Biology/Chemistry 260 Nutrition and Metabolism
 Beloit College > Chemistry > Nutrition and Metabolism

Nutrition and Metabolism: Biochemical Mechanisms
Molecular biology, bioenergetics, and regulation of cellular processes. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. Laboratory experiments investigate metabolism and electron transport utilizing techniques for preparation and purification of enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each spring. Prerequisites: Chemistry 230 and either any 100-level biology course or Chemistry 235.

 Course Information

Required Material:
Sareen Gropper and Jack Smith. (2013) Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 6th ed.
Safety goggles ($2)
Sewn laboratory notebook
Calculator with scientific notation

Inclusivity is a demonstration of equity and social justice through awareness, understanding, and respect for the differences in identity, culture, background, experience, and socialization, and the ways in which these forms of difference impact how we live and learn. Inclusivity requires equitable, institution-wide representation and access to resources. In practice, this manifests itself by each individual being aware of, committed to, and responsible for the well-being and care of all students, staff, and faculty.

Student Evaluation

Daily Quizzes (39 x 10 pts. each; drop 3 lowest) 360 points
Exams (3 x 100 pts.) 300 points
Labs (15 x 20 pts.; drop lowest) 280 points
Total 940 points

The three lowest daily quiz scores and the lowest lab grade will be dropped. If you miss class or lab for any reason (illness, religious observance, field or athletic trip, family, etc.), that day’s quiz or lab grade will be among those dropped. You should save these for when you need them. Missing more than three days of class and one day of lab will negatively affect your grade. The maximum number of absences allowed for this course is six class periods and two lab sessions. Missing more than this maximum will result in automatically failing the course.

Grading Scale A (93%-100%) A- (90%-92%)
B+ (87%-89%) B (83%-86%) B- (80%-82%)
C+ (77%-79%) C (73%-76%) C- (70%-72%)
D+ (67%-69%) D (60%-66%) F (less than 60%)
Online Gradebook [Login Required]

If you have a disability and need accommodations, contact Learning Enrichment and Disability Services (LEADS) located on 2nd floor Pearsons (north side), 608-363-2572, learning@beloit.edu or make an appointment through joydeleon.youcanbook.me. For accommodations in my class, you must bring me an Access Letter from the Director of LEADS and then we will discuss how to implement the accommodations. Contact that office promptly; accommodations are not retroactive.

Free peer tutoring is available for most classes. For a tutor, apply by going to your Portal, to the Student Life tab, and then apply using the Tutoring Forms (on left) and Request a Tutor. If you have any questions, contact LEADS.

Previous Quizes
Previous Exams
Error Analysis and Propagation

 Part 1: Introduction and Carbohydrates

Date Class (in SC 349 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.) Lab (in SC 308 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.)
January 21 (1) Why Nutrition and Metabolism?
      In class: Chemical Functional Groups
January 22 (1) Why is that drink yellow?
January 23 (2) Before class: Read pp. 26-27
      In class: Oxidation and Reduction (Redox) Reactions
January 25 (3) Before class: Read Nick Lane's Portrait of a Paradox
January 28 (4) Before class: Read: pp. 21-26
      In class: Bond Enthalpy and Unfavorable Reactions
January 29 (2) Dietary Assessment
      Dietary Assessment Template
January 30 (5) Before class: Read: pp. 63-67
      In class: Monosaccharides
February 1 (6) Before class: Read: pp. 67-70
      In class: Di- and Poly- saccharides and Carbohydrate Digestions
February 4 (7) Before class: Read: pp. 70-75
      In class: Carbohydrate Digestion and Absorption
February 5 (3) Determining the Amylase Activity in Saliva
February 6 (8) Before class: Read: pp. 13-15 and 76-77
      In class: Insulin and Glucagon Signaling
February 8 (9) Before class: Read: pp. 83-86
      In class: Glycolysis
February 11 (10) In class: Regulation of Glycolysis
February 12 (4) Glucose Quantification
February 13 (11) Before class: Read: pp. 107-109
       In class: Fructose and Galactose
February 15 (12) Before class: Read: pp. 54-55
       In class: Fermentation
February 18 (13) Before class: Read: p. 97
       In class: Pentose Phosphate Pathway
February 19 (5) Alcohol Dehydrogenase
February 20 (14) Before class: Read: pp. 97-99
       In class: Gluconeogenesis
February 22 (15) Before class: Read: pp. 79-81
       In class: Glycogenesis
February 25 (16) Before class: Read: pp. 81-83
       In class: Glycogenolysis
February 26 (6) Reducing Sugar Lab/Dietary Sugar TCL
February 27 (17) In class: Exam 1

 Part 2: The TCA Cycle and Lipds

Date Class (in SC 349 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.) Lab (in SC 308 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.)
March 1 (18) Before class: Read: pp. 87
       In class: Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
March 4 (19) Before class: Read: pp. 87-90
       In class: Citric Acid Cycle
March 5 (7) Quantifying Calories
March 6 (20) In class: Citric Acid Cycle
March 8 (21) Before class: Read: pp. 90-94
       In class: Electron Transport Chain
Midterm Break
[March 11-15]
No Class No Lab
March 18 (22) Before class: Read: pp. 95-97
       In class: ATP Synthase
March 19 (8) Succinate Dehydrogenase
March 20 (23) Before class: Read: pp. 137-141 and 146-150
       In class: Lipid Structure and Digestion
March 22 (24) Before class: Read: pp. 151-160
       In class: Lipid Digestion and Transport
March 25 (25) In class: Lipid Transport
March 26 (9) Lipase Activity
March 27 (26) Before class: Read: pp. 164-166
       In class: Saturated Fatty Acid Oxidation
Advising Practicum
[March 29]
No Class
April 1 (27) In class: Unsaturated Fatty Acid Oxidation
April 2 (10) Lipid Extraction
April 3 (28) Before class: Read: pp. 116-167
       In class: Ketone Bodies
April 5 (29) Before class: Read: pp. 167-172
       In class: Fatty Acid Synthesis
April 8 (30) Before class: Read: pp. 172-173
       In class: Cholesterol and Statin Drugs
April 9 (11) Cholesterol Quantification
April 10 (31) In class: Exam 2

 Part 3: Proteins and Amino Acids

Date Class (in SC 349 from 11:15 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.) Lab (in SC 308 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.)
April 12 (32) Before class: Read: pp. 183-187
       In class: Amino Acids
April 15 (33) Before class: Read: pp. 187-189
       In class: Serine Proteases
April 16 (12)
April 17 (34) Before class: Read: pp. 192-194
       In class: Amino Acid Transamination
April 19 (35) In class: Amino Acid Transamination
April 22 (36) Before class: Read p. 194
       In class: Amino Acid Deamination
April 23 (13)
Spring Day
[April 24]
No Class
April 26 (37) Before class: Read pp. 194-196
       In class: Urea Cycle
April 29 (38) Before class: Read pp. 204-205
       In class: Arginine Anabolism and Catabolism
April 30 (14)
May 1 (39) In class: Leucine Catabolism
May 3 (40) In class: Isoleucine Catabolism
May 6 (41) Before class: Read pp. 206-207
       In class: Serine Anabolism and Catabolism
May 7 (15)
May 8 (42) Before class: Read p. 206
       In class: Threonine Catabolism
May 11 Final Exam (9:00 a.m. to noon)

January 10, 2019 by Ted Gries

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