What the heck is Biophysical Chemistry ? What topics are covered ?

[MikePlayingDoc]

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Our biochem dept web site does not offer a decent description of Biophysical Chemistry. Our university catalog doesnt tell me much about the class either.

So what the heck is Biophysical Chemistry ? Anyone take it ? Know what topics are covered ?

 

[Medikit]

Our biochem dept web site does not offer a decent description of Biophysical Chemistry. Our university catalog doesnt tell me much about the class either.

So what the heck is Biophysical Chemistry ? Anyone take it ? Know what topics are covered ?

From what I understand it's physical chemistry centered around biomolecules. Couldn't you guess that from the name?

Here are descriptions from UCB's site:

C130. Biophysical Chemistry: Physical Principles and the Molecules of Life. (4) Course 120B will restrict credit if completed prior to C130 or Molecular and Cell Biology C100A. Three hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Prerequisites: 3A or 112A, Mathematics 1A, Biology 1A; 3B or 112B recommended.Thermodynamic and kinetic concepts applied to understanding the chemistry and structure of biomolecules (proteins, DNA, and RNA). Molecular distributions, reaction kinetics, enzyme kinetics. Bioenergetics, energy transduction, and motor proteins. Electrochemical potential, membranes, and ion channels. Also listed as Molecular and Cell Biology C100A. (F,SP)

130B. Biophysical Chemistry. (3) Courses 120A and 120B will restrict credit if completed prior to 130B. Two hours of lecture and one hour of discussion per week. Prerequisites: 130A or consent of instructor. The weekly one-hour discussion is for problem solving and the application of calculus in physical chemistry. Molecular structure, intermolecular forces and interactions, biomolecular spectroscopy, high-resolution structure determinations. (SP)


http://sis450.berkeley.edu:4500/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Chemistry&p_dept_cd=CHEM

 

[MikePlayingDoc]

From what I understand it's physical chemistry centered around biomolecules.

Of course it is - that is the title of the class. What topics are actually covered ?

 

[Medikit]

Of course it is - that is the title of the class. What topics are actually covered ?

Ping pong balls

 

[nlyoung]

I took Biophysical last fall semester and, at my university, it covered the exact same topics as Physical Chemistry but with a Biochemistry slant. Some of the really difficult derivations didn't have to be memorized.

 

[zero2hero]

Took Biophysical Chem last fall. From what I recall there was alot of probability involved, enzyme kinetics, steady state, thermo, quantum and other things I can't remember at this point. As the course name suggests we covered alot of material on enzymes, transition states and membranes equilibria. It's not as hard as it sounds though.