DDS7103: Biochemistry & Cell Biology for Dental Students
4 Credits
This course covers four main classes of biomolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) and how they interact at the cellular and organismal levels. Dental students will learn about the building blocks that comprise these biomolecules and how they are produced and degraded as part of normal cellular growth processes. These basic biochemical concepts will then be transferred to cellular processes including enzyme kinetics, roles of salivary enzymes in health and disease, metabolic pathways, and regulation of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression and the blood-clotting cascade. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to explain the role of these biomolecules in health and disease, with an emphasis on oral health, as well as being capable of diagnosing diseases based on biochemical characterization of patient samples.