BIOCHEMISTRY

Concepts of self and non-self. Innate and Acquired immunity. Antigens and antibodies. Humoral and cellular response to foreign protein invasion of the body, Phagocytosis and pinocytosis. Hypersensitive reactions. Antigen-antibody reactions. Serological methods of disease diagnosis: Agglutination, hemagglutination, precipitation flocculation and neutralization reactions in vitro and in vivo, immuno fluorescent and enzyme linked techniques. Vaccines and vaccinations; Use of vaccines. Practical exercises on antigen-antibody reactions.

The course covers general and specialized topics in enzymology and specifically designed for biochemistry students. It is expected that students must have successfully undertake and passed BCH 312- Enzymology which serves as prerequisite before registering for the advanced enzymology. The earlier part of the course will deal with subjects such as steady state kinetics, Michealis – Menten equation and the transient kinetic methods. General topic in enzyme catalyzed reaction such as enzyme catalysis, mechanisms of action, binding energy, enzyme assay, stereochemistry, enzyme /substrate interaction, allosteric interactions and other regulatory enzyme will be adequately cover. The course will be concluded by introducing students to other practical and applied subject; molecular model of allosterism, enzyme reconstitution, criteria for determining purity of enzyme, genetic engineering, protein engineering and biotechnology.

Toxicants abound in our environment especially in urban and highly industrialized zones. They are produced through human activities and natural phenomena. Toxicology is the branch of science that deals with the study of these toxic substances and their effects on living systems. It is a multidisciplinary field of study encompassing disciplines like Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Physiology, Epidemiology, etc. Biochemical toxicology examines toxic phenomena at the biochemical and molecular levels.

Pant Biochemistry is a course designed to introduce the students to biochemical processes that take place in plant such as plant metabolic processes, photosynthetic reactions, plant secondary metabolites and the metabolic pathways, plant hormones and the use of plant in traditional medicine. It also covers the identification and uses of plant secondary metabolites like alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins in the production of pharmaceuticals, food supplements and nutriceuticals. The roles of biochemist in traditional medicine will also be elucidated.

. BCH 407 is a build up on what the student has learnt in BCH 201 and BCH 308 and the course is for students of Biochemistry. Having understood the importance and metabolism of nucleic acids, students should now be ready to delve into some aspects of molecular genetics

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with operations of latest biochemical equipment and with methods of assimilation and dissemination of information. Students will expose to laboratories housing specialized equipment

BCH 411 is a theoretical course aimed at enlightening students on the structure-function relationship of inorganic ions in living systems. The course outline includes roles of inorganic ions in living systems; hard and soft acids and bases, relationship between the physicochemical properties and biological functions of inorganic ions. Ligand complexes and their biochemical significance (e.g. myoglobin, hemoglobin, chlorophyll, cytochrome, etc), kinetics of myoglobin and hemoglobin oxygenation. The Bohr effect; electrolyte metabolism (biochemistry of iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, etc). Nitrogen fixation, sulphur cycle.

The focus of this course is to impart knowledge on the students in order to enhance their understanding on the basic information in genetic engineering and biotechnology and to prepare them for specialised applications of gene engineering at higher levels. Topics to be covered include replication, transcription and translation a brief review. The genetic code and its relationship to cellular functions. DNA replication in a cell- free system (prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems). Gene organization . DNA sequencing. Genetic transformation, transduction and conjugation. Gene mutation, mutagenic agents and their applications to gene transfer. Gene mapping. Structure of eukaryotic genome. Hybridomas and use of monoclonal antibodies. Transposon mutagenesis, restriction enzyme mapping. Recombinant DNA and its application

This course entails the evaluation and design of experimental biochemistry from available information and data. It also include the analysis interpretation and inference drawing from biochemical research data