CH 546 : Introduction to Biomolecules
~ by Neha Chhikara
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Credits
6
During which semester & year you took the course ?
Autumn Semester 2019
Course Instructor
Prof. Pradeep Kumar P. I.
What grade was awarded to you?
AB
Course Difficulty (On a scale of 1 to 5)
3
Comment on the grading done by the professor in your opinion?
I feel it was quite moderate
What was the Attendance Policy?
the professor made it mandatory to attend the lectures
Pre-Requisites?
None
This Course evaluation comprises of?
Quizzes, Assignment, Midsem, Endsem
Quiz (30%), Midsem (25%), Endsem (35%), Assignment(10%)
What are the topics covered in the course?
Review of arrow pushing using FMO approaches; Elements of prebiotic chemistry; Non-Covalent Interactions in biology; Nucleosides, Nucleotides and nucleic acids: DNA and RNA (Structure, function and synthesis); Recombinant DNA Technology, Nucleic acid photochemistry, DNA as a target for cytotoxic drugs, Basics of Carbohydrates; Amino acids, peptides and proteins (structure, function and synthesis)
How were the Lectures for this course?
The course content is really good. At the start of the course, we had tutorial for PyMOL software. Then onward the lectures. The course had been really inquisitive and interesting. It was always focused during class that we learn something new and sir always sent links for videos, Ted talks and many reading materials for enhancing our knowledge. The classes were never boring and always at the end of the class, you would for often we left with so much new that you learnt not only related to course but in general. There were guest lectures by Prof. Claudia Hobartner (University of Wurzburg) and Prof. Suvarn Kulkarni (IIT Bombay).
How were the Exams for this course?
The exams were moderate. So, if you have been attentive during class then they were pretty much easy to score. And the questions were of type where if you have understood well you can attempt easily.
How was the Assignment for this course?
The assignment was about correcting the structure of lysozyme enzyme using energy density maps in Coot and then in PyMOL and some questions relating to course. Everyone was supposed to do that individually.
Any tips for the junta to perform well in the course?
This course is not a difficult one. And there is no mugging or cramming required. If you pay attention in class you would do well. The checking of answer sheets was also lenient. So, for this, I would only suggest attend all the lectures and pay attention in them and you are good to go.
References used in this course:
Introduction to Bioorganic Chemistry and Chemical Biology by David Van Vranken and Gregory A. Weiss
Molecular Biology: Principles and Practice by Michael M. Cox, Jennifer A. Doudna, Michael O’Donnell