Biochemistry course catalog
All 51 recorded UW–Madison courses in this department, including courses not offered this term. Open a course for prerequisites, historical grades and instructors.
BIOCHEM 100: Biochemistry First-year Seminar
1 credits
Introduction to the discipline of biochemistry, to the UW Biochemistry Department, to some of the research projects the faculty are pursuing, to the University, and to the career options open to an individual with a biochemistry background.
BIOCHEM 104: Molecules to Life and the Nature of Science
3 credits
Introduction to how life works at a molecular level and the evolutionary paths that led to the great diversity of life on our planet. With this foundation, discuss current topics in the news such as: exploring the human genome to understand our species' history and to diagnose and treat disease; genetic engineering of crops in relation to foods safety and effects on ecosystems; gene editing of insects and mammals including humans; how to determine whether herbal remedies, vaccines, etc. are effective and safe; and current trends in biotechnology and what might be on the horizon. Focus on appreciating the nature of science and becoming better equipped to explore and evaluate scientific topics of interest.
BIOCHEM 207: Engineering Bacteriophage Laboratory
Credits unavailable
Introduces the lab skills and techniques used in biochemistry and molecular biology laboratories. Engineer mutants of the T7 bacteriophage and test the virulence of the bacteriophages on various bacterial strains. Integrate biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, genetics, and basic laboratory techniques.
BIOCHEM 289: Honors Independent Study
Credits unavailable
Research work for Honors students under direct guidance of a Biochemistry faculty member. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor.
BIOCHEM 299: Independent Study
1–3 credits
Research work for students under direct guidance of a Biochemistry faculty member. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising instructor.
BIOCHEM 301: Survey of Biochemistry
Credits unavailable
Explore the basic chemical properties of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Topics to be discussed include protein structure and function, the chemical logic of metabolism, and the mechanisms of DNA replication, DNA transcription, DNA repair, and gene expression. Understand principles and themes in biochemistry that relate to metabolic diseases, drug design, virus infection and vaccination, and gene therapy. Does not cover the foundational material necessary to succeed in additional biochemistry coursework, and is not likely to be acceptable for medical or veterinary school admission.
BIOCHEM 307: Study Abroad: Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan
Credits unavailable
A study abroad equivalency centered on a core research question on gene regulation offering a collaborative environment to engage in fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and analyzing data that does not equate to a UW-Madison course. Requires current enrollment in a UW-Madison sponsored study abroad program.
BIOCHEM 375: Special Topics
1–4 credits
Examines various special topics in biochemistry. Topics and content will vary each semester and by section of the course.
BIOCHEM 399: Coordinative Internship/cooperative Education
1–8 credits
An internship under guidance of a faculty or instructional academic staff member in Biochemistry and internship site supervisor. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the faculty or instructional academic staff member and the internship site supervisor.
BIOCHEM 400: Study Abroad in Biochemistry
Credits unavailable
A study abroad equivalency that does not equate to a UW-Madison course. Requires current enrollment in a UW-Madison sponsored study abroad program.
BIOCHEM 501: Introduction to Biochemistry
3 credits
Chemistry, nutrition, and metabolism of biological systems.
BIOCHEM 507: General Biochemistry I
3 credits
Chemistry of biological materials, intermediary metabolism and protein structure.
BIOCHEM 508: General Biochemistry II
3–4 credits
Biosynthesis of biological molecules, signal transduction mechanisms, chemistry and metabolism of nucleic acids, protein synthesis, and molecular and cellular biology.
BIOCHEM 551: Biochemical Methods
4 credits
Introduction to modern biochemical laboratory techniques and current biochemical literature. Includes student seminar presentations based upon scientific literature that parallels experiments performed in the lab.
BIOCHEM 601: Protein and Enzyme Structure and Function
2 credits
Protein structure and dynamics. Protein folding. Physical organic chemistry of enzymatic catalysis. Analysis of enzyme kinetics and receptor-ligand interactions. Enzymatic reaction mechanisms.
BIOCHEM 625: Mechanisms of Action of Vitamins and Minerals
Credits unavailable
Emphasizes the importance of coenzyme and cofactors of enzymes (i.e., vitamins and minerals) in biochemistry. All aspects of the biochemistry of coenzymes will be covered, including their biosynthesis as far as is known, the biochemical reactions they catalyze, their chemical and spectroscopic properties, and the mechanisms by which they facilitate biochemical reactions.
BIOCHEM 681: Senior Honors Thesis
2–4 credits
First semester of individual study for undergraduate students in an Honors program completing a thesis in the area of Biochemistry, as arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.
BIOCHEM 682: Senior Honors Thesis
2–4 credits
Second semester of individual study for undergraduate students in an Honors program completing a thesis in the area of Biochemistry, as arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.
BIOCHEM 691: Senior Thesis
2 credits
First semester of individual study for undergraduate students completing a thesis in the area of Biochemistry, as arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.
BIOCHEM 692: Senior Thesis
2 credits
Second semester of individual study for undergraduate students completing a thesis in the area of Biochemistry, as arranged with a Biochemistry faculty member.
BIOCHEM 699: Special Problems
1–4 credits
Provides academic credit for research, library, and/or laboratory work under direct guidance of a faculty member. Students are responsible for arranging the work and credits with the supervising faculty member.
BIOCHEM 719: From Atoms to Molecules
3 credits
Topics covered include protein structure and folding, protein dynamics, biological catalysis, membrane structure and assembly, nucleic acid structure and folding, and bioenergetics. Each topic includes discussion of the primary literature, hypothesis generation, experimental design, data, analysis and interpretation underlying the facts in the textbook. Supports transition from undergraduate consumers of knowledge to graduate students and future independent scientists who will discover and add new knowledge.
BIOCHEM 721: Biochemical Communication
2 credits
Introduction to written and visual communication of biochemical research, both to other scientists and to general audiences, including: how to recognize and adapt work to different audiences; how to construct a scientific argument and the different strategies used for research reports, reviews, and proposals; and how to create figures and posters that clearly convey scientific data and concepts. Learn about the peer review process and revision of scientific writing. An intensive writing component, which requires multiple written and visual documentation on topics related to thesis research.
BIOCHEM 729: Advanced Topics
1–3 credits
Specialized subjects of current interest.
BIOCHEM 799: Practicum in Biochemistry Teaching
1–3 credits
Instructional orientation to teaching at the higher education level in biochemistry, direct teaching experience under faculty supervision, experience in testing and evaluation of students, and the analysis of teaching performance.
BIOCHEM 910: Seminar-molecular Virology (advanced)
1 credits
Research reports, special topics, and reports from recent literature in molecular virology.
BIOCHEM 916: Cellular Mechanisms of Protein Biogenesis and Trafficking
Credits unavailable
Recent literature relating to cellular aspects of the regulation of protein biogenesis including protein synthesis, folding, modification, degradation and trafficking, as well as function of molecular chaperones, will be presented and discussed.
BIOCHEM 919: Synthetic Biology Seminar
1 credits
Synthetic biology is a burgeoning field encompassing understanding and designing biological systems spanning from biomolecules to ecosystems. It builds on advances in molecular and cellular technologies to revolutionize biological engineering in the same way that organic synthesis transformed chemistry and integrated circuit design transformed computing. Synthetic biology has the potential to address many of society's grand challenges including: understanding human disease, sustainable biomanufacturing, medical diagnostics and therapeutics, programming mammalian cell behaviors, engineering living materials, information storage, carbon sequestration, and energy generation. Latest advances in the field will be reviewed by covering literature including but not limited to biomolecular design, sequence-structure-function relationship, regulatory and signaling networks, metabolic engineering, interactions in microbial communities, cell-based therapeutics and genome design.
BIOCHEM 924: Membrane Protein Structure and Function
Credits unavailable
Membrane proteins comprise over a fourth of proteins encoded in any given genome, providing many vital functions to all cells. For example, ion channels and pumps modulate the membrane potential and help conduct information via nerves and other long distance conducting tissue. Transporters mediate the uptake and secretion of molecules. Receptors, such as G protein coupled receptors and receptor protein kinases, transfer information about the environment to the inside of the cell. Membrane proteins also contribute to the shape of the cell, the structure of the membrane and a myriad of other functions. Structure/function relationships for this critical class of proteins are discussed, addressing questions such as "how do membrane proteins fold?", "how do certain important classes of membrane proteins work?", "what are the challenges in studying membrane proteins" and "what methods are available for studying their biophysical properties?"
BIOCHEM 990: Research
1–12 credits
Independent laboratory research in preparation of a graduate thesis or dissertation under supervision of a faculty member.
BIOCHEM/BME/BMI/CBE/COMPSCI/GENETICS 915: Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine
1 credits
Participants and outside speakers will discuss current research in computation and informatics in biology and medicine. This seminar is required of all CIBM program trainees.
BIOCHEM/BMI/BMOLCHEM/MATH 609: Mathematical Methods for Systems Biology
Credits unavailable
Provides a rigorous foundation for mathematical modeling of biological systems. Mathematical techniques include dynamical systems and differential equations. Applications to biological pathways, including understanding of bistability within chemical reaction systems, are emphasized.
BIOCHEM/BMOLCHEM 701: Responsible Conduct in Bioscience Research
2 credits
Introductory training in the practical aspects of being a graduate-level scientist and the professional standards and expectations of ethical researchers. Covers a wide variety of professional development topics, including choosing a research laboratory and a thesis mentor, transitioning to self-education, managing stress in graduate school, and the importance of diversity in science. Ethics topics include conflicts of interest, the protection of human subjects, the welfare of laboratory animals and workers, safe laboratory spaces, mentor and mentee responsibilities, collaborative research, peer review, data acquisition and data management practices, research misconduct, responsible authorship and publication, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research, and the roles of responsible scientists in society. Covers all NIH-recommended topics for Responsible Conduct of Research, thus meeting the requirements for trainees involved in NIH-sponsored research programs.
BIOCHEM/BMOLCHEM 913: Seminar-ribogroup (advanced)
Credits unavailable
Student-led discussions of RNA-related problems.
BIOCHEM/BOTANY 621: Plant Biochemistry
Credits unavailable
Biochemistry of photosynthesis, respiration, cell walls, and other metabolic and biosynthetic processes in plants.
BIOCHEM/BOTANY/GENETICS 840: Regulatory Mechanisms in Plant Development
Credits unavailable
Molecular mechanisms whereby endogenous and environmental regulatory factors control development; emphasis on stimulus perception and primary events in the signal chain leading to modulated gene expression and cellular development.
BIOCHEM/CBE 932: Biotechnology Training Program Seminar
1 credits
Biotechnology Training Program trainees will present their research for critical review by audience.
BIOCHEM/CHEM 704: Chemical Biology
3 credits
Chemistry and biology of proteins, nucleic acids and carbohydrates; application of organic chemistry to problems in cell biology, biotechnology, and biomedicine.
BIOCHEM/CHEM 872: Selected Topics in Macromolecular and Biophysical Chemistry
1–3 credits
Various selected topics in contemporary macromolecular or biophysical chemistry.
BIOCHEM/CHEM 918: Single Molecule Approaches to Biology
1 credits
A combination of recent literature and original research presentations relating to the use of single molecule techniques in biochemistry including fluorescence microscopy, tethered particle motion, patch-clamping, cryo-electron microscopy, optical trapping, magnetic tweezers, and super resolution microscopy.
BIOCHEM/CHEM 945: Seminar-chemical Biology (advanced)
1 credits
Presentations and discussions of recently published research in chemical biology and related areas.
BIOCHEM/GENETICS 631: Plant Genetics and Development
3 credits
Covers the basic concepts of genetics and genomics as applied to plants and their development, including discussions on breeding systems (modes of reproduction, sex determination, self incompatibility and crossing barriers), linkage analysis, genome structure and function (structure, function and evolution of nuclear and organellar chromosomes; haploidy and polyploidy; expression regulation and epigenetics), along with a description of current methodologies used in the analysis of these processes within the context of plant development. The objective is to instigate a broader knowledge and understanding of the principles and methodologies used in plant genetics and their applications in investigations of the molecular mechanisms that modulate plant development.
BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MDGENET 620: Eukaryotic Molecular Biology
Credits unavailable
Focuses on the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate DNA, RNA, and protein metabolism in eukaryotic organisms.
BIOCHEM/GENETICS/MICROBIO 612: Prokaryotic Molecular Biology
3 credits
Molecular basis of bacterial physiology and genetics with emphasis on molecular mechanisms; topics include nucleic acid-protein interactions, transcription, translation, replication, recombination, regulation of gene expression.
BIOCHEM/MICROBIO 917: Regulation of Gene Expression (advanced Seminar)
1 credits
Analysis of recent literature in topics related to prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene regulation, including regulation of transcription, translation, and genome organization.
BIOCHEM/MM&I 575: Biology of Viruses
Credits unavailable
Broad coverage of animal virology taught at molecular level. Topics include virus structure, viral replication/lifecycle, aspects of pathogenesis and prevention.
BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 510: Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism
3 credits
Lectures in nutrition with a substantial background in biochemistry. Emphasis on biochemical and physiological fundamentals of nutrition. Discussion of protein, fat, carbohydrate, energy, minerals and vitamins and their roles and interrelationships in nutrition and metabolism.
BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 560: Principles of Human Disease and Biotechnology
Credits unavailable
Covers basic and applied biochemical principles related to human disease. Topics such as: cancer, including cell cycle regulation, oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and cellular metabolism; metabolic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes; biotechnology, including metabolomics, CRISPR-based genetic screens, and experimental models of human disease.
BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 619: Advanced Nutrition: Intermediary Metabolism of Macronutrients
Credits unavailable
Principles underlying the control of metabolism as it applies to macronutrients. Discusses advanced aspects of metabolic control. Metabolism of protein and amino acids, fat, and carbohydrate. Discusses fuel sensing and metabolism in disease.
BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 645: Molecular Control of Metabolism and Metabolic Disease
3 credits
Examination of various physiological states and how they affect metabolic pathways. Discussion of a number of special topics related to the unique roles of various tissues and to metabolic pathways in disease states, including adipocyte biology, beta-cell biology, epigenetics, inflammation, and aging related diseases.
BIOCHEM/NUTRSCI 901: Seminar-nutrition and Metabolism (advanced)
1 credits
Presentation of original research results; discussion of recent articles in animal metabolism and nutrition.