Biochemistry

Statement of programs and library needs

The Department of Biochemistry, located in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, offers programs leading to the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D degrees.

Important areas of research within the department include cell biology; nitrogen fixation; prokaryotic biochemistry (particularly involving anaerobic bacteria); animal biotechnology; protein structure; genetic engineering; and enzymology. Faculty are involved in international research projects in Germany, Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Russia, and Switzerland. Faculty also conduct research at the Horace G. Fralin Center for Biotechnology at Virginia Tech.

Two undergraduate programs are administered by the department, one in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the other in the College of Science; students must complete the core curriculum requirements of the college in which they enroll. Students receive a thorough foundation in chemistry and biology, which prepares them for work in medical, veterinary, agricultural, or industrial biochemistry. A degree in biochemistry with an option in biotechnology is also available to undergraduates. The department's graduate program offers research opportunities in a variety of areas, including biochemical toxicology, molecular genetics, enzymology, macromolecular structure and function, and cell and molecular biology. Graduates are prepared for work in research and teaching in academic institutions, and for research in governmental and industrial laboratories.

The department has strong interdisciplinary ties with biology, chemistry, animal science and other areas of agriculture, medicine, and nutrition.

I. Collection areas

A. Area: Biochemistry

 

B. Classes and Levels

QD415-449   Biological Chemistry	Research
QH301-531   General Biology, General 
	    Biochemistry, Genetics	Research
OH540-705   Ecology, Cytology 		Research
QK861-899   Plant Biochemistry 
	    (Phytochemistry)		Research
QP501-801   Animal Biochemistry		Research
QP901-981   Experimental Pharmacology	Research
QR1-175     Microbiology		Research
RA1190-1270 Toxicology			Research
TP248.13+   Biotechnology		Study

C. Chronology

Emphasis is on the acquisition of current imprints.

D. Geographic Guidelines

None.

E. Languages

English is the primary language of the collection. Occasionally materials in German, French, or Russian are purchased if they are of special importance.

F. Treatment

Emphasis is on serial publications, upper level undergraduate and graduate texts, handbooks, and research monographs. Reference works, conference proceedings and historical treatment of the subject are purchased selectively. Lower level undergraduate texts are not purchased unless specifically requested by a faculty member for class use.

G. Formats

Primarily print for monographs and most journals, though electronic full-text is also of growing importance for journals. Bibliographic databases are available through the Internet. The libraries support access to key bibliographic databases in biology, medicine, and chemistry.

H. Multiple copies

Multiple copies (usually one extra copy) are occasionally purchased for heavily used titles as funds permit.

II. Acquisition Strategy

The majority of materials are selected by the biochemistry bibliographer with priority given to faculty and student requests. The libraries maintain an approval plan for books from many university press and significant trade publishers and standing orders for many important serials. Gifts are not an important means of acquisition. There is no systematic retrospective purchasing.

III. Collection Notes

Theses and dissertations from other institutions are generally not acquired. Since biochemical research is interdisciplinary, materials can be found in the chemistry, biology, botany, zoology, physiology, pharmacology, toxicology, nutrition, and medical collections. The collection development responsibilities as well as the use of the collection are shared with the overlapping areas listed above.

Revised 4/1996