HISTORY OF  BIOCHEMISTRY PROGRAMME

The Department of Biochemistry in the College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada was established in 2000 sequel to the approval and establishment of the University in 1999. The Igbinedion University is the first private University that started Medicine as a course of study. The Department of Biochemistry was established on the 25 th September, 2000, in the School of Basic Medical Sciences to cater for the medical biochemistry programme required to satisfy the Basic Medical Sciences requirements for MBBS degree programme. The B.Sc. degree programme was introduced in the year 2000.

 The Department of Biochemistry today run full B.Sc. degree programme and teaches Biochemistry courses to students in the Basic Medical Sciences (Anatomy. Biochemistry, Physiology and Medical laboratory sciences), Nursing, Biological Sciences and College of Pharmacy. The curriculum is broad-based and the scope gives a solid background to the students.

This will enable those that are Biochemistry majors to play a significant role in a variety of areas namely health, environment and agriculture.

 PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY PROGRAMME

 Philosophy: The philosophy of the Department of Biochemistry of Igbinedion University, Okada is in accordance with the philosophy of Education in Nigeria and that of the Igbinedion University, thus:

  The Department should produce graduates who will be of high academic standing with adequate practical exposure that can function adequately in the improvement of medical education processes, research, industrial and

agricultural.

                        The Department believes that the students should be trained in theoretical,

practical and applied Biochemistry, which will make them suitable tools capable of utilizing the knowledge to solve future problems in medicine, agriculture, industry, environment etc.

                        The Department believes that our graduates should be able to do things as entrepreneur whether self-employed or in public service.

 Objectives of the B.Sc. degree programme in BIOCHEMISTRY

             To inculcate into the students a broad-scientific discipline.

            To provide students with a broad and balanced foundation of biochemical knowledge and practical skills.

            To develop in students the ability to apply knowledge and skills to solving theoretical and practical problems in biochemistry.

            To develop in students, a range of transferable skills that are of value in biochemical and non-biochemical employment.

            To provide student with knowledge and skills base, from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized areas of biochemistry or multidisciplinary areas involving biochemistry.


            To provide thorough training and orientation, an appreciation of the solitary rewards of inter-and multidisciplinary approach to the solution of complex life problems.

            To generate in students, an appreciation of the importance of biochemistry in industrial, economy, environment, technology and social development.

            To instill in students a sense enthusiasm for biochemistry, in appreciation of its application in different contexts and to involve them in an intellectually stimulating and satisfying experience of learning and studying.

            To provide a solid academic background upon which to build more advanced degrees in (M.Sc., PhD).


BCH_211 Introduction to Biochemistry I (3 credit unit)

Mr. Paul Osagiede

 

 

Mr. Paul Osagiede

 

Importance of Biochemistry to other Scientific disciplines

 

Solutions, Osmotic pressure, Acids, Bases, pH, pOH, pka values and their effects on cellular activities, Buffer systems, Henderson Hasselbalch equations.

 

Dr. Helen K.Njoya

 

Origin of the building units of molecular/structure and

Function of major cell components, cell organelles. Introduction to Biochemical taxonomy of prokaryotic an eukaryotic organism.

Hierarchy of molecular organization in cells.

 

Prof. S. J. Josiah

Chemical Kinetics

 

Dr. S.C. Nwangwu

Chemistry and structure of carbohydrates

 

Dr. Georgina Erifeta

 

Chemistry of Lipids and classification

Dr. S.C. Nwangwu

 

Chemistry of Amino Acids and their derivatives. Essential and Non-essential amino acids. Protein functions

 

Dr. Georgina O Erifeta

Principles of Nutrition, importance of protein in diet,

Nitrogen balance, metabolic rate, caloric deficiency states,

 

Dr. Georgina O Erifeta

Vitamins (structure and functions) Coenzymes and minerals.

 

Level of Study: 200 Level

BCH _212 Chemistry of Biological Molecules

Structural organization of biopolymers: Biomolecules, supramolecular structures.

 Structures of cell, cell organelles, cell types (Eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells),

Integration of cellular function.

 Chemistry of fatty acids and lipids

Classes of lipids, fatty acid and their derivatives, common saturated fatty acids, common unsaturated fatty acids, physical properties of fatty acids, chemical properties of fatty acids, Triacylglycerols. Glycerol phospholipids, sphingolipids, waxes, isoprenoids, steroids, eicosanoids Blood lipids and the lipoprotein systems. Membranes and membrane structure.

  Chemistry of Amino acids and proteins

Amino acids, structures, physical properties, stereochemistry, chemical reactions, peptide bond theory, chemical synthesis of peptides, ionic properties of amino acid (titration curve of glycine), isoelectric points. Protein classification, orders of protein structure, forces stabilizing protein structures.

 Chemistry of Nucleotides and Nucleic acids

 Structure of purine and pyrimidine bases, structure of D-ribose and 2-deoxyribose sugar, phosphoric acid, nomenclature of nucleotides and nucleosides, physical properties of nucleotides, primary structure of RNA and DNA, Hydrolysis of nucleic acids, isolation of nucleic acids.

Recombinant DNA Technology & Genetic Engineering

 Isolation and manipulation of DNA to produce chimeric molecules. Restriction enzymes, DNA ligases, cloning, plasmids, phages, and cosmids. Polymerase chain reactions Practical applications of Recombinant DNA Technology.


Level of Study: 200 Level

BCH _221 Metabolism of Biological Molecules and Bioenergetics Enzymology

General properties of enzymes, coenzymes and cofactors, classification of enzymes , kinetics of enzyme catalyzed reactions, factors that affect the rate of an enzyme catalyzed reaction. Mechanism of enzyme catalysis. Regulation of enzyme activities. Allosteric enzymes, isozymes, multienzymes, importance of enzymology in medicine.

 Carbohydrate Metabolism.

Glycogen metabolism - Glycogen synthesis (Glycogenesis), glycogen degradation (glycogenolysis). Glycolysis, regulation of glycolysis. Glyconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, Glyoxylate cycle, metabolism of fructose, mannose, galactose. Electron transport chain (energy metabolism), Bioenergetics, metabolic rate.

Lipid Metabolism

 Oxidation and biosynthesis of fatty acids, biosynthesis and degradation of acylglycerols, phospholipids.

Lipid Metabolism

Essential fatty acids and eicosanoids. Clinical applications of eicosanoids and glycolipids. Cholesterol metabolism, steroids, ketosis. Lipoproteins and Sphingolipids in Health and Diseases.

 Lipid storage diseases and their inheritance patterns, sulphatides, globosides, gangliosides and sphingolipids.

 Protein/Amino Acid metabolism

 Amino acid biosynthesis and catabolism, urea cycle, ketogenic and glycogenic amino acids. Creatinine and creatinine metabolism. Biosynthesis of proteins, inhibitors of protein biosynthesis.

 Nucleic Acid metabolism

 Biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, catabolism of purine, and pyrimidine nucleotides , metabolic disorders of purine metabolism. Genome structure

and organization. Replication and Transcription of DNA, Repair of DNA, mutation, Abnormalities in Nucleic acid metabolism. xeroderma pigmentosum and skin cancer.

Level of Study: 200 Level

BCH _311 Nutritional Biochemistry

Principles of nutrition, Nutritional requirements and disorder of the three major classes of food. Vitamins and minerals in clinical practice. Kwashiorkor and marasmus. Nutritional and biochemical basis of the diseases.

 Principles of management in clinical practice. Nutritional value of local foodstuffs in the management of diseases.

 Structure and function of the water-soluble vitamins, structure and function of lipid-soluble vitamins, characteristics of deficiency symptoms. Coenzyme, structure and functions, minerals – macroelements and microelement.

 

Level of Study: 300 Level

BCH 211 General Biochemistry I

Importance of Biochemistry to other scientific disciplines. Solutions, Osmotic pressure, Acids, Bases, pH, pOH, pka values and their effects on cellular activities, buffer systems, Henderson Hasselbatch equations. Origin of the building units of molecular/structure and function of major cell components, cell organelles, Hierarchy of molecular organization in cells. Introduction to Biochemical Taxonomy of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Chemical Kinetics Principles of Nutrition, importance of protein in diet, Nitrogen balance, metabolic rate, calorie deficiency states, Vitamins (structure and functions) Coenzymes and minerals.

 


Level of Study: 200 Level

BCH_312 Special Topics in Biochemistry

Biochemistry of Hormones and Prostaglandins

 Biochemical aspects of , hormones, structures and functions. Molecular mechanisms of action of steroids, thyroid and polypeptide hormones. Hormonal deficiency diseases and their detection, methods of hormone assays. Prostaglandins.

 Immunochemistry

 Molecular mechanism of immune reactions. structure and functions of immunoglobulins. Antigen-antibody interactions. Mechanism of nerve transmission. Immunological laboratory methods.

 Neurobiochemistry

 Properties of neurotransmitters. Properties of synapses. Degradation of some selected neurotransmitters. Ion-channels in the brain.

 Xenobiochemistry and metabolism of drugs

 Phase I and II reactions. Cytochrome P450 system. Biotransformation of selected exogenous molecules, phenacetin, phenobarbitol. Benzo (a) pyrene. Cocaine, alcohol (ethanol).

 Biotransformation of selected endogenous molecules, steroid, Heme and induction of microsomal enzymes.

 Drug resistance: Types, origin. Drug resistance or factors affecting drug efficacy, examples of drug resistance to some diseases.

 Forensic Biochemistry

 Diagnostic enzymes. Pathological urines. Cancer and chemotherapy. Abnormal haemoglobins. Collection, preservation and biochemical analysis of materials of forensic interest. The public analyst in forensic practice.

Biochemistry of blood and other body fluids

 Components of blood and functions. Homeostasis and thrombosis, types of thrombi, pathway for the formation of thrombi Blood clotting pathway, red and white blood cells, and blood group system. Porphyrins, synthesis and degradation of Heme.

 In-born Errors of metabolism :Molecular basis of metabolic diseases

 Identifying precise biochemical abnormalities that leads to the development of disease. Case of disease from a biochemical perspectives and to emphasize that diseases result from changes of either the structures, functions or amount of certain molecules. Major classes of genetic diseases. Methods of isolating disease genes. Treatment of some genetic diseases. In-born error of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and of glycogen metabolism, biochemical derangement in G-6-PD deficiency, sickle cell anemia.

 Biochemistry of body organs

 Biochemistry of muscles, the ultra structure of skeletal muscle, thick and thin filament

 their proteins. Actomyosin complex. Mechanism of contraction, role G-protein, Ca2+ ion in regulation of muscle contraction. Source of energy for contraction. Biochemistry of vision.



Level of Study: 300 Level