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Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Head of Department
CG Whiteley, PhD(Natal), MRSC, CChem
Professor of Biotechnology
PD Rose, BSc (Hons)(Cape Town), PhD(Rhodes)
Professor of Biochemistry and Dean of Research
JR Duncan, PhD(Natal), FRSSAf
Professor of Microbiology
R Kirby, Pr. Nat. Sci., MA(Cantab), PhD(East Anglia)
Associate Professor & Head of Biochemistry
GL Blatch, BSc(Hons)(Natal), PhD(Cape Town)
Associate Professor of Microbiology
DA Hendry, MSc(Stell), PhD(CapeTown)
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology & Head of Microbiology
RA Dorrington, BSc(Stell), PhD(Cape Town)
Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology
W Leukes, PhD(Rhodes)
Lecturer in Biochemistry
B Pletschke, PhD (UPE)
Lecturer in Environmental Biotechnology
K Whittington-Jones, PhD(Rhodes)
Honorary Fellows
R van der Merwe, BSc(Rhodes), BSc(Hons) (UNISA), PhD(Rhodes)
OO Hart, MSc(Potchefstroom), DSc(Pretoria)
The Department offers courses in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology.
See the Departmental Web Page http://www.ru.ac.za/academic/departments/biochem/ for further details, particularly on the contents of courses.
Biochemistry (BCH) is a four-semester subject which may be taken as a major subject for the degrees of BSc, BCom and BJourn.
To major in Biochemistry, a candidate is required to obtain credit in the following courses: CHE 1; BCH 2; BCH 3: See Rule S.23.
Students who aim to major in Biochemistry and progress to postgraduate studies in computational biology, genomics, protein structure and function and biotechnology are encouraged to register for advanced courses in one or more of Microbiology, Computer Science, Chemistry and Mathematics.
There are two second-year courses in Biochemistry. BCH 201 is held in the first semester and BCH 202 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course BCH 2, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum (40%) in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Practical reports, essays and class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark.
Credit in Chemistry (CHE 1) is required before a student may register for BCH 201 or BCH 202. Adequate performance in BCH 201 is required before a student may register for BCH 202.
BCH 201
(One theory paper and a practical examination in June).
Introduction to biochemistry, introduction to biochemical
techniques, biochemical building blocks, amino acids & proteins,
enzymology, carbohydrates, lipids, membranes.
BCH 202
(One theory paper and a practical examination in November).
Molecular biology, metabolism, bioenergetics & thermodynamics,
vitamins and coenzymes, plant biochemistry, biological chemistry.
There are two third-year courses in Biochemistry. BCH 301 is held in the first semester and BCH 302 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course BCH 3, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum (40%) in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Practical reports, essays and class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark.
Credit in Biochemistry (BCH 2) is required before a student may register for BCH 301 or BCH 302. Adequate performance in BCH 301 is required before a student may register for BCH 302.
BCH 301
(Two theory papers and a practical examination in June).
Advanced techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology,
biosynthesis of biomolecules, metabolic disorders.
BCH 302
(Two theory papers and a practical examination in November).
Physiological biochemistry, biochemistry of nutrition, enzymology
and molecular modelling, enzyme mechanisms, biotransformations.
The course consists of course-work modules and lectures on selected advanced topics such as drug metabolism, drug discovery, antibiotics, biomedical biochemistry, receptors, hormones, structure & function of biomacromolecules, protein folding, protein engineering, advanced enzymology, applied enzymology & immobilized enzymes, food chemistry & brewing; a seminar including a literature review on a general biochemical topic, essays and a research project.
To major in Microbiology, a candidate is required to obtain credit in the following courses: CHE 1; ZOO 1 or BOT 1 or BIO 1; MIC 2; MIC 3. See Rule S.23.
Students who aim to major in Microbiology and progress to postgraduate studies in computational biology, genomics, cell biology and biotechnology are encouraged to register for advanced courses in one or more of Biochemistry, Computer Science, Chemistry, Mathematics and Environmental Science.
There are two second-year courses in Microbiology. MIC 201 is normally held in the first semester and MIC 202 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course MIC 2, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum (40%) in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Practical reports, essays and class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark.
Credit in Chemistry (CHE 1) and in either Botany (BOT 1) or Zoology (ZOO 1) or Biology (BIO 1) is required before a student may register for MIC 201 or MIC 202. Adequate performance in the first semester is required before a student may register for the second semester. Permission may be granted to repeat CHE 1 concurrently with MIC 201 and MIC 202.
The courses are comprised of the following modules, not necessarily in the given position, each module lasting about three weeks.
MIC 201
(One paper and a practical examination in June).
Introductory Microbiology (classification, growth, assay and control of
microorganisms). Organization and replication of microbes (microbial
structure; cellular organization and modes of replication of yeast, bacteria
and viruses). Microbial interactions (microorganisms of soil and water; their
interrelationships, activity and impact; nutrient cycling). Immunology (nature
of the immune response; structure of antigens and immunoglobulins; cellular
immunology; serology.
MIC 202
(One paper and a practical examination in November).
Introductory molecular biology (the structure of nucleic acids and proteins;
the flow of genetic information). Metabolism (energy generation; biosynthetic
pathways; enzyme regulation). Basic bacterial genetics (bacterial conjugation,
transformation and transduction; plasmids; bacteriophages). Procaryote gene
regulation (plasmid replication and host range; transposable elements;
regulation of gene expression). Food and medical microbiology (the role of
foodstuffs in the transmission of pathogenic microbes).
There are two third-year courses in Microbiology. MIC 301 is normally held in the first semester and MIC 302 in the second semester. Credit may be obtained in each course separately and, in addition, an aggregate mark of at least 50% will be deemed to be equivalent to a two-credit course MIC 3, provided that a candidate obtains the required subminimum (40%) in each component. No supplementary examinations will be offered for either course. Practical reports, essays and class tests collectively comprise the class mark, which forms part of the final mark.
Credit in Microbiology (MIC 2) is required before a student may register for MIC 301 or MIC 302. Adequate performance in the first semester is required before a student may register for the second semester.
The courses are comprised of the following modules, not necessarily in the given position, each module lasting about three weeks:
MIC 301
(Two papers and a practical examination in June).
Eucaryote cell biology (cell ultrastructure; protein sorting and trafficking;
meiosis and mitosis; regulation of the cell cycle). Virology (families of
plant and animal viruses; molecular biology of representative DNA and RNA
viruses; stages and strategies of viral replication; vaccines). Eucaryote gene
regulation (chromosome structure; RNA editing; transcriptional and
translational regulation of gene expression; gene evolution).
MIC 302
(Two papers, a comprehension and a practical examination in November).
Process Biotechnology (medium formulation; microbial growth kinetics; batch
and continuous culture; downstream processing; beer brewing). Gene
manipulation (gene identification and isolation; cloning strategies;
expression of recombinant genes). Industrial microbiology (fermentation;
primary and secondary metabolism; antibiotic production; amino acid
production). Molecular Biotechnology (implications and applications of
recombinant DNA research). A practical project during the third term counts
towards the final mark.
The course consists of essays, tutorials and seminars on advanced aspects of Microbiology including virology, serology, molecular biology, microbial biochemistry and microbial genetics. Each candidate is required to submit two copies (one to be returned) of a report on practical work done on a specific project during the course, and these together with all seminars, essays and practical reports will be considered part of the final examination.
Biotechnology is offered at the postgraduate level.
Candidates must normally have either Microbiology or Biochemistry as major BSc subjects, but candidates with other majors will be considered. The course consists of lectures, seminars and essays covering a series of topics in Biotechnology such as fermentation technology, genetic manipulation, applied immunology, enzyme engineering, food technology, process technology, and selection and control of industrial microorganisms.
Practical work will consist of an 18 week course concentrating on small projects offering exposure to methods and techniques essential to the subject. This will be followed by an 18 week project of original investigation. All seminars, essays and practical reports will be considered part of the final examination.
Environmental Biotechnology involves the use of biological systems, mainly microorganisms and their derivatives and processes, in both environmental protection and restoration. It is a knowledge-intensive, research-driven field which addresses a broad spectrum of Environmental Sector needs in the major areas of water, air, soil and waste disposal. The MSc course emphasises a Bioprocess approach within the context of Environmental Management.
The course is open to candidates holding the BSc(Hons) degree, or its equivalent. In exceptional cases only, applications may be considered from candidates who hold a BSc degree and have at least 5 years relevant experience.
The course covers theoretical and practical aspects of Environmental Biotechnology. Instruction is through the medium of lectures, seminars, directed reading, assignments and practical work led by staff of the Department, and supported by input from experts drawn from industry and other universities.
Requirements for award of the degree include completion of any six of the following modules offered, and presentation of a research project, based on original work on a topic selected in consultation with the Department. The research project may be undertaken off campus under approved supervision.
Candidates may complete all requirements for the degree in one year of full-time study, or enrol on a part-time basis over a longer period not exceeding three years. Assessment of candidates is based on written and oral presentations covering all aspects of the course.
This is a new course work Masters programme planned for 2003.
Bioinformatics and computational molecular biology is the systematic development and application of information technologies and data mining techniques for analysing biological data obtained by experiments, modelling, database searching and instrumentation to make novel observations and predictions about biological function. This course will be taught in an interdisciplinary manner and focussing on the interface between the computational sciences and the biological, physical and chemical sciences. Graduates who complete this course will be skilled in the assimilation of biological information through the use and development of computational tools for a range of applications including simple pattern recognition, molecular modelling for the prediction of structure and function, gene discovery and drug target discovery, the analysis of phylogenetic relationships, whole genome analysis and the comparison of genetic organization.
The course is open to candidates who hold a BSc Honours degree with subjects from the life sciences (especially biochemistry and microbiology) and physical and chemical sciences (especially chemistry), and who have basic computer literacy.
The Masters programme will be offered over 12 to 18 months with course work modules and a research project running concurrently throughout the programme. The course work modules will involve an integration of formal lectures, self-learning computer-based tutorials and practicals. In addition, problem solving tutorials will be designed to guide the student through current information-based problems and involve the assimilation and reduction of biological information. A number of the tutorials and practical components will be assessed and contribute towards a course work year mark. The examination of the course work component will be through oral and open-book theory examinations. The course work component will be externally examined.
The research projects will involve a significant computer based component, but will be supported by data obtained from independently conducted experimental laboratory work. The extent of experimental laboratory work will need to be flexibly applied and may require that certain practical components are built into the course work modules. The projects will be assessed by seminar presentations of the proposed and final work, and as a written project research report. Each project report will be examined by an external examiner.
Course work modules:
The storage, transmission and expression of genetic information; Molecular population genetics; Whole genome analysis; Gene discovery and the identification of drug targets; Genome profiling and fingerprinting; Forensic Science.
Signal transduction pathways and networks; Metabolic pathways and networks; Engineering of metabolic and signal transduction pathways.
Computational chemistry: Small molecule structure and function Computational chemistry: Novel ligands and drug discovery; Biophysical chemistry and the structure & function of biomolecules; Protein engineering and protein biotechnology.
Computer programming, especially Java and C/C++ programming; The design and use of computational molecular biology benchtop tools; Biological database construction and management; Mathematical and statistical tools for biology.
Suitably qualified students are encouraged to proceed to the research degrees of MSc and PhD under the direction of the staff of the Department. Requirements for the MSc and PhD degrees are given in the General Rules.
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