on the projects undertaken.

BCH 412: Industrial Biochemistry                                              (3 Units: LH 45)

A short review of microbial physiology and genetics. A review of general metabolic pathways and application in industrial processes. Continuous culture methods, principles and applications.  The chemostat and its application in industrial fermentations. Primary and secondary metabolism.   Process evaluation and development. Over production of metabolites – amino acids, taste enhancers, vitamins, toxin etc.  Methods for screening and selecting micro-organisms of industrial importance.   Induction of mutation in micro- organism and plants for the purpose of over production; Strain selection/development and enhancement. Gene dosage and its application in industrial processes.

BCH 413: Pharmacological Biochemistry                                  (2 Units: LH 30)

Cellular metabolism in infected cells. Biochemical aspects of host-parasite relationships. Metabolic factors affecting chemotherapeutic agents.  Theories of the mechanism of drug action.  Drug resistances and other factors affecting drug efficacy.  The physiological and biochemical action of some selected drugs.  Nigerian traditional medicinal plants in the management and therapy of common ailments in Nigeria – malaria, sickle cell anaemia, common cold, hepatitis etc.

BCH 414: Endocrinology                                                             (2 Units: LH 30) Hormones: Biochemistry and molecular mechanism of action, cyclic AMP. Hormone receptors: isolation and properties. Diabetes mellitus and hypoglycemia. Biochemistry and functions of insulin and other hormones controlling carbohydrate metabolism. The thyroid hormones: biochemistry and functions. The steroid hormones; mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids.

BCH 415: Forensic Biochemistry                                                   (3 Units: LH 45) Procedure for the extraction of contaminants of forensic interest from tissues. Collection and preservation techniques for materials of forensic interest. Analytical procedures in forensic science. Law, science and medicine in forensic practices.

BCH 416: Molecular Aspects of Immunology                                   (2 Units: LH 30)

Immune type and manifestation. Basis of immune response. Autoimmunity; cancer and immune response. Immunoanalytical techniques.  The immunosuppressive drugs/agents.

BCH 417: Toxicology II                                                                       (2 Units: LH 30)

Biological effects of toxic substances in living organisms. Metabolism, cellular and tissue targets, mechanisms of action, and pathological effects. Resistance and tolerance of toxicants, natural toxicants, chronic testing in animals; tests for mutagenicity in toxicological evaluation of chemicals; isolation and structural elucidation of toxicants; enzymatic detoxification.