111 Biochemistry Addition, 433 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706; 608/265-9846; www.biochem.wisc.edu; UndergradAdvisor@biochem.wisc.edu
Professors Craig (Chair), Amasino, Attie, Bednarek, Clagett-Dame, Cleland, Cox, DeLuca, Fox, Frey, Friesen, Hayes, Holden, Inman, Kiessling, Kimble, Markley, Martin, Nelson, Ntambi, Palmenberg, Phillips, Pike, Raines, Rayment, Record, Reed, Reznikoff, Sussman, Wickens; Assistant Professors Ansari, Bednarek, Butcher, Mitchell, Weibel, Wiese
This department offers an undergraduate major both for students in the Natural Sciences degree program of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and for students in the College of Letters and Science. Undergraduate majors are allowed to continue beyond the sophomore year only if they have maintained an overall GPA of at least 2.5 (4.0 basis) for their first two years.
The requirements for the major entail at least 8 biochemistry credits, including Biochem 511, 651, and 507 plus 508 or 501 plus two additional credits; and 23 (or 26) chemistry credits including: (1) Introductory Chemistry—109 and 329 or 327, or 103, 104 and 327; (2) Organic Chemistry—343, 344 and 345; and (3) 5 credits of Physical Chemistry—565 or Chemistry 561 and 563. Two semesters of physics, Physics 201 and 202 or 207 and 208, are required. Two semesters of calculus, Math 221 and 222, are required.
Biology requirements can be satisfied by taking Biocore 301, 303, 323, 333 plus any two Biocore labs, or by taking 16 credits of biology including one year of introductory biology (Zool 151 and 152) and advanced courses from genetics (Genetics 466), bacteriology (Microbio 303-304), botany, physiology, and zoology. Senior thesis (691-692) is not required, but if elected, must be taken for two semesters (4 credits). Honors candidates are required to take 681 and 682 for a total of 6 honors credits. Additional chemistry, math or statistics courses are recommended.
Biochemistry 501 is appropriate for undergraduate science majors and graduate students who are not majors in biochemistry.
Students who complete an undergraduate major in biochemistry are qualified to continue graduate or professional studies leading to higher degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, biochemistry, patent law, or related fields. Employment for those with a B.S. degree may be found in high school teaching, technical sales, industrial laboratories, research laboratories, and in hospital or clinical laboratories. The department may be consulted for specific career information.
Graduate study is indispensable for those who wish to spend their lives as professional biochemists engaged in original research work. Students earning advanced degrees may apply to academic, industrial, and government laboratories to conduct research on all basic aspects of life processes, and their application to the solution of medical, agricultural, environmental, and industrial problems.
Students completing an undergraduate major in biochemistry, registered in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, are certified for the Bachelor of Science-Natural Science degree.
289 Honors Independent Study. II, SS; 1-2 cr (I). P: Enrolled in the Cals Honors Prgm & So or Jr st. Inter-Ag 288.
299 Independent Study. I, II, SS; 1-3 cr (I). P: Open to Fr, So or Jr st & written cons inst.
399 Coordinative Internship/Cooperative Education. I, II, SS; 1-8 cr (D). P: So, Jr or Sr st & cons suprvsg inst, advisor, and intrshp prog coordinator.
501 Introduction to Biochemistry. I, II; 3 cr (P-A). Chemistry, nutrition, and metabolism of biological systems. Not accepted toward departmental M.S. or Ph.D. degree. P: Chem 341 or 343.
507 General Biochemistry I. I; 3-4 cr (P-A). Chemistry of biological materials, intermediary metabolism and protein structure. First semester of a year long first course in biochemistry. P: Chem 345. Honors stdts register for 4 cr, all others register for 3 cr.
508 General Biochemistry II. II; 3-4 cr (P-A). Chemistry and metabolism of nucleic acids and protein synthesis. Molecular and cellular biology. P: Biochem 507. Honors stdts register for 4 cr, all others register for 3 cr.
510 Biochemical Principles of Human and Animal Nutrition. (Crosslisted with Nutr Sci) I; 3 cr (B-A). Lectures in nutrition for students with a substantial background in biochemistry. Emphasis on biochemical and physiological fundamentals of nutrition. Discussion of protein, fat, carbohydrate, energy, minerals and vitamins and their roles and interrelationships in nutrition and metabolism. P: Biochem 501 or 602 or cons inst.
511 Undergraduate Seminar. I, II; 1 cr (P-A). Required of all senior undergraduate majors in biochemistry. P: Biochem 501 or 507 & 508 or cons inst. Required of all senior undergrad Biochem majors.
550 Topics in Medical Biochemistry. II; 2 cr (B-A). Lectures. Biochemical and molecular analysis of selected human diseases. Topics will include lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, cell cycle regulation and oncogene function in cancer, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) structure, life cycle, and mechanism of acquired immunodeficiency disease synsrome (Aids). P: Biochem 501, 507, or cons inst.
575 Biology of Viruses. (Crosslisted with MM&I) II; 2 cr (A). Lecture-discussion. Broad coverage of animal virology taught at molecular level. Topics include virus structure, viral replication/lifecycle, aspects of pathogenesis and prevention. P: Biocore 301/302, or AP score of 4 or 5 and Zoology 151 or 152; or MM&I 301.
601 Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function. I; 2 cr (P-A). Protein structure and dynamics. Protein folding. Physical organic chemistry of enzymatic catalysis. Analysis of enzyme kinetics and receptor-ligand interactions. Enzymatic reaction mechanisms. P: Biochem 501 or equiv, 1 sem phys chem, 1 yr org chem, & cons inst.
612 Prokaryotic Molecular Biology. (Crosslisted with Genetics, Microbio) I; 3 cr (B-D). Molecular basis of bacterial physiology and genetics with emphasis on molecular mechanisms; topics include nucleic acid-protein interactions, transcription, translation, replication, recombination, regulation of gene expression. P: Bact 370 or equiv & Biochem 501 or equiv, or cons inst.
620 Eukaryotic Molecular Biology. (Crosslisted with Phmcol-M) II; 2 cr (I). This course focuses on the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate DNA, RNA, and protein metabolism in eukaryotic organisms. This course is intended for advanced undergraduates and first year graduate students with a firm knowledge of basic biochemistry. P: Biochem 508 or equiv.
621 Plant Biochemistry. (Crosslisted with Botany) I; Odd yrs.; 3 cr (B-A). Lectures. Biochemistry of photosynthesis, respiration, and other metabolic and biosynthetic processes in plants. P: Biochem 501 or 602 or cons inst.
624 Mechanisms of Enzyme Action. I; 2 cr (P-A). Lecture. The relation of structure and kinetics to mechanisms of enzymatic catalysis; studies of specific enzymes and enzyme systems. P: Biochem 501, or 507 & 508, or 601; Chem 561 or 565; or cons inst (not open to Fr).
625 Coenzymes and Cofactors in Enzymology. II; 2 cr (B-A). Course will emphasize the importance of coenzyme and cofactors of enzymes in biochemistry. All aspects of the biochemistry of coenzymes will be covered, including their biosynthesis as far as is known, the biochemical reactions they catalyze, their chemical and spectroscopic properties, and the mechanisms by which they facilitate biochemical reactions. P: Chem 343 & 344 or equiv, Biochem 501 or equiv, Chem 561 or 565 or equiv (may be taken concurrently).
630 Cellular Signal Transduction Mechanisms. (Crosslisted with Zoology, Phmcol-M) I; 3 cr (B-D). Lecture-discussion. Comprehensive coverage of human hormones, growth factors and other mediators; emphasis on hormone action and biosynthesis, cell biology of hormone-producing cells. P: Intro biochem (Biochem 501 or 507 & 508) & cell biology (Biocore 303 or Zool 570 or Path 750) or cons inst.
636 Macromolecular Crystallography and Dynamics. II; 2 cr (B). Provide knowledge of techniques used to obtain detailed structural and dynamic information about biological macromolecules and survey results. Techniques include x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. Designed for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in the biological sciences. P: Concurrent or prior biochem; calc, & freshman physics or equiv.
651 Biochemical Methods. I, II; 2 cr (P-A). Lab. Introduction to modern biochemical laboratory techniques. For advanced undergraduates (biochemistry and other majors) and graduate students not majoring in biochemistry. P: Chem 221 and Biochem 501 or equiv.
660 Methods in Biochemistry. I; 2 cr. Survey of modern techniques in molecular biology and biochemistry. P: 2 sem organic chem, intermed or adv biochem/molec biol, & cons inst.
665 Biophysical Chemistry. (Crosslisted with Chem) I; 4 cr (A). Equilibrium thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and transport properties, with emphasis on solution behavior and application to noncovalent interactions of biological macromolecules in solution. For graduate students interested in the biological applications of physical chemistry. P: Grad st or cons inst. Stdts must meet prereqs for Chem 565 & have some prev background in phys chem.
681 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 3 cr (A). P: Sr st & cons inst (for hon Biochem majors only).
682 Senior Honors Thesis. I, II, SS; 2-4 cr (A). Continuation of 681. P: Honors program candidacy & Biochem 681.
691 Senior Thesis. I, II, SS; 2 cr (A). P: Sr st & cons inst.
692 Senior Thesis. I, II, SS; 2 cr (A). P: Sr st and cons inst.
699 Special Problems. I, II, SS; 1-4 cr (B-A). P: Sr st & cons inst.