CH3613 Carbohydrate and Nucleic Acid Chemistry

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

10

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr E R Kay

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr G J Florence, Dr E R Kay

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The aim of the module is to cover aspects of the chemistry of nucleic acids. It will begin with an introduction to carbohydrate chemistry including discussion of biological processes, the synthesis of carbohydrates and carbohydrate-based pharmaceuticals. The structure and chemical synthesis of nucleic acids will then be discussed. The chemical reactivity of DNA and the ways in which it is chemically damaged will be examined. The chemical reactions of DNA will be related to mechanisms of carcinogenesis. The ways in which a range of drugs interact with DNA will be discussed in detail.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS CH2601 OR PASS CH2603 ) AND PASS AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {CH2501, CH2701}

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 - 3 lectures per week over (Weeks 1 - 11) and 2 - 3 tutorials in total.

Scheduled learning hours

17

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

83

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand and rationalise carbohydrate structures in terms of conformational and stereo electronic effects.
  • Understand and apply techniques employed in the chemical synthesis of carbohydrates
  • Understand how biological systems produce complex carbohydrates
  • Understand structure and function of nucleic acids
  • Understand how nucleic acids encode the genetic information
  • Understand and apply methods for the synthesis of nucleic acids