Biochemistry
Cross the bridge between biology and chemistry to study the very foundations of life.
Develop problem-solving and analytical skills, critical reasoning and communication skills
Provides a good balance of fundamental biochemical principles and practical techniques required in the life sciences.
Download a copy of the Course List below:
For students enrolled prior to Fall 2023 (PDF)
For students enrolled in or after Fall 2023 (PDF)
Academic Advisor
School of Natural Sciences
Telephone: (705) 675-1151 ext. 2100
Email: nat-sci@laurentian.ca
Office: F-519
A program flow chart is available here.
Visit the School of Natural Sciences for more information
Co-op
Learn about the Co-op employment opportunities with the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Architecture.
Ontario High School Applicants
Program Prerequisites:
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1 grade 12 English U/M course; 1 grade 12 4U Advanced Functions; 1 grade 12 U Science course (Chemistry recommended); 1 additional grade 12 U/M Math or Science course (Calculus strongly recommended); 2 other grade 12 U/M courses
- A minimum overall average of 70% in the 6 best grade 12 U/M courses
Additional information for applicants who have completed Advanced Placement courses.
Additional information for applicants who have completed the International Baccalaureate.
Applicants from outside an Ontario High School
Canadian High School Applicants from outside Ontario
Canadian Applicants
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you must complete your application through the Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC).
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: Canadian Undergraduate Applicants page.
Apply Now as a Domestic Applicant
International Applicants
If you’re an international applicant, you must fill out the International Application Form.
For detailed instructions on the application process, see the How to Apply: International Students page.
Apply Now as an International Applicant
The degree options listed below are for the upcoming academic year, not the current academic year. If you are a current student looking for which courses to take in order to complete your degree options from a previous academic year's curriculum, please consult with an academic advisor.
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemistry
Students must follow these regulations in order to meet graduation requirements for the BA or B.Sc.
Specialization in Biochemistry
First Year
BIOL 1506E Biology I*
BIOL 1507E Biology II
CHMI 1006E General Chemistry I #
CHMI 1007E General Chemistry II
MATH 1036E Calculus I##
MATH 1037E Calculus II OR MATH 1057E Linear Algebra I
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II
6 elective credits
# Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1031.
## Students lacking grade 12 4U Advanced Functions or who have attained a grade of less than 60% must first take MATH 1912.
Second Year
BIOL 2026E Introduction to Microbiology
CHMI 2117E Introductory Quantitative Analysis
CHMI 2227E Biochemistry I
CHMI 2316E Inorganic Chemistry I
CHMI 2426E Organic Chemistry I
CHMI 2427E Organic Chemistry II
CHMI 2516E Introductory Physical Chemistry I
COSC 2836E Computer Software for the Sciences
OR STAT 2246E Statistics for Scientists
3 credits from:
BIOL 2126E Cell Biology **
BIOL 2XXX, 3XXX or 4XXX***
3 elective credits
§This program has a co-op option. Please contact the School of Natural Sciences for more information.
Third Year
CHMI 3226E Biochemistry II
CHMI 3416E Intermediate Organic Chemistry
CHMI 4226E Recombinant DNA Technology
CHMI 3217E Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
OR CHMI 4217E Biomembranes, Structure and Function
NATS 3106E Scientific Writing and Communication
3 credits from List A
3 credits from List B
3 credits from :
BIOL 2126E Cell Biology **
BIOL 2XXX, 3XXX or 4XXX***
6 elective credits
§This program has a co-op option. Please contact the School of Natural Sciences for more information.
Fourth Year
NATS 4005E Honours Thesis
OR NATS 4106E Lietrature Review and 3cr CHMI at the 3rd or 4th year level
CHMI 3217E Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
OR CHMI 4217E Biomembranes, Structure and Function
3 credits from List A
3 credits from List B
3 credits from :
BIOL 2126E Cell Biology **
BIOL 2XXX, 3XXX or 4XXX***
3 upper year BIOL credits
9 elective credits
List A:
CHMI 3236E Enzymology
CHMI 4207E Advanced Cellular Biochemistry
CHMI 4256E Biochemistry of Diseases
CHMI 4286E Environmental Biochemistry
CHMI 4287E Biochemical Toxicology
CHMI 4297E Biochemistry of the Immune System
List B:
BIOL 3117E Infectious Diseases
BIOL 4736E Developmental Biology¶
BIOL 4986E Medial Endocrinology¶
CHMI 2517E Introductory Physical Chemistry II
CHMI 3116E Instrumental Techniques in Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Sciences
CHMI 3227E Experiemental Biochemistry
CHMI 3316E Inorganic Chemistry II
CHMI 3427E Introductory Medicinal Chemistry
CHMI 4206E Applied Bioinformatics
CHMI 4237E Special Topics in Biochemistry
CHMI 4246E Protein Modification, Structure and Regulation
CHMI 4247F Biochimie industrielle
CHMI 4446E Drug Design and Development
CHMI 4486E Advanced Medicinal Chemistry
NATS 3206E Internship
NSCI 2606E Brain and Behaviour
Students must include a minimum of 12 credits from the Arts.
PHIL 2345E and SCOM 4006E are highly recommended as electives.
* Students mst take at least 21 BIOL credits as part of their program.
** BIOL 2126E is mandatory and can be taken in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year.
***BIOL 2007E, BIOL 2105E and BIOL 2706E are highly recommended.
**** A student must have at least a cumulative GPA of 6 (B) in all CHMI courses to take NATS 4005.
¶ Students must complete BIOL 2105E or BIOL 2706E before taking BIOL 4736E or BIOL 4986E.
The following courses may be used as BIOL credits in the Biochemistry program: ANTR 3047E, PHED 2506E, PHED 2507E, PHYS 2606E, NSCI 2606E, NSCI 2617E, NSCI 3506E.
In addition, CHMI 3427E, CHMI 4237E, CHMI 4286, CHMI 4287, and CHMI 4297 may be used as BIOL credits if not used as CHMI credits.
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Co-Op Schedule
In general, there are two times at which students can take a Co-Op placement (see table below):
- a four-month placement during the summer after second year; and
- a twelve to sixteen month placement after third year.
A 2nd year placement is not a requirement for eligibility to enroll in a 3rd year placement.
|
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Fall term September to December |
Winter term January to April |
Summer May to August |
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First year |
Academic term 1 |
Academic term 2 |
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Second year |
Academic term 3 |
Academic term 4 |
Co-Op 2nd year placement CHMI 0000EL |
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Third year |
Academic term 5 |
Academic term 6 |
Start of 3rd year placement CHMI 0000EL |
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Co-Op year |
3rd year placement CHMI 0000-EL |
3rd year placement CHMI 0000-EL |
3rd year placement CHMI 0000-EL |
|
Fourth year |
Academic term 7 |
Academic term 8 |
|
Students who successfully complete 16 months (four terms of CHMI 0000EL) of Co-Op are eligible to receive a discipline specific Co-Op degree. This will appear on their university transcript.
Major in Biochemistry
CHMI 1006E General Chemistry I *
CHMI 1007E General Chemistry II
CHMI 2227E Biochemistry I
CHMI 2426E Organic Chemistry I
CHMI 2427E Organic Chemistry II
CHMI 3226E Biochemistry II
CHMI 3217E Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
21 credits from the List of optional Biochemistry courses (see bottom)
8 first year Science credits:
BIOL 1506E Biology I
BIOL 1507E Biology II
MATH 1036E Calculus I**
MATH 1037E Calculus II OR MATH 1057E Linear Algebra I
PHYS 1006E Introductory Physics I
PHYS 1007E Introductory Physics II
12 credits from Arts
48 elective credits#
* Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1031.
** Students lacking grade 12 4U Advanced Functions or who have attained a grade of less than 60% must first take MATH 1912.
# Students must complete either a minor (24 credits) or a second major (42 credits) from the courses not used in the Biochemistry major.
Note: Students may not exceed 48 credits at the 1000 or 9100 level in their degree program.
Minor in Biochemistry
CHMI 1006E General Chemistry I*
CHMI 1007E General Chemistry II
CHMI 2227E Biochemistry I
CHMI 2426E Organic Chemistry I
CHMI 2427E Organic Chemistry II
CHMI 3226E Biochemistry II
6 credits from the List of optional Biochemistry courses
* Students lacking grade 12 4U Chemistry must first take CHMI 1031.
Students interested in completing a Minor in Biochemistry are strongly recommended to also complete BIOL 1506/1507.
List of optional Biochemistry courses
CHMI 3116E Instrumental Techniques in Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Sciences
CHMI 3217E Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
CHMI 3227E Experimental Biochemistry
CHMI 3236E Enzymology
CHMI 3257E Principles of Pharmacology
CHMI 3427E Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry
CHMI 3446E Chemical Pharmacognosy
CHMI 4206E Applied Bioinformatics
CHMI 4207E Advanced Cellular Biochemistry
CHMI 4217E Biomembranes, Structure and Function
CHMI 4226E Recombinant DNA Technology
CHMI 4227E Recombinant DNA Technology II
CHMI 4236F Biotechnologie pharmaceutique
CHMI 4237E Special Topics in Biochemistry
CHMI 4246E Protein Modification, Structure and Regulation
CHMI 4247F Biochimie industrielle
CHMI 4256E Biochemistry of Diseases
CHMI 4286E Environmental Biochemistry
CHMI 4287E Biochemical Toxicology
CHMI 4297E Biochemistry of the Immune System
CHMI 4446E Drug Design and Development
CHMI 4486E Advanced Medicinal Chemistry
CHMI 4497E Natural Product Chemistry
§ Students interested in the Co-Op program must:
- Be in good academic standing (not on probation, etc.) and enrolled in the Specialization in Biochemistry;
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 6.0;
- At the beginning of the placement, must have completed the first two years for a second-year placement or first three years for a third-year placement;
- Must have passed the required program courses at the end of the academic year leading up to their placement.
Students who have successfully completed 16 months (four terms) of Co-Op are eligible to receive a discipline specific Co-Op degree. This will appear on their university transcript.
List of Faculty Members
Full-Time Faculty |
Cross-Appointments |
Adjunct |
| Dr. Vasu Appanna |
Dr. Yu-Wei Chen |
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| Dr. Gustavo Arteca |
Dr. Xiongxin Dai |
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| Dr. Nelson Belzile |
Dr. Baoqing Guo |
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| Dr. M’hamed Chahma |
Dr. Mukund Jha |
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| Dr. Eric Gauthier |
Dr. Angelo Mazzuchin |
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| Dr. Joy Gray-Munro |
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Dr. Hélène Joly |
Dr. Crestina Beites |
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Dr. Aseem Kumar |
Dr. Céline Boudreau-Larivière |
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Dr. Louis Mercier |
Dr. François Caron |
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Dr. Thomas Merritt |
Dr. Jeffrey Gagnon |
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Dr. Sabine Montaut |
Dr. Eduard Guerra |
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Dr. Abdel Omri |
Dr. James Watterson |
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Dr. Amadeo Parissenti |
Dr. Zhibin Ye |
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Dr. Jeffrey Shepherd |
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Dr. Stefan Siemann |
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Dr. Gerardo Ulibarri |
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Dr. Guangdong Yang |
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