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Biochemistry (BIOC)
Location
Location
- Irving Ludmer Research and Training Building, Rooms 208-209
- 1033 Pine Avenue West
- Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1
- Telephone: 514-398-2423
- Fax: 514-398-4866
- Email: christine.laberge [at] mcgill.ca
- Website: www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry
About Biochemistry
About Biochemistry
Biochemistry is the application of chemical, genetic, and biophysical approaches to the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. Biochemists are interested in the dynamic events that occur in cells, for example, in mechanisms of brain function; cellular differentiation; energy utilization by animals and microorganisms; and in the molecular basis of inheritance and disease. The biochemist seeks to determine how specific molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, vitamins and hormones function in various cellular processes. Biochemists place particular emphasis on the regulation of reactions in living cells. The knowledge and methods developed by biochemists are applied in all fields of medicine, in agriculture and in many chemical and health- related industries. Biochemistry is unique in providing basic theoretical training as well as basic practical laboratory training and research in both enzymology and genetic engineering, the two basic components in the rapidly expanding field of Biotechnology.
Three programs are offered by the Department of Biochemistry. The Honours and Major programs provide a sound background for students who wish to have a professional career in biochemistry and can lead to postgraduate studies and research careers in hospital, university or industrial laboratories. The Liberal program is less specialized, offering students opportunities to select courses in other fields of interest.
During the first year, each program provides basic training in organic, physical and analytical chemistry as well as in biology and physiology. The Honours and Major programs become more specialized in biochemistry during the following two years with additional work in chemistry and biology.
Students interested in pursuing an ad hoc Joint Major or Joint Honours degree between Biochemistry and a second discipline may consult with our Chief Adviser.
The increasing involvement of complex technology in modern society requires personnel trained in both chemistry and biology. With the advent of biotechnology, the combination of chemistry, molecular biology, enzymology and genetic engineering found in the biochemistry program provides the essential background and training in this area as well. The biochemist is in an advantageous position to fulfil this role and assume a wide variety of positions in industry and the health field. These include: research and development in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries; testing as well as research in government and hospital laboratories; management. Many graduates pursue higher degrees in research and attain academic positions in universities and colleges.
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Biochemistry (BIOC) Faculty
Biochemistry (BIOC) Faculty
Chair & Professor |
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David Y. Thomas; B.Sc.(Brist.), M.Sc., Ph.D.(Univ. Coll., Lond.), F.R.S.C. |
Associate Chair & Professor |
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Peter E. Braun; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
Emeritus Professors |
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Rhoda Blostein; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.), F.R.S.C. (joint appoint. with Medicine) |
Robert E. MacKenzie; M.N.S., B.Sc.(Agr.)(McG.), Ph.D.(C'nell.) |
Edward A. Meighen; B.Sc.(Alta.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
Walter E. Mushynski; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Theodore L. Sourkes; M.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(C’nell), F.R.S.C. |
Clifford P. Stanners; B.Sc.(McM.), M.A., Ph.D.(Tor.) |
Professors |
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Nicole Beauchemin; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.) (joint appoint. with Oncology) |
Albert Berghuis; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Rijks Univ. Groningen, the Netherlands), Ph.D.(Br. Col.) |
Philip E. Branton; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.) (Gilman Cheney Professor of Biochemistry) |
Peter E. Braun; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Br. Col.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
Kalle Gehring; M.Sc.(Mich.), Ph.D.(Calif., Berk.) |
Vincent Giguère; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval) (joint appoint. with Oncology) |
Philippe Gros; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(McG.) (James À¦°óSMÉçÇø Professor) |
Roderick McInnes; B.Sc., M.D.(Dal.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
William Muller; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Alain Nepveu; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Montr.), Ph.D.(Sher.) (joint appoint. with Oncology) |
Morag Park; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Glasgow) (William Dawson Scholar) (joint appoint. with Oncology) |
Jerry Pelletier; B.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) |
Gordon C. Shore; B.Sc.(Guelph), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Joseph Shuster; B.Sc.(McG.), Ph.D.(Calif.), M.D.(Alta.) (joint appoint. with Medicine) |
John R. Silvius; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Alta.) |
Nahum Sonenberg; M.Sc., Ph.D.(Weizmann Inst.), F.R.S.C. (James À¦°óSMÉçÇø Professor) |
Michel L. Tremblay; B.Sc., M.Sc.(Sher.), Ph.D.(McM.) |
Maria Zannis-Hadjopoulos; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(McG.) (joint appoint. with Oncology) |
Associate Professors |
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Imed Gallouzi; Maitrise, DEA, Ph.D.(Montpellier, France) |
Arnim Pause; B.Sc., M.Sc.(U. Konstanz, Germ.), Ph.D.(McG.) (joint appoint. with Goodman Cancer Centre) |
Assistant Professors |
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Maxime Bouchard; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval) (joint appoint. with Goodman Cancer Centre) |
Josée Dostie; B.Sc.(Sher.), Ph.D.(McG.) |
Thomas Duchaine; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Montr.) (joint appoint. with Goodman Cancer Centre) |
Bhushan Nagar; B.Sc., Ph.D.(Tor.) |
Julie St-Pierre; B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Camb.) |
Jose Teodoro; B.Sc.(W. Ont.), Ph.D.(McG.) (joint appoint. with Goodman Cancer Centre) |
Jason Young; B.Sc.(Tor.), Ph.D.(McM.) |
Associate Members |
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Karine Auclair (Chemistry) |
Jacques Genest (Medicine) |
Matthias Götte (Microbiology and Immunology) |
Michael Hallett (Computer Science) |
Qutayba Hamid (Medicine and Pathology) |
Robert Scott Kiss (Medicine) |
Gregory Miller (Pharmacology & Therapeutics) |
Vassilios Papadopoulos (MUHC) |
Ianusz Rak (Pediatrics) |
Reza Salavati (Parasitology) |
Maya Saleh (Medicine) |
Erwin Schurr (Exp. Medicine, RVH) |
Charles Scriver (Pediatrics, MCH) |
Peter Siegel (Medicine) |
Bernard Turcotte (Exp. Medicine, RVH) |
Simon Wing (Medicine) |
Xiang-Jiao Yang (Molecular Oncology, RVH) |
Adjunct Professors |
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Prabhat Arya (NRC, Ottawa) |
Mirek Cygler (B.R.I.) |
Jacques Drouin (IRCM) |
Anny Fortin (Dafra Pharma) |
Tarik Möröy (IRCM) |
Donald Nicholson (Merck) |
Maureen D. O'Connor-McCourt (B.R.I.) |
Enrico Purisima (B.R.I.) |
Martine Raymond (I.R.I.C. Montr.) |
René Roy (UQAM) |
Alex Therien (Merck) |
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Liberal Program - Core Science Component Biochemistry (47 credits)
U1 Required Courses (20 credits)
* Students with CEGEP-level credit for CHEM 212 and/or CHEM 222 should replace these courses with elective courses.
BIOC 212 | (3) | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function |
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 202 | (3) | Basic Genetics |
CHEM 204 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1 |
CHEM 212* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
U1 Complementary Courses** (6 credits)
** Complementary courses listed for U1 and U2 may be taken in later years if necessary to accommodate courses that must be taken in U1 or U2 as part of the breadth component of the program.
6 credits selected from:
BIOL 205 | (3) | Biology of Organisms |
MIMM 211 | (3) | Introductory Microbiology |
PHGY 209 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 1 |
PHGY 210 | (3) | Mammalian Physiology 2 |
U2 Required Courses (15 credits)
BIOC 300D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 300D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
U2 Complementary Courses** (3 credits)
** Complementary courses listed for U1 and U2 may be taken in later years if necessary to accommodate courses that must be taken in U1 or U2 as part of the breadth component of the program.
3 credits selected from:
BIOL 373 | (3) | Biometry |
COMP 202 | (3) | Introduction to Computing 1 |
MATH 203 | (3) | Principles of Statistics 1 |
MATH 222 | (3) | Calculus 3 |
PSYC 204 | (3) | Introduction to Psychological Statistics |
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Major Biochemistry (67 credits)
Students may transfer into the Major program at any time, provided they have met all course requirements.
U1 Required Courses (23 credits)
* Note: Students with CEGEP-level credit for the equivalents of CHEM 212 and/or CHEM 222 (see /students/courses/plan/transfer/ for accepted equivalents) may not take these courses at À¦°óSMÉçÇø and should replace them with elective courses to satisfy the total credit requirement for their degree.
BIOC 212 | (3) | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function |
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 202 | (3) | Basic Genetics |
CHEM 204 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1 |
CHEM 212* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
CHEM 287 | (2) | Introductory Analytical Chemistry |
CHEM 297 | (1) | Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory |
U2 Required Courses (23 credits)
ANAT 262 | (3) | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology |
BIOC 300D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 300D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
CHEM 214 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 2 |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
CHEM 362 | (2) | Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
The remainder, if any, to be selected from the following list:
BIOL 300 | (3) | Molecular Biology of the Gene |
BIOL 303 | (3) | Developmental Biology |
BIOL 304 | (3) | Evolution |
BIOL 313 | (3) | Eukaryotic Cell Biology |
BIOL 314 | (3) | Molecular Biology of Oncogenes |
CHEM 352 | (3) | Structural Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 382 | (3) | Organic Chemistry: Natural Products |
CHEM 502 | (3) | Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 552 | (3) | Physical Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 572 | (3) | Synthetic Organic Chemistry |
EXMD 502 | (3) | Advanced Endocrinology 01 |
MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
PHAR 300 | (3) | Drug Action |
PHGY 311 | (3) | Channels, Synapses & Hormones |
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) - Honours Biochemistry (76 credits)
Admission to the Honours program will not be granted until U2. Students who wish to enter the Honours program in U2 should follow the U1 Major program. Those who satisfactorily complete the U1 Major program with a GPA of at least 3.20 and a mark of B- or better in every required course are eligible for admission to the Honours program.
Students seeking admission to the Honours program must obtain permission from the Departmental Student Affairs Officer during the Add/Drop period in September of their second year.
Promotion to U3 year is based on satisfactory completion of U2 courses with a GPA of at least 3.20 and a mark of B or better in every required course. In borderline cases, the marks received in BIOC 311 and BIOC 312 will be of particular importance for continuation in the U3 Honours year.
For graduation in the Honours program, students must complete a minimum of 90 credits, pass all required courses with no grade less than B, and achieve a CGPA of at least 3.20.
U1 Required Courses (23 credits)
* Note: Students with CEGEP-level credit for the equivalents of CHEM 212 and/or CHEM 222 (see /students/courses/plan/transfer/ for accepted equivalents) may not take these courses at À¦°óSMÉçÇø and should replace them with elective courses to satisfy the total credit requirement for their degree.
BIOC 212 | (3) | Molecular Mechanisms of Cell Function |
BIOL 200 | (3) | Molecular Biology |
BIOL 202 | (3) | Basic Genetics |
CHEM 204 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 1 |
CHEM 212* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 1 |
CHEM 222* | (4) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 2 |
CHEM 287 | (2) | Introductory Analytical Chemistry |
CHEM 297 | (1) | Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory |
U2 Required Courses (23 credits)
ANAT 262 | (3) | Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology |
BIOC 300D1 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 300D2 | (3) | Laboratory in Biochemistry |
BIOC 311 | (3) | Metabolic Biochemistry |
BIOC 312 | (3) | Biochemistry of Macromolecules |
CHEM 214 | (3) | Physical Chemistry/Biological Sciences 2 |
CHEM 302 | (3) | Introductory Organic Chemistry 3 |
CHEM 362 | (2) | Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
The remainder, if any, to be selected from the following list:
BIOL 300 | (3) | Molecular Biology of the Gene |
BIOL 303 | (3) | Developmental Biology |
BIOL 304 | (3) | Evolution |
BIOL 313 | (3) | Eukaryotic Cell Biology |
BIOL 314 | (3) | Molecular Biology of Oncogenes |
CHEM 352 | (3) | Structural Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 382 | (3) | Organic Chemistry: Natural Products |
CHEM 502 | (3) | Advanced Bio-Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 552 | (3) | Physical Organic Chemistry |
CHEM 572 | (3) | Synthetic Organic Chemistry |
EXMD 502 | (3) | Advanced Endocrinology 01 |
EXMD 503 | (3) | Advanced Endocrinology 02 |
MIMM 314 | (3) | Immunology |
MIMM 324 | (3) | Fundamental Virology |
PHAR 300 | (3) | Drug Action |
PHGY 311 | (3) | Channels, Synapses & Hormones |
Biochemistry (BIOC) Related Programs
Biochemistry (BIOC) Related Programs
Interdepartmental Honours in Immunology
Interdepartmental Honours in Immunology
For more information, see Immunology Interdepartmental Honours. This program is offered by the Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Physiology. Students interested in the program should contact Dr. C. Piccirillo, Microbiology and Immunlogy (ciro.piccirillo [at] mcgill.ca, 514-934-1934 extension 45135) or Dr. Monroe Cohen, Physiology (monroe.cohen [at] mcgill.ca, 514-398-4342).