Course Contents

Minerals Discussion of micro, macro and alien metals; their occurrence, physiological functions, deficiency symptoms, daily requirement and their metabolism. 2. Physiological Chemistry Structure and detoxification function of liver. Structure of Kidney with special reference of excretion and detoxification function. Muscular contraction and relaxation. Nerve conduction and action potential. Ionization of water, weakAcids and weak Bases. Buffering against pH changes in Biological systems. Water metabolism and acid base balance. 3. Molecular Biology DNA as a genetic material. Eukaryotic chromosomes. Genes and mutationalunits. Replication, transcription and translation. Protein Synthesis and Genetic code. DNA repair and recombinantion. Restriction enzymes. Regulation of gene expression in Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes and Operon model. Constitutive, repressed and induced enzymes. Plasmids, bacteriophages, cosmids. Methods of recombinant DNA, Viruses. RNA Processing. 4. Drug Metabolism and chemotherapy: Chemistry, metabolism and mechanism of action of antimalarials, antibacterials, antivirals and antifungal drugs. Drug resistance, Biochemical transformation of drugs, Anticancer drugs. 5. Microbial Biochemistry: Microorganisms and their gross Classification, Bacterial growth and cultivation techniques. Identification of Microorganisms, Factors for the growth of microbes. Culture mediasand their composition. Methods of Growth measurement, Growth under extreme environments. Mutation andproto plast fusion in cultures and its benefits. Gene transfer: transformation, transduction and conjugation. Bacteriophages.

Course Synopsis

This course provides brief understanding to the physiological functions of minerals, and different vital organs of human body. Emphasis is given on the liver function with special reference to its detoxifcation functions i.e. drug metabolism mechanisms. The second major part of course compraises on molecular biology in which the detailed mechanisms of eukaryotic DNA replication, transcription and translation is discussed. The course also provide consice introduction to the microbial biochemistry with detailed classification and their growth methods.

Course Learning Outcomes

After completion of this course the students will have better understanding of: 1. Important minerals for human body, their functions. 2. Physiological chemistry which includes functions of liver, kidney, muscles and drugs metabolism mechanisms. 3. Basic concepts of DNA replication and recombinant DNA technologies. 4. Furthermore, students will be able to understand the type of microbes, conditions and culture media for microbial growth, which will help them in the filed of microbial biochemistry.