Osmotic aspects of aqueous solutions that are usually disregarded in biochemistry textbooks are presented. This article discusses the osmolarity of seawater, evolution of organisms over geological time, ionic adaptation of cells, ionic concentrations in bacteria, osmolytes and blood electrolytes in water-stressed organisms and land vertebrates,…

Modifications in content and structure of basic courses in biochemistry are suggested to amend insufficiencies in biochemical education. Presents information on how molecular cell biology course was designed and evaluated to promote self-study. Senior undergraduate tutors were novelty of the course. Students rated the course highly for being…

Offers examples of problems that assess student ability to recall, handle, manipulate, and interpret data and also reinforce basic knowledge of cell biology. The questions, purposely designed for first-year students, complement formal lectures and practical classes given in the subject. Illustrates the range and types of material which cell…

Presents a BASIC program that can be useful in explaining physicochemical phenomena underlying the generation of membrane potential in excitable cells. Its simplicity allows students to understand the nature of these processes through a direct, hands-on approach. Also, the simulated voltage and concentration kinetics agree well with those…