Metabolism and Nutrition

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

48 contact hours with an estimated total time commitment of 170 hours

BSc students

Before 2009:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Part A (521-211)

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Part B (521-212)

2009 and subsequently

Note that the pre-2009 subjects “Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Part A / Part B” and “BCMB20002 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology” are not identical despite having a similar subject title. Only the subject

offered in 2009 and subsequently acts as a stand-alone prerequisite.

BBiomedicine students

Other combinations that provide similar background will be considered by the coordinator.

None

Students cannot enrol in and gain credit for BCMB30011 Metabolism and Nutrition if they obtained credit for the pre-2010 subject Biochemistry of Metabolism and Nutrition (521-305).

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

The interpretation of nutritional information relies on an understanding of how nutrients are metabolised and what can go wrong in disease states. The subject material covers control of the digestion and absorption of nutrients; the regulation of blood glucose concentration and the causes of diabetes; the generation of free-radicals and the importance of antioxidants in protecting proteins, lipids and DNA from oxidative damage; the regulation of muscle protein metabolism in response to starvation, physical trauma and various diseases; the metabolism of blood lipids and how they contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease; metabolic contributions to obesity, cardiovascular disease, aging and related nutritional problems; carrier proteins for nutrients and receptors on the cell surface involved in the regulation of nutrition and metabolism.

• To give students a sound understanding at the molecular level of how humans handle nutrients via metabolism and what can go wrong in disease states
• To indicate the similarities between humans and other living organisms
• To demonstrate how the emerging field of metabolomics (the study of a range of metabolites in a cell or tissue) is being applied as a diagnostic tool

• 1000-word essay assignment (15%)
• Two tests held during mid-semester (7.5% each)
• One 3-hour written exam held during the examination period (70%)

No prescribed text

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students will be provided with the opportunity to develop skills in critical thinking, particularly through researching a relevant topic and preparing a 1000-word essay assignment. They will learn to apply theoretical principles to the explanation of observations and acquire skills in time management.