It is useful for people who need to gain a basic understanding of organic chemistry prior to taking advanced courses such as biochemistry or molecular biology. The instructor presents the major groups of organic compounds with emphasis on functions and properties of particular relevance to biological systems. The nature of bonds in organic compounds, including their polarity, is stressed. You discuss the principles behind the design and synthesis of biological polymers such as carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. At the end of the course you are introduced to metabolism with an overview of the interconnecting pathways for the flow of carbon, nitrogen, and energy from food source to biological result.
Enrollment is limited.
Students should be familiar with basic concepts of chemistry, such as atoms, molecules, elements, compounds, moles, the periodic table, and the balancing of simple chemical equations. Students without this background should take Refresher Chemistry X11 or Hazardous Materials X12 prior to this course. He was previously a senior scientist at Cetus Corpo- ration, Emeryville. He has taught general, organic, and analytical chemistry at Skyline, Mission, and West Valley Colleges.