Subject Guides - Biochemistry

Biochemistry

Welcome to the Biochemistry Subject Guide

The StMU Library is here to support you with your academic research needs. These subject guides are curated to provide you with the information you need to get started in your course.

Credible. Reliable. Curated.

This guide is an excellent starting point for research, but please contact us if you can't find what you are looking for. We're happy to assist you by email, phone a virtual meeting or, if you're near the Library, stop by for a visit.

KEEP INFORMED

Stay on top of the latest research from your favourite journals and databases with email alerts.

FIND EVIDENCE

Books, journals, and databases help you locate background information, peer-reviewed articles and reference resources.

USING GOOGLE

The web is a goldmine if you know where to look. We've done the mining for you to compile online resources that will make your work easier.

Below are some suggested databases for Biochemistry.

Databases

Databases allow you to search collections of journals, articles, books, topic reviews, evidence-based summaries and drug information. StMU databases include Core Databases which are curated collections focusing on a specific subject area and Multidisciplinary Databases which provide broad subject coverage in all areas of undergraduate study.

Core Databases

Canadian Science Publishing (NRC Research Press) Back Issues

Canadian Science Publishing published 24 journals that cover the spectrum of natural and physical sciences and engineering, including three open access journals that are interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.

EBSCOhost Science Reference Center

Designed to meet every student researcher’s needs, Science Reference Center contains full text for hundreds of science magazines, journals, encyclopaedias, reference books and a vast collection of images

Royal Society of Chemistry (Free Access Content)

The Royal Society of Chemistry publishes 44 peer-reviewed journals, around 2,000 book titles and a collection of online databases and literature updating services.

Multidisciplinary Databases

EBSCOhost Academic Search Elite

Covering all major academic disciplines, Academic Search Elite is a rich resource spanning a broad stretch of academic subjects with thousands of full-text journals and abstracted and indexed journals.

Library Databases vs the Internet

There is nothing wrong with using the internet. You can find very helpful resources on the web but you should know where and when is the right time to use the internet versus a Library database.

LIBRARY DATABASES
  • Free access is provided to all StMU faculty, staff and students through subscriptions.
  • Credible, reliable and evidence-based information which is most often peer-reviewed.
  • Databases use subject headings and filters to organize their content, allowing for precise searching.
  • Save your results to easily cite and organize your research.
THE INTERNET
  • The internet provides access to vast amounts of information, much of which can be misleading and irrelevant.
  • It is not always clear who authored the information you are reading. Hint: Focus on reputable sources like government and non-profit organizations or authorities in your field like professional associations and subject experts whose credentials and institutional affiliations are clearly stated and easily verifiable.
  • Predatory journals can be very tricky to identify and are not reputable. For tips on how to assess whether or not a journal is scholarly and peer reviewed check out our tutorial on evaluating information.
  • Some information is free but not all. If you are asked to pay for an article, don't. Fill out an ILL Request and we will get it for you for FREE.
NEED HELP

Don't hesitate to ask We're happy to assist you in person, by phone, or by MS Teams.

OFFSITE ACCESS

Anytime, anywhere StMU students, staff, and faculty have access to all of the online resources offsite. Simply enter your credentials.

Having problems with offsite access? Make sure you're selecting OpenAthens when given an option. Check out our guide on OpenAthens External Authentication for detailed support.

Journals

The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have access to the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Education journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web.

eJOURNALS

Immediate online access
Browse the A-Z listing of all journals available to the StMU community.

NOT A STUDENT?

No problems
Full-text access is available on campus.

STAY CURRENT

Alerts sent to your email
The catalogue is designed with busy researchers in mind. Save searches and receive notifications when new resources become available.

Journals The StMU Library provides access to hundreds of scholarly journals to keep you up to date with the latest evidence, research, and discussion in your field. If we don't have access to the article you're looking for, fill out an ILL Request and we'll bring in a copy for free. Below you will find links to core, full-text Biochemistry journals as well as information about assessing articles found on the web. . eJOURNALS Immediate online access Browse the A-Z listing of all journals available to the StMU community .. NOT A STUDENT? No problem Full-text access is available on campus. . STAY CURRENT Alerts sent to your email The catalogue is designed with busy researchers in mind. Save searches and receive notifications when new resources become available.

Core Journals

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology

Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology  is an international peer-reviewed journal that publishes original articles on biochemistry and microbiology that have or may have practical applications. The studies include: enzymes and mechanisms of enzymatic reactions, biosynthesis of low and high molecular physiologically active compounds; the studies of their structure and properties; biogenesis and pathways of their regulation; metabolism of producers of biologically active compounds, biocatalysis in organic synthesis, applied genetics of microorganisms, applied enzymology; protein and metabolic engineering, biochemical bases of phytoimmunity, applied aspects of biochemical and immunochemical analysis; biodegradation of xenobiotics; biosensors; biomedical research (without clinical studies). Along with experimental works, the journal publishes descriptions of novel research techniques and reviews on selected topics.

Biochemistry and Cell Biology

 Published since 1929, this bimonthly journal explores general biochemistry and includes up-to-date coverage of experimental research into cellular and molecular biology in eukaryotes, as well as review articles on topics of current interest and notes contributed by recognized international experts. The journal does not publish papers on the expression pattern and impact of microRNAs and non-coding RNAs in disease states. Special issues each year are dedicated to expanding new areas of research in biochemistry and cell biology.

Biochemistry Research International

 Biochemistry Research International publishes original research articles as well as review articles covering all areas of biological chemistry.

Canadian journal of chemistry

The Canadian Journal of Chemistry reports current research findings in all branches of chemistry. It includes the traditional areas of analytical, inorganic, organic, and physical-theoretical chemistry and newer interdisciplinary areas such as materials science, spectroscopy, chemical physics, and biological, medicinal and environmental chemistry. The journal is also now publishing research in chemistry education.

Using Journals Through the Catalogue vs. Journals Found on the Internet

There is nothing wrong with using journal articles you've found on the internet, there's plenty of high quality information out there. But, there are a few things you should know about Academic, Open Access, and Predatory journals before you start.

SCHOLARLY, ACADEMIC, AND PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
  • Scholarly, academic, and peer-reviewed journals contain articles written by and for faculty, researchers, and scholars in a particular field.
  • These resources are typically published by academic organizations, utilize specialist or scholarly language, and adhere to strict standards of referencing throughout.
  • Not all scholarly and academic journals are peer-reviewed.
  • To see if a print journal is peer-reviewed, check the 'publication information' at the front of the journal.
  • For electronic journals, information regarding the peer-review process can usually be found on the 'About the Journal' or 'Notes for Authors' page of the journal's website.
  • Peer reviewed articles are identified in the Library catalogue.
  • Streamline your search process by limiting searches to limit results to include only peer-reviewed journals and articles.
JOURNALS & ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET
  • The internet provides access to vast amounts of information, much of which can be misleading, irrelevant, or fails to meet the standards of academic rigour.
  • It is not always clear who authored the information you are reading. Before using articles found on the web. be sure to verify the credentials and institutional affiliation of the author.
  • Focus on Open Access journals published by reputable sources such as academic institutions and professional organizations.
  • Predatory journals can be very tricky to identify and are not reputable. For tips on how to assess whether or not a journal is scholarly and peer reviewed check our tutorial on evaluating information sources
  • Some information is free but not all. If you are asked to pay for an article, don't. Fill out an ILL Request and we will get it for you for FREE.

Reference Resources

Reference Resources If you're new to a subject, reference resources are the perfect place to begin your research. Resources such as encyclopaedias, handbooks, dictionaries, atlases, and almanacs can provide a concise introduction to a subject and introduce the specialized keywords that will make locating secondary sources more efficient. Below you will find a listing of print and electronic reference resources to get you started. . eBOOKS Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere. . PRINT BOOKS Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. . OTHER LIBRARIES You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.

Handbooks

The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

Print resource: General Reserves QP514.2 .T35 2011

Books

Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.

Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.

Below you will find a listing of the Library of Congress call ranges associated with Biology, as well as some suggested subjects and keywords that can be used when searching the library catalogue . eBOOKS Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere . PRINT BOOKS Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. . OTHER LIBRARIES You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue. Physical Collections If you're not sure exactly what you're looking for, you may browse the shelves at the following call number locations: [to be added] QP 501-801: Animal Biochemistry

Libraries are filled with books! Many prefer holding a hard copy book instead of an electronic version. Don't worry, we have both available depending on what you like best.

Books are ideal information sources to consult when looking for a comprehensive overview of your topic. Don't see what you are looking for? Ask us about InterLibrary Loans to find a book from another library.

eBOOKS

Click and read Immediate access anytime, anywhere.

PRINT BOOKS

Available to all Place a Request in the catalogue for quick pickup or visit the library to browse the stacks. .

OTHER LIBRARIES

You can borrow from them too Search and Request books from our SAIL partners (U of C, AU, and BVC) from within the STMU catalogue.

Web Resources

The internet has a wealth of information. Explore grey literature, Open Education Resources and digital repositories to discover information about your subject from all over the world. Below you will find a curated list of web resources.

Below you will find a curated list of web resources.

GREY LITERATURE It’s not always black and white Grey literature falls into a ‘grey area’ of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab. . NEVER PAY Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.

Streaming Services

Open Chemistry

Open Chemistry (OpenChem) provides a full curriculum of recorded lectures covering undergraduate chemistry plus selected graduate topics. Through lecture videos and ancillary materials, anyone in the world can effectively sit alongside UCI Irvine students and view complete undergraduate core and elective course lectures delivered by top faculty members

Online Resources

ChEBI

A list of more than 2700 natural and synthetic small molecular entities: atoms, molecules, free radicals, ions, and other chemicals with biological impact. It lists the substance’s chemical classification, function, alternate names, structure, a link to KEGG, and the proteins it interacts with.

SCOP - Structural Classification of Proteins

SCOP database, created by manual inspection and abetted by a battery of automated methods, aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive description of the structural and evolutionary relationships between all proteins whose structure is known. As such, it provides a broad survey of all known protein folds, detailed information about the close relatives of any particular protein, and a framework for future research and classification.

GREY LITERATURE

It's not always black and whiteGrey literature falls into a 'grey area' of materials produced outside traditional publishing channels. Learn more about grey literature in the Research Tips tab.

NEVER PAY

Request and you shall receive If you have located an article online that the StMU Library does not have access to through our databases and journals, submit an ILL request and we'll locate a copy at no charge.

Citing & Writing

Many electronic resources, such as the Library catalogue and academic databases, offer citation generation tools to automatically generate citations in your chosen style. Be sure to always verify the accuracy of the citation as sometimes this information is incorrect or improperly formatted. Below you will find a selection of citing and writing resources.

Citation Styles

ACS (American Chemical Society)

APA (American Psychological Association)

APS (American Physical Society)

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk. Council of Science Editors Style Guide

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.

Chicago/Turabian

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk

IEEE Style Manual (PDF)

This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.
Writing Resources for Subject Essay do's and don'ts : a practical guide to essay writing Print resource: General Reserves PE1408 .E54 2017

Other Resources

The Purdue Online Writing Lab The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.

STAY CURRENT

Style guides are updated regularly to keep pace with the changing nature of information, but instructors don't always adopt the most current guideline right away.

GET HELP

Check out the academic writing series offered by the Learning Centre and master the citation styles used in your field of study.

Citing & Writing Many electronic resources, such as the Library catalogue and academic databases, offer citation generation tools to automatically generate citations in the style of your choice. Be sure to always verify the accuracy of the citation as sometimes this information is incorrect or improperly formatted. Below you will find a selection of citing and writing resources. . GOT AN IDEA FOR A GUIDE Tell us what you’d like We are always open to new ideas. Contact us with your suggestions. . NOT FINDING WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? Schedule a consult Research consultations up to one hour are available to StMU students, faculty and staff either in person or by MS Teams. Book a time today!

Citation Styles

APS (American Physical Society)

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.

Council of Science Editors Style Guide

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.

Chicago/Turabian

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.

IEEE Style Manual (PDF)

This style is commonly used for Electrical and Computer Engineering.

MLA (Modern Language Association)

Print resource on Course Reserve. Please visit the Library information desk.

Other Resources

The Purdue Online Writing Lab

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects.

Research Tips

Research Tips Searching academic databases and library catalogues isn't like searching a browser on the web. To get relevant results, searches must be limited to keywords and subjects, and then joined using Boolean terms. Below you will find some tips on using Boolean terms with examples tailored to Biology, as well as descriptions of the different types of resources that may be encountered when searching. . CONNECT WITH US We'll help you get started Reach out via phone, email, MS Teams, or in person and we'd be happy to assist with any of your research and resource needs. Boolean Search Tips Use Boolean search operators AND, OR, and NOT to combine terms and create more accurate searches. This is particularly helpful when you are searching for resources on broader topics, information in a wide variety of formats, and if you don’t know the exact Library of Congress subject heading or title you are searching for. The Boolean operator AND tells the catalogue to only return results containing all of the specified search terms. "Chemical reaction" AND enzyme The operator AND can be used to combine two or more terms, and can be used in conjunction with other Boolean operators such as truncation and nested terms. Truncation is a method of broadening a search to include variable word endings. Use the * symbol at the end of a word, or the last point of change, to tell the catalogue to search for multiple word endings. Biol* will search for Biology and Biological Ecolog* will search for Ecology and Ecological. The operator OR will also broaden searches as it tells the catalogue to return results with either or all of terms entered into a query. Brass OR copper will return results containing both terms Nested Terms is the practice of using brackets, or parenthesis, to determine an order of operations similar to mathematical equations. The catalogue will parse the instructions with the brackets first and then combine the terms with all other operators. Chemistry AND (life sciences OR organisms) Use quotes around a phrase or concept to indicate that those terms must be kept together when searching. "essential amino acid" "combination reaction" Large sets of search results can be limited using the operator NOT. This operator tells the catalogue to exclude results containing a certain term. Chemical AND Change NOT Energy From your results, select useful titles and click on the hyperlinked Subjects to find other books and articles on your topic.

Primary Articles

Original Research Articles

These are articles reporting on original research and include elements such as a hypothesis, background studies, literature reviews, detailed methodologies, results, interpretations of findings, and discussions on possible implications and future research. Original research articles are typically longer, ranging from 3, 000 – 12, 000 words.

These articles are peer reviewed and cite relevant publications from other authors that relate to the research being conducted.

Case Studies

These articles report on the in-depth study of a specific person, group, or event. They are used in a variety of fields such as psychology, medicine, education, political science, and social work in order to seek patterns and causes of behaviour.

Secondary Articles

Literature Reviews

A literature review is a systematic summary and synthesis of what has been published on a topic by accredited scholars and researchers. They frequently convey what knowledge and ideas have been established on a topic, as well as critically assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the field. They will often lack a ‘Methods’ section, though they are often peer reviewed.

Systematic Reviews

These reviews are often designed to provide an exhaustive summary of current evidence in relation to a specific research question, synthesize findings qualitatively or quantitatively, and critically appraise research studies. Systematic reviews use rigorous and transparent review methodologies with the aim of assessing and minimizing bias in the findings.

Meta-analyses

A meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies addressing the same question. The primary aim is to use statistical analyses to determine common truths. Meta-analyses can be part of a broader systematic review.

Special Articles

Including letters to the editor, correspondences, short communications, editorials, pictorial essays

Tertiary/ Gray Literature

Broadly speaking, gray literature is information produced outside of the traditional academic publishing and distribution systems such as academic journals and monographs. Gray literature can include reports, policies, working papers, newsletters, speeches, government documents, and more.
 

As grey literature is produced directly by an individual or organization, for their own either use or wider sharing, it is often more current than academic publications as it is not subject to the delays found in traditional publishing processes.
 

As grey literature does not go through a rigorous peer review process the quality can vary significantly, and it is recommended that these sources be critically evaluated.

Technical reports

These can include scientific studies conducted by Government agencies and NGO which are often not peer reviewed. These types of reports can be found in both scholarly databases and freely on the web.