Cluster 8
The Chemistry of Life
- Instructors: Toby Allen, Annaliese Franz & Mark Mascal
- Prerequisites: Algebra II and at least one year of a laboratory science class
- Typical Field Trips: Genentech, UCSF, Tahoe Environmental Research Center, UCD 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 surfaces, common materials, biomolecules, and pharmaceutical agents. Using the topics below, 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)
Organic Molecules: Nature's Building Blocks and Drug Design
Organic molecules – proteins, carbohydrates, fats, etc – are the basic construction materials for all life forms. Organic chemists spend their careers making, breaking, analyzing, and thinking about them. We will introduce how chemists interact with nature's building blocks in the lab, with molecular models, and on paper, to show how chemistry is applied to solve real-world problems in the fields of pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials science. An emphasis will be placed the importance of the three-dimensional shape of molecules and how this property influences biological activity and the ability to treat diseases. We will specifically discuss the organic chemistry of pharmaceutical molecules and specific drug-protein interactions that help us understand their mechanisms of action. Typical labs will involve chemical synthesis, studying molecular properties, and the application of computer modeling techniques to the design of new medicinal compounds.
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 your backpack or that soda bottle? And what properties make a material bullet-proof or an effective sunscreen or a renewable fuel? We will introduce the structures and compositions of materials and polymers. We will emphasize how intermolecular interactions translate into a material's commercial and biological properties. Labs will involve chemical synthesis to make and study different types of polymers, including bioplastics.
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, nanoscopic and biological systems. Computational modeling will be used to offer an atomic-level view for a range of important proteins, including ion channels that are responsible for electrical and chemical activity in the body. Labs will involve building and simulating the movements of molecules and proteins on a desktop computer and in a 3D visualization facility. We will identify and measure the interactions that hold proteins together and enable them to carry out their specific biological functions.
Modified 2010-01-15T20:00:00Z