Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Department of Health & Nutrition Sciences

HNSC 3210 (W3): Nutritional Chemistry (3 Credits)

Fall 2020

FORMAT: Online – combination of synchronous “live” class sessions and

asynchronous “independent” online activities
CLASS MEETINGS: Wednesday 3:40-5:20 p.m. via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (class meets
online)
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 16th, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
[Note: The final exam schedule is set by the college and subject to change.]

INSTRUCTOR: Amy Marcinkiewicz

E-MAIL: AMarcinkiewicz@brooklyn.cuny.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 5:20-6:20 p.m. in our Blackboard Collaborate Ultra course room
HNSC Dept. Phone: 718-951-5026 (to leave message with department staff)

PREREQUISITES: HNSC 2210 (Human Nutrition) and CHEM 2500 or 3510 (Organic Chemistry)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, inorganic salts, enzymes,

vitamins, hormones. Bioenergetics and oxidation reactions. Pathways of intermediary
metabolism. (Not open to students who are enrolled in or have completed Chemistry 4580.)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the basic elements of biochemistry.
2. Recognize the fundamental structures of nucleic acids, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
3. Identify the structural and functional roles of major macronutrient classes – proteins, fats,
and carbohydrates – in the human body.
4. Demonstrate working knowledge of nutrient metabolism.
5. Describe the principal mechanisms that regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates,
fats, and cholesterol.
6. Describe the role of nutrients in the production of hormones in the human body, and in
hormonal regulation of metabolism.

This course contributes to the following ACEND Core knowledge requirements (KRDNs).

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 KRDN 1.3 Apply critical thinking skills.
KRDN 2.1 Demonstrate effective and professional oral and written communication and
documentation.
REQUIRED READINGS:
Textbook: Ferrier DR. Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry. 7 th Edition. 2016. ISBN:
9781496344496. List Price $76.98. Note: Earlier editions may be used.
Optional Textbook: Gropper SS, Smith JL, and Carr TP. Advanced Nutrition and Human
Metabolism. 7th Edition. 2018. ISBN: 9781305627857.
Journal Articles: Required readings or directions for accessing them will be available on
Blackboard.
Other Media: Videos, animations, or directions for accessing internet resources, will be posted
on Blackboard.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:

Grading Scale:
Components of Course Grade:

Assignments A+ *see below

Metabolism Map 5 points
A 93.0-100
Exam #1 20 points A- 90.0-92.9 B+
Exam #2 87.0-89.9
Final Exam 20 points B 83.0-86.9
Independent Work B- 80.0-82.9
& Participation C+ 77.0-79.9 C
Discussion Board 73.0-76.9 C-
70.0-72.9 D+
67.0-69.9 D
63.0-66.9 D-
60.0-62.9
F below 60

*The grade of “A+” may be given to students who achieve ≥97.0

plus exceptional attendance and participation.

Please note: Grades will be assigned according to the grading scale above (not curved). No
revisions of poor work will be accepted. No extra credit assignment will be offered.

Exams:
Three exams will be given. Exams will cover topics presented in class; this includes information
from lectures, class discussions, assigned readings, and other resources (e.g., animations). The
general format will include a mixture of multiple-choice questions, matching, naming structures,
and short-answer questions. To receive full credit, an answer must be comprehensible,

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thorough, and expressed using appropriate scientific terminology. Exams will be retained by the
instructor; students will have 10-15 minutes to review their exams in class and may review them
further upon request.
Each exam will be split into two separate tests - a multiple-choice part and a written part. If
you finish the first part early, you may have to wait for the designated start time to begin the
second part. Each part has a specific time limit.
You are responsible for reading the “Important Technical Information and Tips” and “Rules of All
Online Exams” before each exam (posted in Exams tab on Blackboard).
After the test period has ended, you will have access to your grade but not the test itself. You
may ask to review your test with the instructor by appointment during office hours.
Exams are not cumulative, but the material will build throughout the semester, so the
introductory material and other core concepts will apply throughout. In addition, some topics
will connect to topics already tested. Background knowledge from prerequisite courses is
expected, so that material should be reviewed as needed.

Assignments:
Each student should work toward the goal of earning 15 assignment points for the
semester.
The assignments will help students develop an understanding of key concepts and have an active
role in the learning process. These assignments are intended to keep students engaged and
reviewing course material on a regular basis. There will be various types, including worksheets
and discussion questions, and certain assignments will require in-class participation in order to
earn full credit.
Each assignment will be worth a specific point value. At least 20 points will be offered
throughout the semester, but the maximum that can be included in the course grade is 15
points. Students are strongly encouraged to complete every assignment.
Assignments must be completed as independent work and submitted on Blackboard in the
Assignments tab before class on the due date. Each student is responsible for checking that
their documents have been uploaded properly in a format that can be opened on a PC. Mac
users should pay close attention to the file extension (.docx, .pdf, etc). If your document
cannot be opened by the instructor, it was not submitted and no credit will be given.
Worksheets are expected to be filled out in the format given, whether handwritten or typed,
and then converted to a PDF for submission. Handwritten work can be imaged and then
converted to a PDF. PDF creation can be accomplished with free software and apps. Before
uploading your document on Blackboard, the file name should be in the format
LastnameFirstname_ShortAssignmentTitle.pdf (e.g., MarcinkiewiczAmy_ProteinStructure.pdf).
You are required to bring a copy of your assignment to class so you can participate in the
discussion and correct your own work as review the answers. Your assignments will be
downloaded from Blackboard. Grades and simple feedback will be given through Blackboard as
well.
Late/Missing Assignments: Late assignments cannot be accepted once the answers have
been discussed in class. There will be no makeup assignments.

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 Sources: For each assignment, you will be directed to use specific sources of information.
In addition, you may always use the required and optional textbooks for this class and all
course materials provided on Blackboard. No additional materials may be used without
permission, so you must ask first and then cite the source appropriately.
Original Work: In this class, everything must be written in your own words. Using quotation
marks is not allowed. Copying wording from the textbook, assigned readings, lecture slides,
web sites, etc., is considered plagiarism. Assignments are meant to be independent work, so
collaborating with other students is not permitted. Using outside sources of information is
not allowed. If any type of academic dishonesty is discovered, a grade of “0” will be given
for that assignment and included in the course grade, and the incident will be reported as
required.
Please read my policy and the college policy on academic dishonesty and ask for clarification
if needed.

Discussion Board Activities:

For this fully online course, interaction through Discussion Boards is essential. You should expect
to post and reply to classmates on a weekly basis. The instructor will provide the specific
discussion questions.
Each post should be unique and contain substance. For many of the discussion questions there is
no right or wrong answer, but you need to show what you have learned and that you have put
thought into your responses. Each of your posts will be graded based on content, thought, and
originality. They are expected to be written using correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Posts that are poorly written and difficult to understand will lose partial points.

Independent Work and Participation:

For the asynchronous component of the course, you will complete work independently on a
regular basis, approximately one hour per week. You are expected to complete all work
according to the instructions and submit it on time in the proper format.
Participation is required during class time and by posting on the discussion board. Attendance
will be recorded via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and/or roll call. Effective participation during
class includes asking insightful questions during lecture, volunteering information that is
relevant, and answering the instructor’s questions. Participation outside of class time involves
logging in to our Blackboard site regularly, spending time with the course materials, and
communicating on the Discussion Boards.

Metabolism Map:
Throughout the semester, you will create your own metabolism map. This will be guided by the
instructor, and you will use the pathway figures from the lecture slides and textbook for
reference. We will begin with the backbone of metabolism and add additional pathways as we
cover them in class. This will be the “independent work” for several weeks. At each stage, you
are required to take a color picture of your map and upload it on Blackboard. Before you submit
the next version, you should make any corrections needed based on instructor feedback. At the
end of the semester, your map will be graded based on its progression, accuracy, completeness,
and clarity. The guidelines for submitting are the same as for assignments (above).

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CLASS POLICIES:

Class Attendance and Participation:

Class attendance and participation is required. Documentation supporting the reason for your
absence is not necessary unless you are requesting a makeup exam. Any student who misses
class is responsible for getting the information from a classmate, reviewing the material, and
then asking questions as needed.
Please inform the instructor early in the semester of any pre-planned absences. The state law
regarding non-attendance because of religious beliefs is noted in the front matter of the
Undergraduate Bulletin and Graduate Bulletin. These may be found on the Academic Calendars,
Course Schedules, and Bulletins page of the Registrar’s website.
Recording of Remote Classes:
Students who participate in this class with their camera on or use a profile image are agreeing to
have their video or image recorded solely for the purpose of creating a record for students
enrolled in the class to refer to, including those enrolled students who are unable to attend
live. If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to
keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who un-mute during
class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded. If you are not willing
to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button
activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows students to
type questions and comments live.
Blackboard Collaborate Ultra will create recordings of our online session. These recordings can
be viewed by students in the class within the system but cannot be downloaded. The recordings
may NOT be shared or distributed under any circumstances. Not all portions of the class
meeting will be recorded, such as reviewing assignment answers.
Recording class lectures on your own is prohibited. You are expected to pay attention during
class and take notes. If something is missed, you are encouraged to get the information from a
classmate or ask the instructor. If an accommodation is made, the recording must be for
individual use only, and it must be properly destroyed after the semester is ended. Under no
circumstances may recordings be shared, especially online.

Policy on Sharing Materials:

All lectures and course materials, including PowerPoint presentations, discussion board
questions, exams, assignments, and the syllabus itself, are the intellectual property of the
instructor and protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials
for your own use. You may not reproduce or distribute lectures and course materials publicly
without my express written consent. Posting to online commercial sites such as Course Hero
is never permitted. Sharing copyrighted materials may violate the rules and regulations of the
college.

Missed Exams or Assignments:

A makeup exam may be offered if there is a documented medical situation or other qualifying
emergency. If you must be absent for an exam, contact me by email before the exam with your
reason and plan to provide supporting documentation. If the instructor agrees that a makeup is

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warranted, you will be expected to take the exam within one week. Please note that the
makeup exam may be substantially different from the main exam. In most cases, a second
makeup exam during the semester will be denied.

Blackboard:
Effective use of Blackboard is extremely important in an online format. You are required to
check Blackboard regularly. Announcements will be updated frequently and may contain
important information about due dates, exam topics, etc… The course syllabus will be posted on
Blackboard for easy retrieval. Lecture slides will be posted on Blackboard but not always before
class. You are expected to take thorough notes during every class meeting.
Emails will be sent from Blackboard regularly. You must confirm that Blackboard has your
current email address and you must be able to access that account. If you miss emails that are
sent to you from Blackboard, you are still responsible for the information they contain.
Communication:
Most questions should be asked during class or office hours. Outside of those times, please post
ALL QUESTIONS that can be shared with the class to the appropriate discussion board on
Blackboard. If you have something to discuss that is private, then email me directly.
When emailing any instructor, please remember that an email is a letter which requires certain
guidelines:
1. Include your name. Do not assume I know who you are based on your email address.
2. Your email should contain a subject that describes the content or purpose of the letter
and the course number (i.e., HNSC 3210).
3. Please plan in advance and do not rely on immediate responses. I will make every effort
to reply to emails within 48 hours. If you do not get a response, please forward the
original email to me but make sure there are no attachments; see below.
4. Please note that any email attachments should be PDFs. Word documents will likely
cause your email to be quarantined by the Brooklyn College email system and not
delivered.

Academic Honesty:
The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating
and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and
plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and
the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at
www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic
integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation,
the faculty member MUST report the violation. Students should be aware that faculty may use
plagiarism detection software.
The worst thing you could do is submit work that is not your own. Everything you submit in this
class must be written in your own words and represent your own knowledge and ideas – not
those of the textbook, instructor, classmate, online source, etc. Incidences of plagiarism or
cheating will be taken seriously and handled as described
below.

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In this class, academic dishonesty on an exam or assignment will result in a grade of “0” which
will be included in your course grade and reported as required. The instructor reserves the right
to utilize plagiarism detections tools including SafeAssign and Turnitin as deemed necessary.

Demonstration of Professional Behavior:

Professional behavior is expected at all times. This includes:
1. attending class on time.
2. coming to class prepared.
3. keeping disruptions to a minimum. Please make every effort to maintain Internet
connection and prevent coming and going from the classroom. Please minimize
background noise, including all phones in silent mode, TVs and radios muted, household
noises, pets, etc., as much as possible. You will be able to mute and unmute your
microphone as needed. Frequent disruptions of any kind will result in a warning and
afterward you will lose one-half course point for each additional disruption.
4. behaving in a respectful manner. Please pay attention to what is going on in the online
class; your responses are expected. Texting is not permitted. You should speak one at a
time and use the “raise hand” feature as needed. Use the chat function for relevant
discussion. Try to give feedback by changing your emojis, especially when asked. Your
classroom behavior will factor into your participation grade.
5. communicating as a professional in your field. Show that you are capable of discussing
the course material using appropriate terminology and proper pronunciation. Also, all
written communication should contain proper grammar and proper spelling.
6. always communicating in a way that is respectful to your instructor and classmates. You
may be asked to work collaboratively in small groups.

Center for Student Disability Services:

The Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) will be working remotely for the fall semester.
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered
with CSDS. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are
invited to schedule an interview by calling (718) 951-5538 or emailing
testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu. If you have already registered with CSDS, email
Josephine.Patterson@brooklyn.cuny.edu or testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu to ensure the
accommodation email is sent to your professor.

Student Bereavement Policy:

Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs,
2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the
Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The details of the policy can be found at
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php. Further
information may be obtained from Student Affairs, 718-951-5352, rortiz@brooklyn.cuny.edu.

Important Dates – Fall 2020 Semester:

Wednesday, August 26 First day of Fall 2020 classes
Tuesday, September 1 Last day to add a course

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 Tuesday, September 29 Conversion Day – Classes follow a Monday Schedule
Wednesday, October 14 Conversion Day – Classes follow a Monday Schedule
Friday, November 6 Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade
Wednesday, November 25 Conversion Day – Classes follow a Friday Schedule
Thursday, December 10 Reading Day
Friday, December 11 Reading Day
Monday, December 14 Final Examinations Begin
Sunday, December 20 Final Examinations End / End of Fall Semester

The full academic calendar, including many other important dates, is available on the Office of
the Registrar’s website.

Tentative Assignment Schedule:

Each assignment is due before class on the due date. Submission via Blackboard. Please
remember to bring a copy of your assignment to class for reference and correction. The
following due dates are subject to change.
o 9/9: DNA and Protein Synthesis (2 points) o 9/16:
Protein Structure (2 points)
o 10/21: Oxidative Phosphorylation Animations (3 points)
o 10/28: DNP Case Studies (3 points) o 11/4: Glucose
Oxidation Worksheet (6 points) o 12/2: Study
Questions on Lipids (3 points)
o 12/9: Study Questions on Amino Acids & Integration (3
points)

Tentative Schedule of Asynchronous Work:

Asynchronous learning activities (independent work), including discussion board posts, are due
the Sunday after class.

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE

NOTE: Asynchronous learning activities (independent work) are indicated in BLUE CAPITAL
LETTERS. Due by the following Sunday.
Date Topic Readings & Resources

1 8/26 Course Introduction: Outline, Expectations, Resources Syllabus

Introduction to Metabolism Metabolic Pathways

Chart

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2 9/2 Review of the Cell

DNA and Protein Synthesis Chapter 30-32

- DNA structure “Journey into DNA”
- Genetic information Animations
- Gene expression

INTERACTIVE RESOURCE “JOURNEY INTO DNA”

VIRTUAL EXPERIMENT “DNA MICROARRAY” – SUBMIT NOTES

3 9/9 Assignment Due: DNA and Protein Synthesis

Protein Structure and Function Chapter 1-4

- Amino acid structures and properties
- Protein folding and types of protein structure

- Functions of proteins including membrane proteins and

enzymes

VIDEO ON GENETIC DISORDER – SUBMIT NOTES & DB POST

4 9/16 Assignment Due: Protein Structure

Enzymes Chapter 5
- How enzymes work Chapter 33
- Classification of enzymes Animations
- Factors affecting enzyme efficiency

Transporters
- Types of transporters
- How transporters work

GENETIC MUTATIONS – DB POSTS

5 9/23 Regulation of metabolic pathways

- Regulatory enzymes Chapter 5
- Control of enzyme activity Chapter 33
- Control of gene expression Animations
- Roles of vitamins and minerals
- Hormonal regulation of metabolism

VIDEO “GHOST IN YOUR GENES” ON EPIGENETICS W/WORKSHEET &

DB POSTS

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6 9/30 EXAM #1: Introduction to Metabolism through Regulation of Metabolic Pathways

7 10/7 Digestion and Absorption

- Mechanical vs. chemical digestion Chapter 7
- Intestinal absorption Chapter 12
- Carbohydrates Chapter 19
- Proteins Chapter 15
- Lipids
- Micronutrients
- Fiber

REVIEW ARTICLE ON BIOAVAILABILITY FACTORS (GIBSON) – DB POSTS

8 10/21 Assignment Due: Oxidative Phosphorylation Animations

Energy Transformation Chapter 6

- ATP Animations
- Oxidative phosphorylation

METABOLISM MAP: KREBS CYCLE, OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION

9 10/28 Assignment Due: DNP Case Studies

Carbohydrates Chapter 7-12

METABOLISM MAP: GLYCOLYSIS – AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC

10 11/4 Assignment Due: Glucose Oxidation Worksheet

Carbohydrates Chapter 7-12

METABOLISM MAP: GLUCONEOGENESIS, GLYCOGEN

GENETIC DISORDERS: VON GIERKE, GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISORDERS,

PDHC – DB POSTS

11 11/11 EXAM #2: Digestion and Absorption through Carbohydrates & Genetic Disorders

12 11/18 Lipids Chapter 16-18

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 METABOLIC ENZYMES – DB POSTS

13 12/2 Assignment Due: Study Questions on Lipids

Lipids Chapter 16-18

Amino Acid Metabolism: Carbon Skeleton Chapter 19-21

METABOLISM MAP: LIPID PATHWAYS & AMINO ACID METABOLISM

14 12/9 Assignment Due: Study Questions on Amino Acids & Integration

Amino Acid Metabolism: Nitrogen and Urea Cycle Chapter 19-21

Integration of Metabolic Pathways Chapter 23-24

METABOLISM MAP: REVIEW AND SUBMIT FINAL VERSION

15 12/16 FINAL EXAM (EXAM #3): Lipids through Integration of Metabolic Pathways

Note: This is a tentative schedule. Topics may be added, deleted, or modified to enhance course
objectives. Also, some topics might take more or less than the time allotted.

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