FARM1150 – Pharmaceutical Based Biochemistry
Course description
Course content
The course provides thorough knowledge and understanding of the molecules of life - nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids - and their building blocks, including their structure and composition, and synthesis and degradation, as well as about energy metabolism in the human body, including regulation of these processes. The course also provides knowledge and understanding on the composition and function of biological membranes, and puts special emphasis on pharmaceutically relevant elements within biochemistry, employing pharmacy-related examples. The course forms the basis for further understanding of the chemistry of pharmaceuticals and other pharmacologically active compounds, their mode of action, and their turnover in the human body, and how this contributes to health benefits.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you are able to:
- Account for the structure, composition and function, of carbohydrates, polysaccharides, amino acids, proteins, nucleotides, DNA, RNA, lipids and biological membranes.
- Account for how the bio-molecules of carbohydrates, polysaccharides, amino acids, proteins, nucleotides, DNA, RNA, and lipids are synthesized and degraded in the human body.
- Explain the mechanism of action, regulation, and kinetics of enzymes, and have the ability to determine kinetic parameters for a defined enzymatic system and the ability to communicate this in the form of a scientific laboratory report.
- Explain the turnover of chemical energy in biological processes.
- Master specific biochemical laboratory methods and perform simple bioinformatic analyses.
- Evaluate and communicate results from laboratory experiments in a scientific report.
- Communicate the content of scientific literature related to pharmaceutical biochemistry to fellow students and scientific supervisors.
- Collaborate with fellow students in experimental work and data handling as well as in the preparation of laboratory reports.?
Admission to the course
Admission to the 5-year Master`s programme in Pharmacy.
Pregnant and breastfeeding: For safety reasons, pregnant and breastfeeding women cannot participate in the two experimental laboratory exercises of the course. This is due to the use of chemicals in the laboratory exercises that may be harmful to the fetus or child. No exemptions or accommodations for the laboratory exercises will be granted, as these must be completed and approved to meet the learning outcomes of the course. Completed an approved practical laboratory exercises are required for admission to the exam. Students affected by this should contact the Study administration at the Department of Pharmacy?for more information.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
- Approved the compulsory parts of FARM1100 – Pharmaceutical Chemistry and FARM1110 – Pharmacology, Physiology and Cell Biology 1
- Passed the compulsory HSE courses HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment, HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment, HMS0503 – Laboratory Safety, HMS0506 – Patient Clinic Safety and HMS0507 – Fire Safety required for students at the 5-year Master`s programme in Pharmacy.
Course exemption: Laws and regulations describing the overall learning outcome regulate the Pharmacy programme. Exemptions are only granted if all learning outcomes of the course are covered.?
Recommended previous knowledge
Overlapping courses
- 4 credits overlap with FRM1030 – Bioorganic Chemistry (discontinued).
- 4 credits overlap with FRM1040 – Foundation biology for pharmacists (discontinued).
Teaching
Teaching methods include lectures, as well as student active teaching methods such as flipped classroom sessions, laboratory exercises, data laboratory exercises, group teaching, and a seminar day with student mini-lectures (cross disciplinary group session) to train their understanding and ability to communicate the subject.
- 30 hours lectures - the introductory lecture is compulsory
- 15 hours flipped classroom or equivalent
- 18 hours data laboratory exercises (3 exercises total) - compulsory
- 13 hours laboratory exercises (2 exercises total) - compulsory
- 20 hours group teaching (K1-K20) - including presentation during the course of the semester - compulsory attendance minimum 50% for group teaching K1-K10, and minimum 50% for group teaching K11-K20.
- 2 hours cross disciplinary group session - compulsory
Compulsory participation in the teaching must be completed and approved and compulsory submissions must be approved in order to be eligible to take the exam.
Read more about what applies in the event of absence from compulsory activities.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Completed compulsory instruction and coursework are valid for 3 years.
Examination
Final written exam, which counts 100% towards the finale grade.?
Active participation in the compulsory elements of the course, as well as approved laboratory journals for all five laboratory exercises is required to gain access to the final exam.
Examination support material
You will have access to a calculator in Inspera during exam.
If the resit/postponed exam is held orally, an approved calculator, Casio FX-991EX, will be handed out at the beginning of the exam.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F?is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.