100-level

BCHM111
Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
Description
A foundation course in cellular biology integrating the principles of molecular biology and biochemistry with the structure and function of plant, animal and microbial cells. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cell growth/death cycles, cancer and genetic disorders will also be considered.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Restrictions
BIOL111 and ENCH281
BIOL111
Cellular Biology and Biochemistry
Description
A foundation course in cellular biology integrating the principles of molecular biology and biochemistry with the structure and function of plant, animal and microbial cells. Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cell growth/death cycles, cancer and genetic disorders will also be considered.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Restrictions
ENCH281 and BCHM111
BCHM112
Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Description
Structure, isomerism, stereochemistry, synthesis, and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry; transition metal chemistry and electrochemistry.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
(1) NCEA: at least 14 credits NCEA Level 3 Chemistry, or (2) CIE: at least D grade in CIE AL Chemistry or A grade in CIE ASL Chemistry, or (3) IB: at least Grade 4 in IB HL Chemistry or Grade 6 in IB SL Chemistry, or (4) CHEM114, or at least B Grade in BRDG023.
Restrictions
CHEM112
CHEM112
Structure and Reactivity in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Description
Structure, isomerism, stereochemistry, synthesis, and reaction mechanisms in organic chemistry; transition metal chemistry and electrochemistry.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
(1) NCEA: at least 14 credits NCEA Level 3 Chemistry, or (2) CIE: at least D grade in CIE AL Chemistry or A grade in CIE ASL Chemistry, or (3) IB: at least Grade 4 in IB HL Chemistry or Grade 6 in IB SL Chemistry, or (4) CHEM114, or at least B Grade in BRDG023 or TRNS006.
Restrictions
BCHM112
PROD131
Introduction to Formulation Science
Description
This course introduces the key aesthetic and functional requirements and the principles underlying the creation of formulated products across a wide range of applications. Practical laboratories will focus on making and analysing a range of formulated products. Examples include pharmaceuticals, adhesives, paints, industrial coatings, fuels, cosmetics and personal care products, food and nutritional products, detergents and cleaning products, and agricultural products such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. Lectures will cover principles of interfacial science affecting the creation and stability of emulsions, suspensions and solid formulations such as tablets and powders. Interactions of formulated products with physical systems will be described, including the mechanisms involved in their adsorption, absorption, metabolism, excretion and distribution within biological, non-biological and environmental systems.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
, Any 15 points of CHEM
Co-requisites
Any 15 points of CHEM

200-level

BCHM202
Foundations in Molecular Biology
Description
Principles of genetics, including the structure of RNA and DNA, molecular replication, transcription, translation, recombination and gene expression.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM111 (BIOL111) or ENCH281. RP: CHEM112 or BCHM112 or CHEM114
Restrictions
BIOL230, BIOL231, ENCH480
BCHM206
Organic Chemistry
Description
Reaction mechanisms, synthesis and biosynthesis of organic compounds.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM212 or BCHM212
Restrictions
CHEM242
BCHM212
Chemical Reactivity
Description
Structures and properties of organic and biological molecules; application of kinetics and thermodynamics to organic and biochemical reactions; substitution and elimination chemistry; bioinorganic chemistry and electrochemistry.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM112 (CHEM112) or ENCH241
Restrictions
CHEM212
CHEM212
Chemical Reactivity
Description
Structures and properties of organic and biological molecules; application of kinetics and thermodynamics to organic and biochemical reactions; substitution and elimination chemistry; bioinorganic chemistry and electrochemistry
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM112 or BCHM112 or ENCH241
Restrictions
BCHM212
BCHM222
BIOCHEMISTRY B - Metabolism; the reactions of molecules in cells
Description
The general principles of metabolism and metabolic control.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM221 or BCHM253 or BIOL253
Restrictions
BCHM201, ENCH323
BIOL231
Foundations in Molecular Biology
Description
Principles of genetics, including the structure of RNA and DNA, molecular replication, transcription, translation, recombination and gene expression.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BIOL111 (=BCHM111) or ENCH281
Restrictions
BCHM202, ENCH480, BIOL230
CHEM242
Organic Chemistry
Description
Reaction mechanisms; synthesis and biosynthesis of organic compounds.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM212 or BCHM212
Restrictions
BCHM206
CHEM246
Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry
Description
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of Medicinal Chemistry. The course will consider how many drugs/pharmaceuticals work, correlating their precise molecular structure with that of their biological targets. The course will also introduce pharmacokinetics, and consider how Medicinal Chemists can optimize the molecular properties of a drug molecule to produce compounds that display enhanced biological effects in living organisms.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM212 or BCHM212
BCHM253
Cell Biology I
Description
Internal organisation of the cell. The course will build on the introduction to cell biology in BCHM 111 (BIOL 111) and seek to develop further understanding of the internal workings of the cell.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BIOL111 (BCHM111) or ENCH281. RP: 15 points of CHEM at 100 level
Restrictions
BIOL253
BIOL253
Cell Biology I
Description
Internal organisation of the cell. The course will build on the introduction to cell biology in BIOL 111 (BCHM 111) and seek to develop further understanding of the internal workings of the cell.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BIOL111 (=BCHM111) or ENCH281
Restrictions
BCHM253
BCHM281
Practical Biochemistry
Description
This course is laboratory based and includes the following topics: preparative chemistry; purification of biochemicals and chemicals including chromatography; practical spectroscopy and basic analytical methodology; kinetic and thermodynamic measurements on solutions; data analysis, errors and Excel competence. Safety and library elements will be integrated into the course.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
1. CHEM111 and CHEM112 (BCHM112) or 2. CHEM212
Restrictions
CHEM281
CHEM281
Practical Chemistry
Description
This course is required to major in chemistry and preferably it is taken in conjunction with other 200-level chemistry courses. The topics covered in this course are: preparative organic and inorganic chemistry; purification of chemicals including chromatography; practical spectroscopy and basic analytical methodology; data analysis, errors and Excel competence. Kinetic and thermodynamic measurements on solutions.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
1. CHEM111 and CHEM112 (BCHM112) or 2. CHEM212
Restrictions
BCHM281

300-level

BCHM304
Special Topic
Occurrences
Whole Year 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
Entry subject to approval of the Coordinator, Biochemistry
BCHM305
Protein Science
Description
This course is designed to help you to understand how different proteins function and how biochemists seek to investigate protein structure and function. The course aims to introduce you to modern biochemical ideas and research, and will include a substantial amount of reading from the biochemical literature, as well as from your standard textbook.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM253/BIOL253 and BCHM222. RP: BCHM202/BIOL231, BCHM206/CHEM242, BCHM212/CHEM212.
Restrictions
BCHM301
BCHM306
Biochemical Pathology
Description
This course is designed to help you to understand the biochemistry underpinning disease (e.g. cancer), how diseases are diagnosed using biochemical markers (e.g. heart disease), mechanisms of cell and organ toxicity, and how toxic molecules can be used to our benefit (e.g. in cancer chemotherapy).
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM253/BIOL253 and BCHM222, and 15 points from BCHM206, BCHM212/CHEM212. RP: BCHM202/BIOL231.
Restrictions
BCHM301, BCHM302
BCHM338
Chemical Biology and Protein Chemistry
Description
This course covers important concepts in chemical biology: the application of chemical techniques, tools, analyses, and synthetic chemicals, to the study and manipulation of the molecular processes taking place within cells.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM212 or BCHM212 Recommended preparation: BCHM202 (BIOL231)
Restrictions
CHEM325; BCHM302; CHEM338
BCHM339
Bioinorganic and Bioorganic Chemistry
Description
Bioinorganic chemistry is the study of the ways that nature uses the properties of metal ions to control and catalyse biological processes. Processes to be studied will include transport of electrons, small molecules, and essential trace elements, as well as chemical transformations that involve redox reactions, activation of water molecules in hydrolysis reactions, and the role of metal ions in biosynthetic reactions and drug metabolism. The bioorganic chemistry portion of the course will focus on the role that small molecular weight organic compounds can play in dissecting, probing and manipulating biological systems. We will use examples from human and animal health (i.e. cancer, infection) to illustrate this interdisciplinary process.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM212 or BCHM212. RP: CHEM242 (BCHM206)
Restrictions
CHEM339; CHEM325; BCHM302
CHEM342
Aromatic, heterocyclic, and pharmaceutical chemistry
Description
This course is about the structure and reactivity of aromatic and heterocyclic molecules, and how this reactivity is used in the synthesis of important and interesting compounds, particularly modern pharmaceuticals / drugs. The topics covered by this course are: aromatic chemistry, heterocyclic chemistry and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM242 or BCHM206
Restrictions
CHEM322, CHEM362
CHEM346
Contemporary Medicinal Chemistry
Description
This course covers several topics in modern medicinal chemistry, focusing on a range of important disease states that have been the focus of attention of medicinal chemists and the pharmaceutical industry. These include: antimicrobial drugs, anti-cancer drugs, neurochemical and cardiovascular drugs, and bioactive natural products from NZ and the Pacific regions, including their uses in Rongoa, and modes of action.
Occurrences
Semester One 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM246. RP: CHEM212, CHEM242
CHEM347
Drug Discovery and Development
Description
This course covers the drug discovery and development process, all the way from lead generation, to structure optimisation, synthetic production, the protection and development of intellectual property, and crossing regulatory hurdles and clinical trials. As part of the course students will participate in an interactive mock drug discovery exercise. The course will also comprise significant Bicultural components, including ethical and legal considerations of obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi, Treaty Claims, and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
CHEM342, CHEM346. RP: CHEM212, CHEM242
BCHM381
Biochemical Techniques
Description
Biochemical experiments and analysis such as transport kinetics, DNA sequence analysis and manipulation, lipid isolation and characterisation. Safety, bioethical and library elements will be integrated into the coursework.
Occurrences
Semester Two 2024
Points
15 points
Prerequisites
BCHM201 (if taken prior to 2005) or BCHM281 or CHEM281

Not Offered Courses in 2024

200-level

BCHM207
Special Topic
Description
Selected lectures, tutorials and laboratories from courses relevant to biochemistry. Exchange students only may enrol in this course. Credit for this course may not be used to satisfy the requirements of a University of Canterbury degree. Internally assessed.
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020
For further information see BCHM207 course details
Points
15 points

300-level

BCHM303
Special Topic
Description
Selected lectures, tutorials and laboratories from courses relevant to biochemistry. Exchange students only may enrol in this course. Credit for this course may not be used to satisfy the requirements of a University of Canterbury degree. Internally assessed.
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020
For further information see BCHM303 course details
Points
15 points
BCHM335
Biochemical and Environmental Toxicology
Description
This course examines the effects of exposure to toxic chemicals, risk assessment, risk management, routes of exposure and biochemical mechanisms of toxicity.
Occurrences
Not offered 2024, offered in 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018
For further information see BCHM335 course details
Points
15 points