General Instructions

In this learning activity, you will reflect on the health applications of biochemistry. To successfully achieve this, you will need to review all the study materials for Modules 1-4 on the building blocks of biochemistry, enzymes, non-enzymatic proteins, and carbohydrates.

Step 1: Select and Reflect

Select one of the introductory biochemistry topics below and reflect on how they are applied in practical/clinical settings to diagnose, treat, or understand pathological and healthy human states.

• Building blocks of biochemistry (amino acids, peptides, protein structure, and denaturation)
• Enzymes (classification, role of enzymes as biological catalysts, and enzyme kinetics)
• Non-enzymatic proteins (cellular functions, biosignaling, and protein analysis techniques)
• Carbohydrates (classification)

 Step 2: Respond

 Using supporting data to back your arguments, prepare a 400-500 word written piece which discusses any one of the following: 

• At least five industrial uses of amino acids, two of which must be of pharmaceutical and nutritional value
• Five specific enzyme-catalyzed reactions in the human body, two of which must be digestive and disease-related value
• The application of protein analyses techniques in medicine
• The role of carbohydrates in energy production and the mechanism of carbohydrate-induced disease states, for example, Obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Step 3: Share 

To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work into the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B.: references are excluded from word counts).

Step 4: Interact 

To complete the activity, you will need to reply to at least two posts made by your peers in a respectful and professional manner. Be sure your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas on other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to the forum.”

OPTIONAL Step 5: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”