Biological Chemistry

Member of the Division of Science

Chair(s):

Faculty:

Ben DeRidder (Biology)
Leslie Gregg-Jolly (Biology)
Heriberto Hernandez-Soto (Chemistry)
Mark Levandoski (Chemistry)
Clark Lindgren (Biology)
Elaine Marzluff (Chemistry)
T. Andrew Mobley (Chemistry)
Vida Praitis (Biology)
Joshua Sandquist (Biology)
Lee Sharpe (Chemistry)
Stephen Sieck (Chemistry)
James Swartz (Chemistry)
Elizabeth Trimmer (Chemistry)

Biological chemistry studies the chemical basis of biological processes. As such, it is an interdisciplinary combination of biology and chemistry requiring a distinct subset of material from both fields. The core courses of the major introduce students to methods of inquiry into biological chemistry and consider the structure and function of nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, and how these molecules mediate chemical processes in the cell. These core courses are designed jointly by members of the biology and chemistry departments to emphasize the interrelationships of the topics being presented. Elective courses enable students to consider specific topics within the broad range of biological chemistry in greater depth.

All of the instrumentation in both the biology and chemistry departments is available for the courses and research projects of biological chemistry majors. Majors are encouraged to participate in research projects with faculty in biology or chemistry.

Major Requirements: A minimum of 32 credits

Core requirements (28 credits):

BIO 150 - Introduction to Biological Inquiry 4 credits
CHM 129 - General Chemistry 4 credits
or
CHM 210 - Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry 4 credits
BIO 251 - Molecules, Cells, and Organisms 4 credits
CHM 221 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
and
CHM 222 - Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
BCM 262 - Introduction to Biological Chemistry 4 credits
CHM 363 - Physical Chemistry I 4 credits

Advanced electives from this list (4 credits):

BIO 334 - Plant Physiology 4 credits *
BIO 345 - Advanced Genetics 4 credits *
BIO 346 - Environmental Microbiology 4 credits *
BIO 365 - Microbiology 4 credits *
BIO 370 - Advanced Cell Biology 4 credits *
BIO 380 - Molecular Biology 4 credits
CHM 330 - Bioorganic Chemistry 4 credits *
CHM 332 - Biophysical Chemistry 4 credits *
CHM 358 - Instrumental Analysis 4 credits

Also required:

Note:

*Not offered every year.

Honors

To be considered for honors in biological chemistry, graduating seniors, in addition to meeting the College’s general requirements for honors, must complete an independent research project, present the work in a public format at Grinnell, and demonstrate, by committee consensus, excellence in the work. Achieving honors also requires that you contribute substantially to the program in other ways, for example, by regularly attending seminars, being a teaching assistant or mentor, serving on the SEPC, or participating in outreach activities. The faculty believes that honors signify both academic excellence and an unusually high commitment and dedication to the discipline. Graduating with honors in biological chemistry should not be regarded solely as the culmination of previous accomplishments, but rather an expectation of future accomplishments in the discipline in the years ahead.