Carver College of Medicine
and
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Courses

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of the basic chemical processes that occur in all living systems. It is one of the most active sciences, and it provides a foundation for other biosciences.

Biochemists generally work in laboratories and/or classrooms. Those with a bachelor's degree are often employed as research assistants in industry, government, education, and health service, or in secondary school teaching, for which licensure is required.

Biochemists with advanced degrees--usually a doctorate--pursue teaching, research, and/or administrative careers in universities, medical schools, hospitals, private research agencies, government laboratories, biotechnology companies, and in food, drug, cosmetics, chemical, petroleum, and allied industries.

Undergraduate Programs

Students choose advanced science electives to supplement biochemical studies or to satisfy requirements of a minor or a double major. In order to count science electives numbered below 100 toward the degree, students must have their advisor's approval.

Transfer credit for biochemistry courses requires the approval of an undergraduate advisor in biochemistry.

Bachelor of Science

The B.S. in biochemistry requires 73 s.h. in the major in addition to completion of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. Courses required for the B.S. are as follows.

All of these:

002:010-002:011 Principles of Biology I-II

8 s.h.

004:011-004:012 Principles of Chemistry I-II

8 s.h.

22M:025-22M:026 Calculus I-II

8 s.h.

029:081-029:082 Introductory Physics I-II

8 s.h.

099:001 Orientation and Introduction to the Field of Biochemistry

0 s.h.

099:101 Technical Communication in Biochemistry

1 s.h.

099:120 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I

3 s.h.

099:130 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II

3 s.h.

099:140 Experimental Biochemistry

4 s.h.

*099:155 Research, Independent Study (required of all B.S. students and all honors students)

6 s.h.

Advanced science electives, chosen in consultation with advisor

9 s.h.

One of these sequences:

004:121-004:122 Organic Chemistry I-II

6 s.h.

004:123-004:124 Organic Chemistry for Majors I-II (preferred)

6 s.h.

Two of these:

004:131 Physical Chemistry I

3 s.h.

004:132 Physical Chemistry II

3 s.h.

099:241 Biophysical Chemistry I

3 s.h.

099:242 Biophysical Chemistry II

3 s.h.

One of these:

004:141 Organic Chemistry Laboratory

3 s.h.

004:142 Organic Chemistry Laboratory for Majors (preferred)

3 s.h.

*Students may register for 099:155 only if they have earned an average grade of B or higher in 099:120, 099:130, and 099:140 and a grade of B-minus or higher in each of 099:120, 099:130, and 099:140; or have consent of advisor and instructor. Students may register for 099:115 any time.

Students are encouraged to begin research by taking 099:115 Undergraduate Independent Study (may be taken for a total of 6 s.h.). There are no prerequisites. Students may arrange independently to take this course, or they may request assistance from an undergraduate advisor.

Bachelor of Arts

All of these:

002:010-002:011 Principles of Biology I-II

8 s.h.

004:011-004:012 Principles of Chemistry I-II

8 s.h.

22M:025-22M:026 Calculus I-II

8 s.h.

029:011-029:012 College Physics

8 s.h.

099:001 Orientation and Introduction to the Field of Biochemistry

0 s.h.

099:101 Technical Communication in Biochemistry

1 s.h.

099:120 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I

3 s.h.

099:130 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II

3 s.h.

099:140 Experimental Biochemistry

4 s.h.

Advanced science electives, chosen in consultation with advisor

6 s.h.

One of these sequences:

004:121-004:122 Organic Chemistry I-II

6 s.h.

004:123-004:124 Organic Chemistry for Majors I-II (preferred)

6 s.h.

One of these:

004:131 Physical Chemistry I

3 s.h.

004:132 Physical Chemistry II

3 s.h.

099:241 Biophysical Chemistry I

3 s.h.

099:242 Biophysical Chemistry II

3 s.h.

In addition, B.A. students intending to go on to advanced degrees in the biological or health sciences are advised to include 4 s.h. or more of 099:115 Undergraduate Independent Study or 099:155 Research, Independent Study (senior research) in their programs.

Teacher Licensure

Four-Year Graduation Plan

Bachelor of Science

Before the fifth semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 002:010 and 002:011; 004:121, 004:122, and 004:141; 22M:026; and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 029:081 and 029:082, 099:120, 099:130, and 099:140, two science electives, and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 004:131 or 004:132 or 099:241 or 099:242, a science elective, and at least 3 s.h. of 099:155

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Bachelor of Arts

Before the fifth semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 002:010 and 002:011, 004:121 and 004:122, and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 029:011 and 029:012, 099:120, 099:130, and 099:140, two science electives, and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: the courses listed above, plus 004:131 or 004:132 or 099:241 or 099:242, and a science elective

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

Courses in Other Departments

Graduate Program

The Department of Biochemistry offers a program of study leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. The Master of Science in biochemistry requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit. The Doctor of Philosophy requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit.

Students admitted to the graduate program in biochemistry usually pursue the Ph.D. Qualified students may pursue a combined program leading to the M.D./Ph.D. (Medical Scientist Training Program).

The focus of the graduate program is on the individual student. Students choose from three curricula to satisfy requirements for the degree: standard, biophysical emphasis, or molecular emphasis.

In the first year, students engage in formal course work and tutorial laboratory experiences that serve as the basis for selecting a topic for thesis research. They spend half of their time in courses and the other half working in four different faculty laboratories (099:261 Research Techniques), where they learn research techniques in the context of ongoing research.

All biochemistry graduate students take the following courses.

099:282 Seminar

0-1 s.h.

156:201 Principles in Molecular and Cell Biology

4 s.h.

Graduate students in the standard curriculum also must take the following.

099:241-099:242 Biophysical Chemistry I-II

6 s.h.

142:215 Molecular Biology of Gene Expression

3 s.h.

Electives

6 s.h.

Graduate students in the biophysical emphasis also must take the following.

099:241-099:242 Biophysical Chemistry I-II

6 s.h.

Electives

9 s.h.

Graduate students in the molecular emphasis also must take the following.

099:241 Biophysical Chemistry I

3 s.h.

or

099:242 Biophysical Chemistry II

3 s.h.

142:215 Molecular Biology of Gene Expression

3 s.h.

Electives

9 s.h.

Once students are promoted to a second year of study, they choose research laboratories for Ph.D. thesis research and begin their thesis projects. They take courses that supplement their interests and preparation, including the following required courses.

099:237 Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology

2 s.h.

099:238 Topics in Biophysical Chemistry

1-2 s.h.

099:282 Seminar

0-1 s.h.

650:270 Responsible Conduct in Research

1 s.h.

Research Biochemistry (099:292) and elective science courses numbered 100 or above in other departments satisfy the remaining course requirements.

Students take the comprehensive examination before the end of June in their second year, after which they are admitted formally to degree candidacy and begin to concentrate on thesis research. The program culminates in successful defense of completed thesis work before an examining committee.

In addition to meeting these requirements and those of the Graduate College, students are expected, as part of their training, to assist in teaching biochemistry for two or three semesters.

Throughout the program, students are associated with faculty-directed research groups. They receive close personal attention from the biochemistry faculty members who serve as research advisors.

Admission

Applicants must have an undergraduate g.p.a. of at least 3.00 and must submit acceptable verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Applicants are encouraged to submit their scores on the GRE Subject Test in Chemistry; Biology; or Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Financial Support

Research

Facilities

The University of Iowa maintains a number of central research support facilities and equipment that promote campuswide interactions between research groups. These include the facilities for electron microscopy, fermentation, image analysis, high field NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry, and academic computing (through Information Technology Services). Carver College of Medicine research facilities are available to biochemistry researchers for nuclear magnetic resonance, flow cytometry, DNA synthesis, tissue culture hybridoma, gene transfer, X-ray analysis, and transgenic and gene targeting.

Individual faculty research laboratories are well-equipped for modern research, and there are many common-use laboratories, including instrument rooms, a reading room, cold rooms, tissue culture areas, preparation rooms, and a stockroom. Research is supported by staff in instrument shops, animal quarters, photography and illustration service, and by office staff, stockroom supervisors, and a purchasing agent.

Together, the department and the central support facilities provide virtually all of the equipment required for modern biochemical research. Examples of such equipment include analytical and preparative ultracentrifuges; fluorescence, optical rotatory dispersion, high-field NMR, ultraviolet-visible, and rapid kinetic instruments; amino acid analyzers and protein sequencers, gas chromatographs, preparative high performance liquid chromatographs, liquid scintillation counters, electrophoresis equipment, instrumentation for protein X-ray crystallography and microcalorimetry, and automated DNA sequencers.

The department maintains a reading room stocked with primary books and journals used by biochemists. The Hardin Library for the Health Sciences is a large, complete library located on the Health Sciences Campus. Excellent resources also are provided by branches of the University of Iowa Libraries and by computer access to bibliographic retrieval services.

Courses