Modules and Program Outcomes

Biochemistry is the study of the molecules and mechanisms essential to life. In this module, students learn about the structures of genomes, genes, proteins, and other molecular components of the cell, the various levels at which gene expression and protein function are regulated, and how knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of disease can lead to treatments and cures.
See more information on the Western Calendar. 

This module offers coordinated, integrated training related to the multidisciplinary field of cancer biology, with emphasis on how knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of cancer progression is translated from the research lab to the cancer patient.
See more information on the Western Calendar. 

In these modules, students will gain a solid foundation in the principles governing the properties and interactions of chemical compounds, and will apply this foundation to the study of the molecular processes of life, including disease states and the treatment of disease.
See more information on the Western Calendar.

This module integrates the study of the related fields of genetics and biochemistry to give students an understanding of how differences in DNA sequences and modifications are passed from one generation to the next, and are manifested in the molecular processes of healthy and diseased organisms.
See more information on the Western Calendar. 

Synthetic Biology is an interdisciplinary field in which genetic and biochemical approaches are used to design and construct novel biological systems (from small circuits all the way to complete genomes) with user-defined characteristics for use in medical, industrial, and environmental applications.
See more information on the Western Calendar. 

See more information on the Western Calendar. 

Biochemistry is the study of the molecules and mechanisms essential to life. In this module, students learn about the structures of genomes, genes, proteins, and other molecular components of the cell, the various levels at which gene expression and protein function are regulated, and how knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of disease can lead to treatments and cures.
See more information on the Western Calendar. 

Biochemistry is the study of the molecules and mechanisms essential to life. In this module, students are introduced to the discipline.
See more information on the Western Calendar.

BSc graduates with an Honors Specialization in Biochemistry should be able to:

• describe the fundamental mechanisms of the core biochemical processes performed by living systems
• safely and competently perform common laboratory procedures in biochemistry, using common instrumentation, and apply guidance to overcome experimental challenges
• correlate and integrate biochemical concepts with ideas originating in other disciplines of study
• choose and use software as appropriate to access and analyze biochemical data
• document and present their work and ideas to scientific colleagues, in appropriate written and oral formats that can be either formal or informal, to enable meaningful professional discussions
• identify limitations in their own biochemical understanding, and the limits of knowledge in the field
• work at their professional activities with curiosity, energy, persistence, and determination
• relate and apply current discoveries and developments in biochemistry to societal attitudes or challenges related to health and biotechnology
• explain biochemical concepts, invoke biochemical evidence, and demonstrate the importance of biochemistry to society in language that can be understood by lay audiences
• formulate biochemical hypotheses, defend their plausibility, and evaluate potential experimental approaches or technologies to test them
• find, evaluate, and interpret, using statistical tests as appropriate, experimental data and information in large datasets and the scientific literature, and use this information to develop hypotheses or arguments, draw appropriate conclusions, and evaluate truth claims
• express and defend their opinions, and incorporate their ideas and perspectives with those of others, while working effectively as a member of a team
• explain the commonly accepted ethical framework for the responsible conduct of research, and act consistently with that framework 

BMSc graduates with an Honors Specialization in Biochemistry and Cancer Biology should be able to:

• describe the fundamental mechanisms of the core biochemical, cellular, genetic, and immunological processes performed by living systems, how these processes are perturbed in cancer cells, and how this knowledge can be used to develop new cancer treatments
• safely and competently perform common laboratory procedures relevant to cancer research, using common instrumentation, and apply guidance to overcome experimental challenges
• correlate and integrate concepts originating in a variety of disciplines of study (e.g., biochemistry, immunology, pathology, and pharmacology) , and apply these concepts to the problem of cancer
• choose and use software as appropriate to access and analyze data related to cancer biology, demonstrating computer literacy and numeracy skills
• document and present their work and ideas to scientific colleagues, in appropriate written and oral formats that can be either formal or informal, to enable meaningful professional discussions
• identify limitations in their own understanding of cancer biology, and the limits of knowledge in the field and contributing disciplines
• work at their professional activities with curiosity, energy, persistence, and determination
• identify, describe, and analyze career opportunities in the field of cancer biology
• partner with members of the community to understand how current discoveries and developments in cancer biology and cancer treatment affect cancer patients, their families, and the healthcare system
• explain complex information related to cancer and demonstrate the importance of cancer-related research to members of the public, including community partners, in language that can be understood by lay audiences
• formulate scientific hypotheses, defend their plausibility, and evaluate potential experimental approaches or technologies to test them
• find, evaluate, and interpret, using statistical tests as appropriate, experimental data and information in large datasets and the scientific literature, and use this information to develop hypotheses or arguments, draw appropriate conclusions, and evaluate truth claims
• respectfully incorporate their ideas and perspectives with those of others (including professionals and members of the community) as part of a team that develops a cancer-related implementation program
• explain the commonly accepted ethical framework for the responsible conduct of research, and act consistently with that framework

BSc graduates with an Honors Specialization in Biochemistry and Chemistry should be able to:

• describe the fundamental scientific principles in the subfields of chemistry and biochemistry, and apply these principles to problems.
• explain, integrate and apply relevant knowledge to problems that emerge from the broader interdisciplinary subfields (life, environmental, materials and medical sciences).
• identify and describe the underlying principles behind chemical techniques relevant to academia, industry and government.
• with guidance, be able to apply the methodologies in order to conduct chemical syntheses, analyses or other chemical investigations.
• obtain information from library, online and literature resources that will support the solving of chemical and research problems.
• use chemical knowledge to predict and rationalize properties, mechanisms and patterns of reactivity.
• develop a testable hypothesis, execute research experiments, compile raw data and provide conclusions.
• prepare logical, organized and concise written reports, and oral and poster presentations that effectively communicate chemical content to other scientists.
• field questions pertaining to chemical theory, research experimental design and data interpretation.
• recognize assumptions and limitations in the scientific models and simulations, and propose their possible impact on the results.
• evaluate the accuracy of, and the sources of errors in, experimental measurements.
• work productively and collaboratively as a team member.
• conduct laboratory experiments safely; evaluate the potential impact chemistry may have on society, health, and the environment.

BSc Graduates from an Honors Specialization in Genetics and Biochemistry should be able to:

• describe the breadth of biochemical and genetic mechanisms, as well as the depth of their integration from, for example, genes to enzymatic mechanism.
• identify and explain at a basic level fundamental concepts in genetics and biochemistry, including:
  o the basic structure and function of the cell, the basic unit of all living things;
  o the processes underlying development, cellular differentiation, and reproduction;
  o the relationship between form and function in biology, as expressed in cellular and whole organism physiology;
  o the principles of inheritance including molecular mechanisms, reproductive strategies, and population genetics;
  o the processes and patterns of biological evolution and the role of evolution as the central unifying concept in biology;
  o the mechanisms organisms use for the sensing and perception of the internal and external environments through communication and signalling systems;
  o the common structural and functional characteristics of biological molecules and macromolecules;
  o the principles of biochemical regulation and control of cellular processes.
• describe and explain at an advanced level fundamental concepts in genetics and biochemistry, including:
  o the basic structure and function of the cell, the basic unit of all living things;
  o the processes underlying development, cellular differentiation, and reproduction;
  o the relationship between form and function in biology, as expressed in molecular, cellular and whole organism physiology;
  o the principles of inheritance including molecular mechanisms, reproductive strategies, and population genetics;
  o the role of evolution and the central dogma as a central unifying concepts in biology;
  o the molecular mechanisms organisms use for the sensing and perception of the internal and external environments;
  o the common structural and functional characteristics of biological molecules and macromolecules;
  o the principles of biochemical regulation and control of cellular processes.
• identify and locate sources of primary and secondary literature as well as appropriate electronic genetic and biochemical data, and extract, synthesize information for use in communication and creative thinking.
• analyze and interpret genetic and biochemical data from figures and tables
• collect, record, organize and retrieve genetic and biochemical data with accuracy and precision (e.g., with spreadsheet software).
• present biological information in a clear, concise and organized written form, for example, as would be found in a scientific paper.
• question and verify scientific validity of biological concepts
• describe the approach used in genetic or biochemical problems or questions and formulate relevant testable hypotheses.
• describe the design and execution of experiments that use tools and methods appropriate for genetic or biochemical research.
• use genetic and biochemical techniques and common instrumentation to collect accurate data.
• display and practice professional skills in the context of biology including, organization, ethical treatment of organisms and people, time management, collegiality, respect for alternative hypotheses, academic integrity and independence.

BSc graduates with an Honors Specialization in Synthetic Biology should be able to: 

• describe and explain the breadth of interdisciplinary approaches used to both design and construct biological components that meet user-defined performance criteria.
• identify and explain at a basic level fundamental concepts of synthetic biology, including:
  a) the basic structure and function of the cell, the basic unit of all living things;
  b) the principles of inheritance including molecular mechanisms, reproductive strategies;
  c) the processes and patterns of biological evolution and the role of evolution as the central unifying concept in biology;
  d) the mechanisms organisms use for the sensing and perception of the internal and external environments through communication and signalling systems;
  e) the principles of biochemical regulation and control of cellular processes;
  f) the relevance and importance of standardized biological parts to synthetic biology strategies;
  g) the genetic engineering and molecular biology techniques used to physically assemble standardized parts into biological circuits;
  h) the principles of control theory used to optimize the stability, robustness, and performance of biological circuits.
• describe and explain at an advanced level:
  a) the basic structure and function of the cell, the basic unit of all living things;
  b) the principles of inheritance including molecular mechanisms, reproductive strategies;
  c) the principles of biochemical regulation and control of cellular processes;
  d) the relevance and importance of standardized biological parts to synthetic biology strategies;
  e) the genetic engineering and molecular biology techniques used to physically assemble standardized parts into biological circuits;
  f) the principles of control theory used to optimize the stability, robustness, and performance of biological circuits.
• locate, extract, analyze, and synthesize information from the scientific literature and from large datasets such as genome databases, for use in communication and creative thinking.
• accurately generate, collect, retrieve, organize, and interpret data relevant to solving problems or achieving goals in synthetic biology.
• present information in a clear, concise, and organized written form appropriate for their intended audience (for example, potential investors or the scientific community). In addition, effectively communicate ideas and research results to a specific audience orally and visually through preparation and delivery of presentations using appropriate multimedia platforms.
• use modelling software to simulate the behavior of assembled biological circuits based on their design.
• describe the practices, principles, and methods involved in the transfer of developed technology to the marketplace.
• use the design principles and methodology of synthetic biology to formulate plausible strategies for modifying organisms to achieve a defined biological end, and design and implement changes to a living system using appropriate synthetic biology tools and methods.
• identify important problems that can be solved or opportunities to benefit society that can be addressed using synthetic biology approaches.
• display and practice professional skills in the context of synthetic biology, including organization, time management, collegiality, teamwork, respect for alternative viewpoints, adaptability, and independence.
• conduct their work with academic integrity, giving thoughtful consideration of relevant ethical issues, such as appropriate treatment of experimental organisms and the impact of genetically modified organisms on the environment and society.

BMSc graduates with a Major in Biochemistry should be able to:

• describe the fundamental mechanisms of the core biochemical processes performed by living systems
• safely and competently perform common laboratory procedures in biochemistry, using common instrumentation
• correlate and integrate biochemical concepts with ideas originating in other disciplines of study
• choose and use software as appropriate to access biochemical data
• document and present their work and ideas to scientific colleagues, in an appropriate written and oral format, to enable meaningful professional discussions
• identify limitations in their own biochemical understanding, and the limits of knowledge in the field
• work at their professional activities with curiosity, energy, persistence, and determination
• relate current discoveries and developments in biochemistry  to societal attitudes or challenges related to health and biotechnology
• explain biochemical concepts, invoke biochemical evidence, and demonstrate the importance of biochemistry to society in language that can be understood by lay audiences
• evaluate potential experimental approaches or technologies to test biochemical hypotheses
• find, evaluate, and interpret information in the scientific literature, and use this information to  draw appropriate conclusions and evaluate truth claims
• express and defend their opinions, and incorporate their ideas and perspectives with those of others, while working effectively as a member of a team
• explain the commonly accepted ethical framework for the responsible conduct of research