Cluster 8
The Chemistry of Life

• Instructors: Toby Allen, Dean Tantillo & Annaliese Franz
• Prerequesites: Algebra II and at least one year of a laboratory science class
• Typical Field Trips: Genentech, UCSF, Davis Recycling Center, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, UCD's Keck Caves, Novozymes

Core Course (4 Weeks)

From Bonding to Binding: A Molecular-level Understanding of Materials, Biofuels, Biomolecules and Drugs

In this cluster we will introduce the origins of bonding and the interactions between molecules that give rise to particular physical properties of liquids, solids, surfaces, common materials, biomolecules and pharmaceutical agents. An introduction to physical, organic, biological and inorganic chemistry will be applied to describe everyday phenomena that will then be illustrated with computer modeling and laboratory experiments.

Supplementary Courses (2 Weeks Each)

What Is It Made Of and Why Is It Made That Way?

Have you ever wondered what the materials that you find all around you are made of? Metals, sure, we all know what they are, but what about that cell phone cover, your TV case, your backpack or that soda bottle? And what properties make a material bullet-proof or an effective sunscreen or an effective biofuel? We will introduce the structures and compositions of materials and why they are so useful for making all of the objects that we find in our homes and offices. We will emphasize how intermolecular interactions translate into a material’s properties.

An Atomic-Level View of the Proteins that Make Us Tick

We will cover the fundamental principles of molecular interactions that will enable us understand the physical properties of chemical and biological systems. Computational modeling will be used to offer an atomic-level view for a range of important proteins in the body, including ion channel proteins that are responsible for electrical and chemical activity in the body.

How Do Drugs Cure and Kill?

We will illustrate the principles for designing specific drug-protein interactions that allow pharmaceutical chemists to create effective and side effect free drugs. An introduction to the organic chemistry of biologically relevant molecules, including drugs such as aspirin, will allow us to understand their mechanisms of action. An emphasis will be placed on the importance of the three-dimensional shape of molecules and how this property influences biological activity and the ability to cure diseases. Labs will involve the application of computer modeling techniques to the design of new medicinal drugs.

Modified 2009-01-29T20:00:00Z