Undergraduate Courses 2017-18

Major classes of biochemical compounds; enzymic catalysis, metabolic pathways; genetic information; genetic coding of protein synthesis, genetic engineering; industrial, medical and agricultural applications of biochemistry.

An introduction to the fundamentals of life; common principles underlying the organization of simple cells and complex organisms; the biological basis of human health and disease presented in the context of the leading causes of death; impact of biotechnology.

Continuation of BIOL 104; membrane transport; intracellular protein sorting and trafficking; cell signaling; cell adhesion molecules; cell junctions and the extra-cellular matrix; differentiated cells and the maintenance of tissues; specialized cells.

An introduction to the principles and applications of biophysical techniques, including ultra-centrifugation, electrophoresis, optical and NMR spectroscopies, scattering and diffraction techniques, and radioisotope labeling and detection techniques. Basic concepts of thermodynamics at the cellular level and chemical kinetics.

An introduction to the basic principles, techniques and methods to molecular biology. Students will have hands-on experience of tools and techniques for analysis of recombinant DNA, RNA and proteins. Second year students preferred.

Survey of the major marine living organisms; their habitat and community structures; trophic interactions and the marine ecosystem.

Statistical reasoning relevant to biological, medical and agricultural research, statistical analyses and interpretation, statistical techniques applied under various research circumstances.

An outline of the nervous system, cell biology of neurons and glia, synaptic transmission, functional anatomy, sensory and motor system and homeostatsis.

Both laboratory and field investigations will provide the opportunity to apply and adapt the experimental methods developed here to specific groups of marine organisms, diversified marine habitats, and practical issues in marine/environmental science. Tutorial sessions and field trips will be used to enhance student's understanding of the practical work and the theories covered in the lectures.

An introduction to the general concepts of environment, resource, sustainability as well as environmental issues facing humanity such as global warming, species extinction, overpopulation, air and water pollution.

Cellular, biochemical and genetic basis of immunity; cells in immune response, antigens and antigen recognition; antibodies and the generation of diversity; major histocompatibility complex; cell mediated immune response; regulation of immune response; autoimmunity, tissue transplantation and rejection.

Processes of cellular and tissue differentiation, early and late embryonic development spanning from molecular, cellular, organ to organismal levels; reproduction, fertilization, gastrulation, neurulation, axis formation, body patterning, cellular communication, short and long range signaling, sex determination, aging, environmental influence and evolutionary significance of different regulatory mechanisms.

Fundamentals in the epidemiology, etiology and treatment of cancers; basic mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

Current status and future potential of Biotechnology, with emphasis on the fundamentals of plant molecular biology and biotechnology. Using examples of marketable products from food industry, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and agricultural fields. The role of basic research in the development and production biotechnology products will be described.

Recent advances in molecular biology; eukaryotic transcription, RNA processing and translation, molecular genetics of bacterial, yeast, invertebrate and vertebrate systems; gene mapping and gene therapy.

Recent advances in the study of cellular structure and function; molecular mechanisms of cell function; cell division and cell cycle; cell-cell signaling; molecular and cellular control in small eukaryotes; control of cell differentiation and morphogenesis.

Overview of aquaculture as a food production method and as a business. Examples of cultured species. Aquaculture biology and practices: breeding, larval rearing, nutrition, genetics and sex control. Problems and prospects: diseases, redtides and toxins.

Fundamental concepts of drug action and toxicity; clinically useful agents in central and peripheral disorders; toxicology of drugs and agents that are hazardous to living organisms.

Determination of protein sequences and three-dimensional structures; relationship between structure and function; principles of protein design and engineering; molecular, biochemical and genetic approaches to study protein function and regulation.

The biochemistry of major food ingredients including proteins, oil, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals; functional and nutritional properties will be emphasized.

Frontier knowledge in bioinformatics. From the fundamental data mining, to the advanced topics in evolutionary analysis, protein structure prediction and genomics study. Both basic and applied aspects of bioinformatics will be explored in this course.

Advanced studies of biological macromolecules; functional genomics and proteomics; laboratory techniques in modern biochemistry; milestone discoveries in biochemistry.

Principles and roles of various disciplines in biotechnology, including manipulation of various cell types, gene expression, immunochemistry, protein engineering, downstream processing, cell and enzyme immobilization, and fermentation; case studies in the development and applications of biotechnology.

This course covers the clinical manifestations, physiology, pathophysiology and treatment of common human diseases, with focus on the underlying biochemical basis of the diseases and treatment.

Introduction to the molecular understanding of brain function, building upon the basis of biochemistry and biology. Four specific themes are covered: (i) structural neurochemistry and neural membranes; (ii) synapses, transmitters and receptors; (iii) cellular and (iv) medical and behavioral neurochemistry.

A research project conducted either in the Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry departments under the supervision of a faculty member. This course is for MBMS students only. Students are expected to also register for BISC398.

A research project which may be conducted either in the Biology, Biochemistry or Chemistry departments under the supervision of a faculty member: design of experiments, analysis of data, submission of a written report and seminar or poster presentation. This course is for MBMS students only.

The Exploration of Life is a general education course organized for students with interest in life sciences. The course offers an exploration of life from the perspective of physics, biology, humanity and economics, covering subjects such as origin of life, evolution, molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, neurobiology, marine and environmental biology, ecology, traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy of life.

BICH or BIOL students studying Year 1 and beyond cannot take this course. Biochemical basis of life activities: the relevance of biochemistry to our health and quality of life.

An introduction to the environment, biodiversity, environmental conservation, sustainable development and public health of Hong Kong. Current environmental and public health issues in Hong Kong will be identified. Guest lectures on local case studies of environmental conservation and public health will be included to enrich the course.