Biochemistry is the study of biologically significant chemical processes. The field of biophysics applies theories of physics to the study of biological systems and processes, including molecular motors and membrane dynamics. Through this concentration, students will gain a detailed understanding of the chemical and physical nature of biological compounds and macromolecules, and how these compounds are formed, interconverted, changed and degraded in the chemical processes that govern life.

This concentration is not available to students also pursuing a Biochemistry concentration within the Chemistry major.

REQUIREMENTS 

Any three of the following courses:

• BIOL_SCI 323-0 Bioinformatics: Sequence & Structure Analysis  - Use of informational and modeling techniques to explore evolutionary and other problems related to the genome. Prerequisite: Students must have taken BIOL_SCI 241-0 or BIOL_SCI 301-0 in order to register for this class.
• BIOL_SCI 338-0 Modeling Biological Dynamics - Mathematical and computational techniques for analyzing and predicting biological dynamics. Techniques include statistical models, discrete- and continuous- time dynamical models, and stochastic models. Applications cover a range of scales, with an emphasis on common mathematical concepts and computational techniques, the interpretation of existing data, and making predictions for new experiments. Prerequisite: Students must have completed at least one of MATH 218-1, MATH 220-1, MATH 240-0, STAT 202-0, BIOL_SCI 337-0, OR equivalent.
• BIOL_SCI 353-0 Molecular Biology Laboratory - Project-based approach to learning lab skills in eukaryotic molecular biology. Prerequisites: Students must have completed BIOL_SCI 202-0, BIOL_SCI 203-0, BIOL_SCI 234-0, and BIOL_SCI 301-0 to register for this course.
• BIOL_SCI 360-0 Principles of Cell Signaling  - Emphasis on principles, components, and logic that are common to different cell signaling systems. Modern experimental strategies for studying cellular signaling as well as the implications of disrupting cell communication pathways in disease will be described. Prerequisite: Students must have completed BIOL_SCI 202-0 and BIOL_SCI 203-0 to register for this course.

• BIOL_SCI 361-0 Protein Structure & Function - Structure and function of proteins; x-ray crystallography and NMR. Prerequisites: Students must have completed BIOL_SCI 301-0 to register for this course.

• BIOL_SCI 363-0 Biophysics - Protein interaction with small molecules; protein tertiary structure determination. Prerequisite: Students must have completed BIOL_SCI 202-0, BIOL_SCI 203-0, and BIOL_SCI 301-0 to register for this course.

Concentration Checklist

Biochemistry & Biophysics Concentration Checklist

2024-25 Course Offerings in this Concentration*

*Course schedule considered tentative until published in Caesar