CHEM 731/7310-01 - Nucleic Acids: Structure and Function
Semester: Winter 2023
Professor: T. Dieckmann | Discipline: Biochemistry | Campus: WaterlooDescription
Discussion of specialized topics related to the research interests of the members of the Centre. For example, recent offerings have included: Metalloproteins and Metalloenzymes; Heme Proteins; Chemistry of Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms; Peptides – Synthesis, Structure and Function; Food Enzymology; Advanced Microbial Physicology; NMR in Biological Systems.
Course Description:
This course covers advanced topics in structure and function of nucleic acids.
Among the topics discussed are:
- Basic principles of DNA and RNA chemistry, biochemistry and structure
- Analytical methods used for the study of nucleic acids
- Biochemical methods for the study of nucleic acids including SELEX
- Structure determination of nucleic acids by NMR spectroscopy
- Nucleic acids in medical applications
- Nucleic acid nanotechnology
- Nucleic acids in molecular biology
Lectures of the covered material in weeks 1-8 and student presentations in weeks 9-12.
Materials
No materials required.
All material needed will be provided in class and via the class website.
Evaluation
| Component | Value |
| Term test (3/14) | 40% |
| Term Project: Mini Lecture | 30% |
| Term Project: Lecture Notes | 10% |
| Term Project: Exam Question | 10% |
| Term Project: Participation | 10% |
All work on the term paper needs to be performed by each student on their own.
Lab/Project
By the end of this course students should be able to:
| have an advanced understanding of nucleic acid structure and function |
| have an up-to-date knowledge of nucleic acid applications in medicine, biochemical analytics and molecular biology |
| analyze recent literature and present the results of their analysis in written and oral form |
Schedule
- Mon: 10:30 am - 11:20 am in EV3 4408
- Wed: 10:30 am - 11:20 am in EV3 4408
- Fri: 10:30 am - 11:20 am in EV3 4408
