Basics of Biochemistry
Subject Overview
Basics of Biochemistry is the foundational laboratory-skills paper for the program's biochemistry stream, covering the role and ethics of the medical lab technologist, cleaning and care of glassware, distilled water preparation, and the units of measurement and volumetric technique used throughout clinical biochemistry — normality, molarity, molality, calibration of volumetric apparatus, the analytical balance, and the concept and measurement of pH. A 4-credit core theory paper.
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — click WhatsApp below to get the full notes for each
Unit 1: Role, ethics and laboratory basics
Role of the medical lab technologist, ethics and responsibility, safety measures and first aid, cleaning and care of glassware and equipment (soda lime and borosil glass), preparation of chromic acid solution
Unit 2: Water and units of measurement
Distilled water preparation and types of water distillation plants, storage of distilled water, S.I. and CGS units, conversion, strength, molecular weight, equivalent weight, normality, molarity, molality
Unit 3: Volumetric technique and instrumentation
Calibration of flasks, pipettes, burettes and cylinders; the analytical balance — principle, working, maintenance; concept of pH, Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, pKa, pH paper and pH meter (principle, working, maintenance, calibration)
Unit 4: Volumetric analysis
Normal and molar solutions, standard solutions, preparation of reagents, storage of chemicals