Open Learning Initiative

OLI currently has multiple offerings in the area of biology, Modern Biology and Biochemistry!

Modern Biology

Modern Biology covers topics found in the fields of cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. This intro-level course provides the background biology students will need for advanced biology classes.

Course Description

This introductory course in "Modern Biology" covers topics found in the fields of cellular biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics. It does not cover organismal biology or taxonomy. This course is a requirement for biology majors at Carnegie Mellon University. The course is carefully planned to provide the background biology students will need for advanced biology classes. Non-biology majors will also find this course useful as it explains many of the concepts and techniques currently discussed in the popular press.

This Modern Biology course is built around six Key Concepts that provide unifying explanations for how and why structures are formed and processes occur throughout your study of biology. Because it is not possible to cover the breadth of modern molecular biology in one semester, an understanding of these Key Concepts will provide a basis for extension of your knowledge to biological systems beyond the specifics covered in this course. One of the major goals of the course therefore is for you to not only learn the definitions of the concepts but also learn to recognize when they are operating the process being studied.

The Key Concepts

• Bioselectivity
• Energy
• Equilibrium
• Ionic State
• Rate Control
• Solubility

Course Structure

Unit 1: Modern Biology

Unit 2: Biological Chemistry

• Atoms, Functional Groups, and Water
• Equilibrium and pH
• Carbohydrates and Polysaccharides
• Amino Acids and Proteins
• Enzymes and Regulation

Unit 3: Cell Biology Module

• Lipids and Membranes
• Membrane Transport

Unit 4: Basis of Molecular Biology

• DNA and RNA
• DNA Replication
• DNA Transcription
• RNA Translation
• Protein Synthesis

Unit 5: Metabolism

• Pathways
• Energetics
• Enzyme Nomenclature
• Glycolysis
• TCA Cycle
• Electron Transport and Ox. Phos.
• Integrated Metabolism

Appendix: Glossaries

• Instructions for Activities
• Tutorial Animations
• Functional Groups
• Structure and Function of the Cell Membrane
• Images of Living Cells

Biochemistry

Biochemistry is an introductory course that explores the relationship between chemical principles and biological function. This one semester course is required for chemical engineering and biology majors at Carnegie Mellon University.

A consistent theme in the course is the development of a fundamental understanding of the interactions of biological molecules from a thermodynamic and kinetic point of view. Accordingly, a quantitative analysis of biochemical interactions is emphasized throughout the entire course. An additional important feature of the course is the detailed exploration of the structure of biochemical molecules using Jmol, a widely used Java-based computer-graphics program.

Overview

• Structural features of proteins and nucleic acids.
• Non-linear (allosteric) behavior of proteins.
• Technological uses of immunogloblins.
• Biochemical catalysts (enzymes).
• Rational design of enzyme inhibitors and drugs.
• Energy generating metabolic pathways and their regulation.
• Production of proteins using modern recombinant DNA techniques.

Content Outline

1. Introduction
   • Functional groups
   • Molecular forces
   • Water structure and hydrogen bonds
2. Acids and Buffers
   • Acid-base behaviour
   • Effect of pH on charge
   • Buffers
3. Protein Structure
   • Amino acids
   • Structural Hierarchy
   • Protein stability
   • Case study: Immunoglobulins and Drug detoxification
4. Binding & Allosteric Effects
   • Quantitative analysis of ligand binding
   • Case study: Oxygen transport
   • Allosteric effects and Cooperative binding
5. Enzymes
   • Catalysts
   • Case Study: Serine proteases
   • Enzyme kinetics and inhibitors
   • Case Study: HIV protease inhibitors
6. Protein Purification
   • Purification methods
   • Determination of Quaternary structure
   • Structure determination by X-ray diffraction
7. Carbohydrates
   • Mono- and disaccharides
   • Polysaccharides
8. Lipids
   • Fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids
   • Biological membranes
   • Case study: Ion channels
9. Metabolism
   • Energetics - Gibbs free energy
   • Central pathways in energy generation
   • Oxidation of lipids
   • Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism
10. DNA
    • Nucleic acid structure and stability
    • DNA-protein interactions
    • DNA polymerases
    • PCR and DNA sequencing
    • Properties of expression vectors
    • Control of mRNA synthesis in prokaryotes
    • Control of protein synthesis in prokayrotes
    • Expression of recombinant proteins
    • DNA replication