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Students are required to complete 24 units including a M.Sc. project (BBMS6220) for graduation. |
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| Courses offered in 1st term: |
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Course
code
|
Course
Title
|
Units
|
Minimum
Grade
|
| BBMS5100 |
Perspectives
in Biochemical Sciences |
3
|
D
|
This course presents the latest developments and advancements in biochemical sciences as well as the current topics in the society. It aims to alert students the trends and recent breakthrough in biochemistry in medical research. Issues such as stem cell research and infectious diseases shall be examined in this course.
|
| |
| BBMS5120 |
Biochemical
Genetics and Forensic Sciences |
3
|
D
|
The first part of the lecture covered in this course includes principles of genetics at the molecular level, biochemical nature of hereditary materials, genetic codes, regulatory mechanisms, molecular basis of mutation, and DNA replication and recombination. The second part of the lecture covers collection and processing of biological samples from crime scenes, DNA analysis using RFLP and PCR-STR typing methods, interpretation of DNA typing results, and court presentation of such biological evidence. Mitochondrial DNA typing and Y chromosome DNA typing will also be discussed. |
|
|
| BBMS6120 |
Clinical
Biochemistry and Diseases |
3 |
D |
This course provides students with an introduction to the normal pathways of carbohydrate, lipid, nucleotide and amino acid metabolism. The course will outline the biochemical mechanisms for controlling these pathways under different physiological and nutritional conditions and discuss the importance of diseases arising from defects in these pathways. Particular emphasis will be placed on the biochemical mechanisms concerning the etiology, symptoms and treatment of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis and other lipid disorders, inborn errors of carbohydrates and amino acid metabolism. Also, how biochemical test results are utilized for the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases are described.
|
| |
| BBMS6200 |
Methods
in Biochemistry |
3 |
D |
| Only for full-time year 1 students or part-time year 2 or above students. |
This course will allow students to gain theoretical and practical, hands-on knowledge of various advanced research methodologies and their applications in biochemical research and pre-clinical services. Methods include:
•Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis
•Enzymatic assay
•DNA electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting
•PCR and polymorphism analysis
•Human cell culture and cytotoxicity assay
•ELISA and flow cytometry
•Bacterial transformation and test for food contamination
•Statistical analysis of toxic chemicals in environment
•Statistical analysis of toxic chemicals in environment
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| |
| Courses offered in 2nd term: |
| BBMS5200 |
Technology in Molecular Biology |
3
|
D
|
This course is designed to acquaint students with the field of biochemical technology. The course covers the basic recombinant DNA technology, contemporary applications of biochemical technology in DNA sequencing and genome mapping, RNA biology and technology, drug discovery and development. Contemporary application of computing skills in data mining for biotechnological studies will also be discussed. Specifically, it includes the use of computational softwares and databases for DNA and protein sequence analysis. In addition, the recent advances in forensic DNA analysis, transgenic technology, and authentication of Chinese medicinal materials will also be discussed.
|
|
| BBMS5220 |
Biochemical and Biomedical
Technology |
3
|
D
|
This course is an extension of the other course “BBMS5200 Biochemical Technology I”. It begins with an introduction to the basic principles of protein analyses. Modern approaches to identify and characterize cellular proteins will be introduced. Based on these technologies, bioengineering of proteins (e.g. enzymes and antibodies) which are of medical and industrial importance will be illustrated. The application of x-ray crystallography in protein structural studies will also be introduced. The course also covers the contemporary applications of biochemical technology in mammalian cell culture technology, stem cell biology and reproductive biotechnology.
|
|
|
| BBMS6100 |
Biochemistry
and Public Health |
3
|
D
|
This course is concerned with the biochemical impacts in environment and food as they relate to public health. Topics on allergic and infectious diseases will be discussed in this course. Attention is also given to different approaches to pest control, water management, sewage management and treatment, and pollution from hazardous biochemicals and chemicals. Food additives, biochemical, chemical and microbial contaminants, and naturally occurring toxins associated with foods will also be discussed.
|
|
|
| BBMS6220 |
MSc
project |
3
|
D
|
Students will be required to do a project or a literature survey and/or a mini research on a current topic in biochemistry or biomedical sciences under the supervision of a teaching staff of School of Life Sciences.
Assessments:
Poster presentation: 30%
Progress Report: 10%
M.Sc. Thesis: 60% |
|
|
| BBMS6300 |
Management and Accreditation of Biochemical Laboratory |
3 |
D |
The aims of this course are to introduce basic concepts and adequate skills of laboratory management, safety and quality assurance in biochemical laboratories. Special topics such as biochemical testing and manufacturing process, good laboratory practice, laboratory accreditation, genetic testing and experimental protocols and method validation etc, will be discussed.
A
total of 24 units are required
for graduation. |
|
|
Teaching
staff:
Full
and part-time teaching staff from School of Life Sciences as well as other similarly
qualified/experienced individuals.
|
|
Language
of Instruction
All
classes will be conducted in English.
|
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Tuition
Fees:
HK$120,000 for the whole programme(including 8 courses); HK$15,000 for each additional course.
|
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Proposed
Intake
40
students each year.
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Assessment
and Graduation:
The
assessment varies from course to course
but will require in-depth reflection on
the topics covered in the programme. The
courses are normally assessed by an assigned
piece of coursework and written examination.
Performance of students will be assessed
according to the grading scheme used for
postgraduate courses at CUHK. If a student
fails to meet the graduation requirement,
he/she will be required to re-take the
course and pay fees of the re-take course
in the next academic period.
All
students are required to meet all the
programme requirements, pass all the assessment
and obtain a cumulative overall GPA of
at least 2.0 in order to graduate.
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