UPDATING THE BIOCHEMISTRY HANDBOOK FOR LABORATORY TEACHING AT FES ZARAGOZA, MEXICO

Teaching science demands regular and proper update of theoretical and practical knowledge. With that in mind, we examined our laboratory course on Cell and Tissue Biochemistry (BCT I) and set the OBJECTIVE to reorganize it and renovate it. As result of this activity, we have produced a new handbook, providing instruction on 12 improved, 5 micro-scaled and 9 new practical sessions, all of which have been evaluated and approved by the University Committee.

Methodology:
The methodology that was applied was as follows:
I) To evaluate already established sessions and choose those activities that could be micro scaled,
2) To add molecular biology methods that could and should be included as practical sessions
3) To update objectives, rewriting introduction, methodology, analysis of results, questionnaires and bibliography from every session included in the new handbook,
4) To validate the methods,
5) To provide all information to educators teaching the subject, and to perform the new methods, together with them
6) To test the new protocols in class with student groups,
7) To write new protocols after discussion with all teachers involved and to elaborate the new BCT I biochemistry handbook.

The BCT I course forms part of the compulsory program for chemistry, pharmacology and biology (QFB) students at the Faculty for Higher Education Zaragoza (FES) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). BCT I is a university course approaching the study of organic molecules and metabolic processes utilized by living beings [1]. During the laboratory course, students have the opportunity to confirm some of the knowledge that has been discussed in the theoretical sessions. Besides, the practical sessions are also designed to train the students for responsible and ethical handling of biological samples, and to teach them to perform modern molecular and cellular biology techniques that are necessary to analyse the physical, chemical and biological properties of biomolecules.

Conclusions:
The accelerated scientific advance during the last century has greatly increased the knowledge on biomolecules. A solid knowledge on biochemistry is essential to perform as professionals in various fields corresponding to QFB graduates [2]. Basic and clinical applications of modern biochemistry have transformed our understanding of medicine, chemistry, pharmacology and biology [3]. By keeping up with the present theoretical and practical biochemistry level, we open up more possibilities to our graduates to work within various medical and biochemical disciplines, such as proteomics and genomics.
Supported by DGAPA PAPIME PE206913