Biological chemistry

Description

Drawing a clear boundary between chemistry and biology is nearly impossible today given explosive growth of technologies for synthesizing large organic molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and complex carbohydrates. In the future, scientists investigating the foundation and processes of life will increasingly have to master chemical methods, including organic synthesis, NMR, and chromatography, and biological techniques such as growing bacteria, gene cloning, monoclonal antibody technology, and enzymology, to create molecules needed to test their biochemical hypotheses.

A specialization in Biological Chemistry offers a biologically oriented alternative to studies in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB). Its chief aims are to understand the chemical reactivity of biological molecules in living organisms and to learn to recognize and solve current problems in bio-molecular design, engineering, and analysis.

Students will acquire experimental skills toward synthesis, purification, and characterization of molecules ranging in nature and size from the very small (medicines and enzyme inhibitors) to extremely large (genes and proteins).

Study advisor

Prof. Dr. Donald Hilvert
Laboratory of Organic Chemistry
HCI F 339
Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10
8093 Zürich

Tel: +41 44 632 31 76
Fax: +41 44 632 14 86
E-Mail: donald.hilvert@org.chem.ethz.ch

Major overview

Description of the Major, complete list of courses, contact information of study advisor  (PDF, 1 page)

Mandatory concept courses for this major

Autumn semester

529-0731-00L Nukleinsäuren und Kohlenhydrate

Spring semester

529-0732-00L Proteins and Lipids

Learning agreement

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