Basic Overview

​

BIOSCI 358 offers a clear and engaging exploration of the scientific basis of nutrition, linking biochemistry and physiology to health and disease in a way that feels like a natural extension of BIOSCI 203 and EXERSCI 206. You’ll cover everything from macro- and micronutrients to obesity, type 2 diabetes, energy balance, and nutrition across the lifespan, all grounded in recent research. 

The first half of the course is well supported by excellent teacher notes for the first half, and the labs are straightforward, hands-on, and really fun! What I loved most about this course was that it gave you the option to use your own dietary data or provided data if you prefer. With Jennifer’s exceptional coordination and genuinely lovely teaching, plus a rewarding research editorial assignment (choose your topic early!). This course is both manageable and deeply worthwhile.

 

​

Lecture Content

The course is structured into six themes, each consisting of a block of lectures followed by a theme tutorial. 

 

Block 1: Energy Balance and Body Weight Regulation

Very straightforward, Jennifer teaches it and provides amazing notes which were my holy grail for the mid-sem test. I highly recommend reading them thoroughly and centering your study around them.

 

Block 2: Mitochondrial Function

This module covers content about how different supplements affect the function of Glycolysis, Kerbs cycle, and Electron transport system. This may seem scary but don't worry, you do not need to remember all the small details about the process. 

 

Block 3: Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Health 

Very content-heavy module, personally loved it as I am a big fan of learning applications of content on real life disease examples. 

 

Block 4: Nutrient Sensing 

This module covers information on how nutrients are sensed (as the module name implies) from the taste bud to the neural signals sent according to different nutrient types. For this module, I recommend using flow charts to remember the different types of signalling pathways as it is pretty easy to mix up pathways as the names all sound pretty similar. Also, I have heard it is pretty helpful if you have done MEDSCI 206 as there is some overlap in the content. 

 

Block 5: Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals 

Great module! So much fun it goes into all the talk on supplements and vitamins and the rules and regulations around that. He is a really cool, great teacher as well as a nice guy. 

​

Block 6: Nutrition and Metabolism Across the Lifespan 

This was really fun and interesting, I am a massive fan of reproductive biology so this module was personally very fun to study. The information was very intuitive to understand which made cramming for the exam very easy. 

​

 

Laboratories

 

There are 5 labs, and they cover energy balance, dieting (altering protein content), blood sugar (involves the option of taking blood sugar via needle) and visiting the nutrition centre. Very good labs and very straightforward sheets just try to feel comfy with asking questions because it makes life easier.

​

Tip: always reference your answers for every lab assignment question. Some people lose easy marks this way !!

Try to finish most of your lab questions during the lab too and ask lots of questions as the TAs are very helpful. However do not worry if you cannot answer all of them just yet as some labs require data which will be uploaded after the lab. 

 

• Lab 1A: Diet Analysis 

• Lab 1B: Lipid Experiment 

• Lab 2: Protein Experiment 

• Lab 3: Blood Glucose and Diabetes 

• Lab 4: Nutrition Intervention Trials 

 

​

Final Thoughts

​

Overall, I would say this is one of my favourite courses I have taken in the university (which makes sense as EXERSCI 206 is one of my fav ones too!!) I found the content very easy to understand and you can definitely score very well in this course if you enjoy nutrition and if you keep up with the course content.