CHEMISTRY 454 Case Study Assignment/Take Home Final-Due Monday May 11, 5 PM via email-NO EXCEPTIONS-50 pts-counted toward final exam.

Case studies are excellent ways to improve one's ability to integrate biochemical pathways and concepts. You have worked on several examples in class. Using these examples as general templates, I want you to construct case histories of your own.  You may do studies of inheritied disorders or any other condition with a significant biochemical diagnosis (e.g. lead poisoning).  Target this for a student at about your level of knowledge. 
WHEN YOU DECIDE ON A DISORDER, TELL ME SO THAT WE CAN AVOID DUPLICATION.

Description of Project:

  1. Brief 1-2 page clinical case synopsis with data. I need to see at least two actual bits of data (data tables, pictures, diagrams) from the literature or made up for purposes of the case. MAKE SURE TO PROPERLY CITE THE SOURCE IF THE DATA IS FROM THE LITERATURE. Especially encouraged are tabular or visual data (e.g. blood tests, electrophoresis gels, actual pictures of lesions, organs, cells or patients, etc.). You may dramatize the case a little bit to make it personal and interesting, but don't get too carried away!!This synopsis must be followed by at least three questions (non trivial) requiring some thought by the case study reader. Don't give it away too easily, but be sure it is do-able.
  2. Brief 1-2 page Summary or Commentary in which you solve the case. Be sure to answer the questions you asked and outline the biochemical pathways/enzyme involved and why the symptoms are observed.
  3. Required: this case study should be written and submitted to me in MS Word format with figures, pictures,etc. inserted in the page. If you have any trouble doing this, I will be glad to help. The reason I want it in this format is so that it can easily be converted to a web page or pdf for general posting. Also I just might use your study to baffle next year's class. Start now.


Scott Hartsel
Department of Chemistry
(715) 836-4746

hartsesc@uwec.edu