Seminar of Chemistry of Molecular Biocatalysts1
| Numbering Code | G-AGR03 5CB39 SB79 | Year/Term | 2022 ・ Year-round |
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| Number of Credits | 3 | Course Type | Seminar |
| Target Year | Target Student | ||
| Language | Japanese | Day/Period | |
| Instructor name |
YAMAGUCHI SHINJIRO (Institute for Chemical Research Professor) mashiguchi kiyoshi (Graduate School of Agriculture Assistant Professor) |
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| Outline and Purpose of the Course |
The objectives of this course are to learn through reading books and journals 1) the basics of organic and bioorganic chemistry, biochemistry, protein and enzyme chemistry, chemical biology and pharmacology, and 2) the updated research activities going on in the world-wide science community for new results, new techniques and new concepts in the relevant area. In this seminar, students can learn 1) how to search for and access to the relevant information through internet or electric journals, 2) how to evaluate the information from a scientific point of view and 3) how to make use of the information to improve the research or to solve the problems of the research of his/her own. Another important objective of this course is to learn how to present his/her own research results to communicate with colleagues and staffs and discuss the results to improve the scientific quality of his/her own research. |
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| Course Goals | Students have an ability to understand the molecular design and synthesis of the small molecules that modify physiological relevant enzymes' activity. The students can understand how the molecules modify the respective enzymes activity or the mode of action of the molecules. Students have an ability of searching for previous research on their topics. | ||
| Schedule and Contents |
We have a short research seminar once a week, in which each student is requested to present his/her own research results for discussion. A major objective of this seminar is a weekly progress report, but free discussions and brainstorming with honest opinions of all the members are highly recommended in order to solve the current problems encountered in the research. The students are encouraged to give his/her own opinion and to be positively involved in the discussion. A term end research seminar is held twice a year in July (before summer vacation) and in December (before new year vacation). In this seminar, each student is required to give a presentation of his/her own research in a conference style (PowerPoint) for intensive discussion. The purpose of this seminar is to check the mid-term progress and scope of the research. If the results are failure or not what were expected, the reasons and potential problems are discussed thoroughly to deal with the situation. Positive comments and constructive opinions are highly recommended. Students can also learn the skills for scientific talks and making presentation materials. A journal seminar is held periodically (ca. once in two weeks) to introduce up-to-date research topics from recently published journals. A buddy system (two students taking charge of the seminar together) is recommended. The selection of topics, journals and literatures (articles) are left to the students in charge, but recommendations are also provided by skilled graduate students and the staffs. The members of the laboratory are highly encouraged to pursue extracurricular learning by reading circles and voluntary seminars. The materials (books, journals and reviews) are introduced by skilled graduate students or the staffs. The staffs could participate in the activity as a tutor. Free discussions on a daily basis are highly recommended. The discussion could be a one-to-one basis or in a group with the same or related research projects. The instructors’ office hour is any time. |
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| Evaluation Methods and Policy |
・ Performance and achievements in the weekly short research seminar and the term end research seminar (evaluated by presentation talks, materials and discussion) ・ Performance in the journal seminar (evaluated by discerning eye of selection of topics and articles, presentation and discussion) ・ Positive participation in research discussions ・ Activities in extracurricular learning. Refer to current year's 'Guide to Degree Programs' for attainment levels of evaluation. |
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| Course Requirements |
Basics of organic chemistry, biochemistry and enzyme chemistry (undergraduate level) English literacy in reading, writing and speaking Basics of Japanese literacy in daily life |
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| Study outside of Class (preparation and review) | Students have to search for and read the relevant articles of their topics to understand the outline of their research topics. | ||
