Course Texts:

• Biochemistry, 5th Ed., Campbell and Farrell, 2006
• Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity, 6th Ed, Kotz, Treichel, and Weaver, 2006

• Strengthen thinking skills, improve study habits, and demonstrate ability to learn fundamental principles from large amounts of scientific information.
• Develop a understanding of relevant chemistry in molecular medicine and neuroscience.
• Learn fundamental chemical science principles necessary to understand the scientific basis for molecular medicine

The thematic approach being used in the course is organized in the following manner:

• The early part of the semester focuses on fundamental General Chemistry principles that are essential for understanding the scientific basis of how modern medicines work.  Topics have been included on a "need to know" basis.  Several fundamental chemistry topics are introduced later in the course ("just in-time") directly before they are needed.

• The second part of the semester examines how medications developed to treat inflammation work at the molecular level.  Recent scientific discoveries have revealed the central role of inflammation in many human disease processes.  Understanding the molecular mechanisms of action for both Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID's) as well as for Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications provides an opportunity to better understand both fundamental chemistry principles and how medicines work within the human body.  This block also provides the opportunity for students to learn the scientific basis for these widely publicized and frequently discussed drugs.

• The final part of the semester provides an excellent molecular introduction to the rapidly emerging field of neuroscience, an exciting area of science that lies at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and psychology.  Due to recent advances in human understanding of how neurotransmitters function and due to the increasing utility of medicines that target neural receptors, this portion of the course examines fundamental chemical principles that underlie the molecular basis of action for nerve impulses as well as the specific molecules that affect these.

Class Preparation: This is both a very interesting and a very challenging course.  Once a principle is covered during a lesson, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of that concept throughout the remainder of the semester.  Lecture discussions will assume that students understand material from previous lessons. Graded problems throughout the course often cannot be answered without being able to successfully apply previously discussed principles.  It is very important for students to continuously review course material.  Athletes practice every day, often for years, to master specific skills.  Successful students (and faculty) have learned to continuously reexamine those topics and principles that are not completely clear to them.  Students are also encouraged to study in groups; teaching peers is perhaps the most effective way to learn chemistry.

Students are responsible for all assigned study material and for all material discussed in lecture.  A great deal of important information will be provided during lecture; take excellent notes!!   Lectures are not designed to reiterate assigned readings but to focus on conveying important information from various sources to understand the General Chemistry concepts that represent the molecular basis of modern medicine.  You are expected to spend whatever time it requires to develop and to demonstrate an understanding of these subjects and lecture materials.  You must complete each reading and problem assignments prior to class.  For each class I recommend that you do the following:

• Study previous lecture notes; consider rewriting them.
• Study and review course material topics relevant to previous class discussions.
• Read assigned lesson for upcoming lecture, take notes and identify questions
• Work assigned problems

• Quizzes will be periodically given and each be worth 30 points.
• Assigned problem sets will each be worth 15-30 points.
• Two to three tests will be given and weighted 100-150 points.
• Homework will be periodically collected; specific problems will be graded and weighted 30 points
• The cumulative final exam will be worth 300 points.

Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings for the full scheduled time. A student who is absent for any reason is responsible for obtaining the assignments from the instructor or a classmate. Roll will be taken occasionally and the attendance practices of students will be taken into account when final grades are assigned. Absence from a test or quiz without a written doctor's excuse or similar justification is inexcusable and the student will receive a zero for that grade as well as a deduction of the missed points from their other points earned in the course. For excused absences, missed exercises will not be included when calculating overall course grades.