TLÜ ÕIS

Sport Biochemistry

Course code

TST6006.LT

old course code

TST6006

Course title in Estonian

Spordibiokeemia

Course title in English

Sport Biochemistry

ECTS credits

4.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester

Kristjan Port (language of instruction:Estonian)

Course aims

On completing the course the student has a basic understanding of the functioning of the living body to enable informed and scientifically grounded decision to be made for managing the process of exercise and understanding the results of currently standard biochemical tests.

Brief description of the course

Overview of biological sciences and role of biochemistry in it. Qualities and logic of constitution of living nature. Structure of a cell. Sources of energy in living systems. ATP structure and function. Laws of thermodynamics, free energy. Control of metabolic pathways, enzymes and regulation of enzyme activity. Mechanisms of ATP re-synthesis. Aerobic and anaerobic energy production, electron transport chain. Anaerobic threshold, lactic acid test, measurement of maximal oxygen consumption. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and protein. Structure of DNA, types of RNA, codon. Gene expression and modifying factors. Assessment of status of protein synthesis. Hormones, their route of action and major implications of malfunction. Biochemical tests for assessment of status of an athlete.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- knows the fundamental principles of energetics that shape metabolism;
- mõistab kuidas keemilistest eeldustest kujuneb eluna tuntud komplekssus;
- knows the role of water in metabolism and relates it to water consumption, including in sports drinks;
- knows the role of protein synthesis in adaptation to stress and can relate it to heredity mechanisms;
- understands the nature of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism when choosing training equipment;
- knows the role of hormones in metabolism;
- can explain the various biochemical-functional effects of fatigue;
- can plan and justify food choices according to training loads;
- can choose training equipment by arguing at the level of biochemical explanation;
- can relate sports physiology to knowledge acquired in biochemistry.

Teacher

Kristjan Port

Study programmes containing that course