BSc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BSc. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Like other developing countries Kenya need to develop its scientific base in order to find effective and logically relevant solutions to problems of health, food security, industrial development and environmental protection. Biochemistry therefore remains an essential discipline and continues to play a catalytic role. This programme covers areas of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Medical Biochemistry, Industrial and Nutritional Biochemistry, Biochemical Pharmacology and Immunochemistry. Courses addressing the said areas are contained in this programme making it unique among other similar programmes in the country. Consequently students graduating from this programme have been absorbed in local and international research institutions involved in multi-disciplinary life sciences research. Others are developing careers in production, quality assurance and technical sales in food, beverages and pharmaceutical sectors, cosmetics industries, hospital diagnostics and environmental health protection.

Admission Requirements
Entry Requirements
Students wishing to study Biochemistry and Molecular Biology must satisfy the minimum University requirements and Faculty of Science entry requirements. A student to be admitted must satisfy any of the following minimum requirements;

Either

1.1 must have passed Biology or Biological Sciences and chemistry in KCSE at a minimum           grade of C+.  In addition a student must have passed maths or physics / Physical Science             with a minimum grade of C.
or
1.2  have a minimum of 2 principal passes in science subjects in Kenya Advanced Certificate of            Education (KACE),
or
1.3 have a diploma in relevant science subjects and with at least a credit pass from an            Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
1.4 have a diploma in Applied Sciences with at least a credit pass in relevant science subjects            from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
1.5  have any other qualifications accepted by the University Senate as equivalent to 1.1 to 1.4.

Students who hold any of the qualifications 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 above may at the discretion of the Faculty of Science be admitted directly to the second year of the course in which case they may complete their course in a minimum of three academic years and a maximum of five academic years.

1.6    Student who joins first year of study in the Bachelor of Science general programme must take Chemistry, Zoology and Botany courses to be eligible for Biochemistry in second year. The students must obtain an average of B in the relevant first year units and admission is subject to availability of facilities.

Course Distribution
Year 1

• HRD 2101 Communication Skills
• HRD 2102 Development Studies and Social Ethics
• SMA 2104 Mathematics for Science
• SBH 2201 Proteins and Enzymes I
• SBH 2200 Structure of Biomolecules
• SBH 2203 Basic Metabolism I
• SBH 2204 The Cell and its External Environment
• SCH 2100 Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Structure
• SCH 2101 Chemical Bonding & Structure
• SCH 2102 Physical Chemistry I
• SCH 2103 Organic Chemistry I
• SBH 2102 Plant Biochemistry I
• SBH 2103 Biochemistry of Microorganisms I
• SBH2102 Medical Physiology
• SBH 2207 Biomembranes and Organelles
• SZL 2111 HIV/AIDS

Year 2
SBH 2202 Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation I
SBH 2300 Basic Metabolism II
SBH 2320 Plant Biochemistry II
SBH 2205 Cell and Molecular Biology
SBH 2208 Biochemistry of Microorganisms II
SCH 2200 Comparative Study of S and P Block Elements
SCH 2201 Physical Chemistry II
SCH 2202 Organic Chemistry II
SCH 2203 Nuclear Chemistry and Radiochemistry
SMA 2250 Maths for Biologists
ICS 2240 Introduction to Computer and Data Processing
ICS 2241 Introduction to Programming

Year 3

Core units

• SBH 2301 Basic Metabolism III
• SBH 2302 Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation II
• SBH 2304 Protein and Enzymes II
• SBH 2323 Genetic Engineering I
• SBH 2417 Biotechnology I
• SBH 2307 Biostatistics and Research Methodology

Electives

• SBH 2331 Biosafety and Bioethics in Biotechnology
• SBH 2303 Biochemical Endocrinology
• SBH 2306 Immunochemistry I
• SBH 2321 Plant Biochemistry III
• SBH 2322 Biochemical Pharmacology I
• SBH 2324 Medical Parasitology I
• SBH 2326 Biochemistry of Special Organs
• SBH 2327 Pharmacognosy
• SBH 2403 Medical Biochemistry I

Year 4

Core units

• HRD 2401 Enterpreneurship Skills
• SBH 2400 Metabolic Regulation and Integrated Metabolism in Mammalian Tissues
• SBH 2401 Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation III
• SBH 2404 Comparative Animal Biochemistry
• SBH 2420 Genetic Engineering II
• SBH 2429 Bioinformatics
• SBH 2428 Environmental Biochemistry

Elective

• SBH 2406 Research Project (2 Units)
• SBH 2407 Nutritional Biochemistry
• SBH 2422 Biotechnology II
• SBH 2423 Biochemical Pharmacology II
• SBH 2424 Medical Biochemistry II
• SBH 2425 Immunochemistry II
• SBH 2427 Biochemistry of Tumours
• SBH 2430 Insect Biochemistry
• SBH 2431 Medical Parasitology II
• SBH 2432 Industrial Biochemistry