BIOL 5250 Topics in Nutrition and Metabolism

This course satisfies the advanced experience requirement of the Biology major. In this course, students will use the primary literature to explore topics in nutrition and metabolism. The principal aim of this course is to explore the biochemical, physiological and pathophysiological relationship between nutrition and human metabolism. The biochemistry of the macro- (carbohydrates, fats, proteins) and micro- (vitamins and minerals) nutrients, consumed in the human diet, as well as the products of their digestive breakdown, will be discussed. The course will explore the molecular, biochemical and physiological mechanisms that regulate metabolism, including nutrient transport, signal transduction, energy transformation and storage in cells and tissues. The components of a healthy diet and the mechanisms by which poor diet contributes to chronic disease such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancers will be discussed using primary literature.