Biochemistry

Bruce E. Bowler, Program Director

The Biochemistry Program is a joint program between the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Division of Biological Sciences.  Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary science that integrates chemistry and biology to understand the molecular basis of life.  The program offers a B.S. in Biochemistry and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics.

Undergraduate majors receive a solid foundation in both chemistry and biology. Biochemistry courses are usually taken in the junior year allowing majors to become involved in research with faculty and to take electives in their senior year. The major also introduces students to computer science and bioinformatics, essential tools in modern biochemistry. The B.S. in Biochemistry prepares students for advanced degrees in biochemistry or biophysics, for medical, dental or veterinary schools and for careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. A Health Professions option is also offered within the B.S. in Biochemistry for students whose career goals are in fields related to biochemistry. This option allows more flexibility in upper division electives, permitting students to tailor the degree to their needs. Students desiring a basic grounding in biochemistry to complement their primary major can choose to pursue a minor in Biochemistry.

The graduate degrees in Biochemistry & Biophysics prepare students to be independent researchers in academic laboratories or in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Through coursework and independent research, graduate students in this program will become adept at the physical and structural methods necessary to probe important problems in the life sciences at the molecular level. In collaboration with the Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, the Biochemistry Program provides state-of-the-art facilities for research in biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology.

Prospective students desiring further information on these degrees should contact the Program Director by visiting the Biochemistry Program web site.

High School Preparation: In addition to the general University admission requirements, it is strongly recommended that a student take four years of mathematics, four years of science, and a foreign language.

Undergraduate Degrees Available

Subject Type Option Track
Biochemistry Bachelor of Science
Biochemistry Bachelor of Science Health Professions
Biochemistry Minor

Department Faculty

Professor

  • Bruce Bowler, Professor and Director, Biochemistry Program
  • J. Stephen Lodmell, Professor
  • J.B. Alexander (Sandy) Ross, Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • D. Scott Samuels, Professor
  • Stephen Sprang, Professor, DBS & Director, CBSD
  • Kent Sugden, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Associate Professor

  • Klara Briknarova, Associate Professor
  • Bradley Layton, Energy Technology Program Director/Associate Professor
  • Douglas Raiford, Research Professor

Assistant Professor

  • Kasper Hansen, Assistant Professor
  • Travis Hughes, Assistant Professor
  • Brent Ryckman, Assistant Professor
  • Valeriy Smirnov, Assistant Professor
  • Ekaterina Voronina, Assistant Professor
  • Travis Wheeler, Assistant Professor, Assistant Chair

Emeritus

  • Walter Hill, Professor Emeritus

Course Descriptions

Biochemistry

  • BCH 110 - Intro Biology for Biochemists

    Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq. CHMY 141N or equivalent. Prereq. or Coreq., CHMY 143N. Coreq., BCH 111.  An introductory course that explores biomolecules and their roles in life processes.  Provides a foundation for Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOB 260), Genetics and Evolution (BIOB 272), Introductory Biochemistry Seminar (BCH 294), and many other advanced science courses.

  • BCH 111 - Intro Biol for Biochemists Lab

    Credits: 1. Offered spring.  Prereq., CHMY 141N or equivalent. Prereq., or Coreq., CHMY 143N. Coreq., BCH 110. Introduction to the experimental techniques used to study biomolecules and their roles in life processes.  Provides a foundation for other advanced level laboratory courses in chemistry and biochemistry.

  • BCH 294 - Seminar/Workshop

    Credits: 1. Offered spring.  Prereq., BCH 110/111 or equivalent. An introduction to important advances in biochemistry through readings from the primary literature and discussion of this literature.  Faculty members will also make presentations on their research. Graded credit/no credit.

  • BCH 380 - Biochemistry

    Credits: 4. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., CHMY 223 or BIOB 260.  Fundamental biochemistry; chemistry and metabolism of biomolecules, energy relationships in metabolism; storage, transmission, and expression of genetic information.  Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and 480-482.

  • BCH 480 - Advanced Biochemistry I

    Credits: 3. Offered autumn. Prereq., CHMY 223. Primarily for science majors. The chemistry of biomolecules, with emphasis on the structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The chemistry and regulation of the transfer and expression of genetic information, protein synthesis. Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and 480-482.

  • BCH 482 - Advanced Biochemistry II

    Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 480 or equiv. Continuation of BCH 480. Enzyme kinetics, metabolism, especially macromolecule biosyntheses and energy acquisition pathways, and the associated energetics and molecular physiology. Credit not allowed for both BCH 380 and BCH 480-482.

  • BCH 486 - Biochemistry Research Lab

    Credits: 3. Offered spring. Prereq., BCH 380 or 480. Applications of biochemical principles to modern protein biochemistry.  Basic micro- and molecular biology techniques are used to produce mutant proteins; then students learn basic and advanced biophysical techniques to characterize the mutant proteins.

  • BCH 490 - Undergraduate Research

    Credits: 1 TO 10. (R-10) Offered every term. Consent of instr. Independent research under the direction of a faculty member.
    Course Attributes:
    • Research & Creative Schlrshp

  • BCH 491 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 10. (R-10) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

  • BCH 499 - Senior Thesis/Capstone

    Credits: 3 TO 6. (R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., senior standing and consent of instr. Preparation of a thesis or manuscript based on undergraduate research for presentation and/or publication. Student must give an oral or poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium or a scientific meeting.

  • BCH 547 - Exptl Mol/Cell/Chem Biol

    Credits: 1. (R-8) Offered every term. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instr.  Same as BIOB 547. Focus on experimental design, methods, and presentation of experimental results for graduate students in laboratories with a molecular, cellular or chemical biological focus. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 561 - RNA Structure & Function

    Credits: 1. (R-8) Offered every semester. Prereq., BCH 482, BIOB 260, and consent of instr. Exploration of current scientific literature and new data that focuses on RNA biochemistry. Emphasis on literature relevant to research on RNA viruses and ribosomes and protein synthesis. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 570 - Intro to Research

    Credits: 1. (R-2) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., graduate standing.  Required course for Biochemistry and Biophysics graduate students. Students are acquainted with faculty research projects. Instruction in basic research techniques, research equipment. Introduction to relevant scientific research literature.  Level: Graduate

  • BCH 581 - Physical Biochemistry

    Credits: 3. Offered spring odd-numbered years. Prereq., CHMY 360 or CHMY 373 or CHMY 371; BCH 480. Techniques of physical chemistry used in studying biological structure and function of macromolecules. Emphasis is on spectroscopic methods, hydrodynamic methods and x-ray and other scattering and diffraction techniques. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 582 - Proteins and Enzymes

    Credits: 3. Offered autumn even-numbered years.  Prereq., BCH 482 or equivalent. An investigation into the structure/function relationship in proteins and a detailed exploration of enzyme kinetics, using examples from current literature. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 584 - Nucleic Acids

    Credits: 3. Offered autumn odd-numbered years. Prereq., BCH 482 or equivalent. Emphasis on critical reading of current literature that investigates structure, chemistry, and function of nucleic acids. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 595 - Special Topics

    Credits: 1 TO 6. (R-6) Offered intermittently. Prereq., graduate standing and consent of instr. Experimental offering of new courses by resident or visiting faculty. Level: Graduate
    Course Attributes:
    • Internships/Practicums

  • BCH 597 - Research

    Credits: 1 TO 18. (R-18) Offered intermittently. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the background and objectives of the student. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 599 - Thesis

    Credits: 1 TO 10. (R-10) Offered intermittently. Prereq., master's student in biochemistry and biophysics. Laboratory research for and preparation of a master's thesis. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 600 - Cell Organization & Mechanisms

    Credits: 3. Offered spring even-numbered years. Prereq., BCH 480 or consent of instr. Same as BMED 600. Primary literature exploration of the regulation of structure, function, and dynamics of eukaryotic cells. Topics include membranes, cytoskeleton, transcription, translation, signal transduction, cell motility, cell proliferation, and programmed cell death. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 694 - Biochemistry & Biophysics Seminar

    Credits: 1. (R-10) Credit/No credit only. Offered Autumn and Spring. Prereq., graduate standing or consent of instructor. Presentation of current research in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related fields by invited outside speakers, UM faculty, and senior graduate students. Level: Graduate

  • BCH 699 - Dissertation

    Credits: 1 TO 20. (R-20) Offered intermittently. Prereq., doctoral student in biochemistry. Laboratory research for and preparation of a doctoral dissertation. Level: Graduate