What powers the intricate machinery of the human body? How do enzymes control life-sustaining reactions, and what happens when these processes go wrong? How do the building blocks of life—proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids—work together to maintain health and function? This module provides a comprehensive foundation in key biochemical principles, focusing on the structure and function of biological macromolecules and the metabolic pathways that sustain cellular processes. Students will explore anabolic and catabolic pathways, the central role of energy conversions in metabolism, and how disruptions in these processes relate to human disease. The course emphasizes the structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, highlighting their diverse roles in the cell. Enzymology is examined in depth, including enzyme classification, kinetics, regulation, and practical applications. Throughout apprentices will develop and apply essential problem-solving and numeracy skills. They will also build a thorough understanding of key chemical molecules and principles underpinning biochemistry, including how these relate to carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Distant and Online blended learning: lectures, audio, recordings, video clips, study guides - 44 hours
'Live' contact hours: live teaching via webinars and induction - 10 hours
Online Test worth 40% (1.5 hours)
Extended Writing worth 60% (1,200 words)
All assessments must be passed to pass the module.
Reassessment: Like-for-like
Understand basic metabolic pathways (anabolic and catabolic) and the role of energy conversions in cell metabolism, and how they are associated with human disease.
Apply problem solving skills, numeracy skills, and chemical principles underpinning biochemistry, metabolism, and enzymology.
Describe and understand the key principles of the protein structure and functions, and their application.
Understand key principles of structure and function of nucleic acids and their disparate cellular roles.
Understand key biochemical principles of carbohydrates and lipids, their disparate cellular roles, practical application, and association with human disease.
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