Biochemistry 111 - Life's Matrix: Water

'Water, the ideal solvent in which life-granting reactions occur, makes up 70% of the planet and our body. We will examine the remarkable chemical, physical properties of water that sustain life, and study its involvement in two critical biochemical processes--cellular respiration and photosynthesis. As the course title implies, we are running out of this precious resource, due to population expansion, unsustained usage of water by industrialized societies, pollution of waterways, and the redistribution of water due to engineering, climate change, and commerce. We shall read from a variety of texts to inform our discussion on water resource related issues and solutions.'

This course is limited to first-year students.