Biochemistry

Major and Minor

The field of biochemistry is one of the most vital and dynamic of the sciences. Understanding biological processes at the molecular level allows for greater insights into life itself, as well as cutting-edge disease therapies and prevention. Knox’s biochemistry major is a well-rounded program that covers biochemistry and cell and molecular biology. It’s the major of choice for a wide variety of careers, especially if you are interested in biomedical research and health care.

The Program
The biochemistry major consists of a core sequence of courses in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. Students also take an elective from one of those three areas or may choose to take coursework in immunology, molecular medicine, pharmacology, developmental biology or physiology. The major culminates in the senior capstone experience, requiring a research project or in-depth library project.

Each segment of the curriculum is developed broadly, while progressively teaching you the skills needed for in-depth work. Finally, in senior-level research, you develop a project proposal that connects to a faculty member’s current research efforts, assemble the appropriate materials, conduct the research, and produce a final report.

Resources
The biochemistry program is located in the Sharvy Umbeck Science-Mathematics Center. Scientific equipment is housed in several special research centers, as well as in individual faculty members’ laboratories. Facilities include:

• Center for Microscopy- fluorescent microscopes with digital image capture, transmission and scanning electron microscopes, video/Normarski microscope, darkroom and accessories
• Center for Tissue Culture-laminar flow workbenches, dual-chamber incubator
• Nuclear and electronic spin resonance spectrometers (NMR/ESR)
• Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GCMS) and X-ray spectrometer
• Waters high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC)
• FPLC protein purification system
• Molecular Biology Center instrumentation for cloning, polymerase chain reaction, and Northern and Western blotting
• Image Analysis Center-Bio-Rad Fluor-S MultiImager, Packard Cyclone Storage Phosphor System, Packard InstantImager
• Center for Spectroscopy- circular dichroism, laser, polarimetric and stopped-flow CD

The Kresge Science-Mathematics Library provides easy access to 30,000 books and scientific journals, including more than 70 journals in biology and chemistry alone, that supplement the College’s main collection of more than 281,000 volumes in Seymour Library.