MED108 Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry II
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Apr 04, 2026
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Medicine
Irma Mahmuljin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip first-year medical students with the knowledge and practical skills to apply core chemical and biochemical principles to human system, explain structure–function relationships of biomolecules, analyze metabolic pathways and their rle in homeostatic and pathological conditions, integrate and predict metabolic flux across nutritional and physiological states, and interpret basic clinical biochemistry results—while safely performing fundamental laboratory techniques (solution preparation, buffer systems, spectrophotometry, and chromatography) and communicating findings with scientific rigor.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Ronner P. Netter’s Essential Biochemistry. 1st ed. Elsevier; 2017. ISBN: 978-1929007639./Kennelly PJ, Botham KM, McGuinness OP, Rodwell VW, Weil PA. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry. 32nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2023. ISBN (print): 978-1260469943; ISBN (eBook): 978-1260469950. Thomas M.Devlin, TEXTBOOK OF BIOCHEMISTRY WITH CLINICAL CORRELATIONS, Sixth Edition, Wiley-Liss publications
Additional Literature
Nelson DL, Cox MM. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed. New York: W.H. Freeman; 2017. ISBN: 978-1319108243. / Champe PC, Harvey RA. Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott (Lippincott-Raven); 1994. ISBN: 978-0397510917. /Teaching Methods
Interactive Lectures
Case-Based Learning
Short Video Demonstrations or Animations
Peer Teaching
Integration with Laboratory Content
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | T: Bioenergetics and biological oxidation, Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, Citric acid cycle, Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation, Pentose phosphate pathway, fructose and galactose metabolism | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 2 | T: Glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis, Fatty acid synthesis and degradation, Triglyceride and phospholipid metabolism, Cholesterol metabolism | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 3 | T: Lipoprotein metabolism, Amino acid cycle, Special compounds derived from amino acids | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 4 | T: Nucleic acid cycle, Alcohol metabolism, Biochemistry of fasting and feeding, Regulation of metabolism; P: Blood glucose level measurement with glucometer | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 5 | QUIZ1; T: Biochemistry of connective tissue, Biochemistry of bone tissue; P: Blood glucose level measurement with glucometer | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 6 | T: Biochemistry of muscle and exercise, P: Complete urine analysis part I | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 7 | T:Biochemistry of nervous tissue, P: Complete urine analysis part II | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| 9 | T: Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, Digestion and absorption of lipids, Digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 10 | T: Metabolism of xenobiotics, Overview of metabolism, Plasma proteins and immunoglobulins, Iron metabolism, P: Analysys of blod plasma/serum proteins | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 11 | T:QUIZ2; General characteristics of hormones, Hormone action mechanisms: Signal transduction, Pituitary and hypothalamic hormones, Thyroid hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 12 | T: Thyroid hormones, Hormones that regulate calcium metabolism, Pancreas and gastrointestinal system hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 13 | T: Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Eicosanoids, Adipocyte hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 14 | T: Adrenal Medulla Hormones, Overview of hormones; Guest lectures | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
| 15 | T: Review of chapters/Seminars | Relevant Textbook Chapter |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MED108.1 | Course | Tuesday 14:00 - 16:50 | B F1.22 | - | - |
| MED108.1 | Tutorial | Thursday 09:00 - 11:50 | RC.G3 - GBE III | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 14:00 - 15:30 | A G.6 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Lab Tutorials and Reports
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
56 hours ⏳ (14 week × 4 h)
Practical Lecture
12 hours ⏳ (4 week × 3 h)
Project
6 hours ⏳ (3 week × 2 h)
Lab Tutorials and Reports
8 hours ⏳ (4 week × 2 h)
Midterm Exam
24 hours ⏳ (6 week × 4 h)
Final Exam
32 hours ⏳ (8 week × 4 h)
Quiz
12 hours ⏳ (6 week × 2 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [MED108] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Apr 04, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| MED108 | Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry II | 4 | 2 | 6 | Tuesday 14:00-16:50 and Thursday 9:00-11:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Irma Mahmuljin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Thursday: 14:00-15:30 |
|||||||
| imahmuljin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Raneem Aldadah | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to equip first-year medical students with the knowledge and practical skills to apply core chemical and biochemical principles to human system, explain structure–function relationships of biomolecules, analyze metabolic pathways and their rle in homeostatic and pathological conditions, integrate and predict metabolic flux across nutritional and physiological states, and interpret basic clinical biochemistry results—while safely performing fundamental laboratory techniques (solution preparation, buffer systems, spectrophotometry, and chromatography) and communicating findings with scientific rigor. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Ronner P. Netter’s Essential Biochemistry. 1st ed. Elsevier; 2017. ISBN: 978-1929007639./Kennelly PJ, Botham KM, McGuinness OP, Rodwell VW, Weil PA. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry. 32nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2023. ISBN (print): 978-1260469943; ISBN (eBook): 978-1260469950. Thomas M.Devlin, TEXTBOOK OF BIOCHEMISTRY WITH CLINICAL CORRELATIONS, Sixth Edition, Wiley-Liss publications | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Interactive Lectures, Case-Based Learning, Short Video Demonstrations or Animations, Peer Teaching, Integration with Laboratory Content | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | T: Bioenergetics and biological oxidation, Aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis, Citric acid cycle, Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation, Pentose phosphate pathway, fructose and galactose metabolism | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 2 | T: Glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis, Fatty acid synthesis and degradation, Triglyceride and phospholipid metabolism, Cholesterol metabolism | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 3 | T: Lipoprotein metabolism, Amino acid cycle, Special compounds derived from amino acids | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 4 | T: Nucleic acid cycle, Alcohol metabolism, Biochemistry of fasting and feeding, Regulation of metabolism; P: Blood glucose level measurement with glucometer | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 5 | QUIZ1; T: Biochemistry of connective tissue, Biochemistry of bone tissue; P: Blood glucose level measurement with glucometer | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 6 | T: Biochemistry of muscle and exercise, P: Complete urine analysis part I | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 7 | T:Biochemistry of nervous tissue, P: Complete urine analysis part II | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Exam | |||||||||
| Week 9 | T: Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, Digestion and absorption of lipids, Digestion of proteins and absorption of amino acids | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 10 | T: Metabolism of xenobiotics, Overview of metabolism, Plasma proteins and immunoglobulins, Iron metabolism, P: Analysys of blod plasma/serum proteins | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 11 | T:QUIZ2; General characteristics of hormones, Hormone action mechanisms: Signal transduction, Pituitary and hypothalamic hormones, Thyroid hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 12 | T: Thyroid hormones, Hormones that regulate calcium metabolism, Pancreas and gastrointestinal system hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 13 | T: Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Eicosanoids, Adipocyte hormones | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 14 | T: Adrenal Medulla Hormones, Overview of hormones; Guest lectures | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Week 15 | T: Review of chapters/Seminars | Relevant Textbook Chapter | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Lab Tutorials and Reports | 4 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 2 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Project | 1 | 15 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 4 | 14 | 56 | Practical Lecture | 3 | 4 | 12 | |||
| Project | 2 | 3 | 6 | Lab Tutorials and Reports | 2 | 4 | 8 | |||
| Midterm Exam | 4 | 6 | 24 | Final Exam | 4 | 8 | 32 | |||
| Quiz | 2 | 6 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 08/04/2026 | |||||||||