CHEM 110 | Introduction to Diagnostic Chemistry

CHEM 110 | Introduction to Diagnostic Chemistry Total: 6 Hours | E-Lecture: 2 Hours | E-Lab: 4 Hours | On-Site Lab: 0 Hours Course Description This course introduces the fundamental principles of diagnostic chemistry as they apply to clinical and laboratory settings. Students explore chemical concepts central to human biology and disease, including acid–base balance, electrolytes, enzymes, and metabolic panels, with emphasis on how biochemical markers are used in diagnostic decision-making. Laboratory techniques, quality control practices, and safety protocols in diagnostic testing are also covered. To make atomic principles accessible, the course follows the story of Ellie the Electron, Paul the Proton, and Ned the Neutron, conceptual anchors for understanding atomic behavior. Through their interactions, students visualize how radiation and toxins strip electrons, destabilize atoms, and disrupt chemical bonds, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, mutation, or protective responses such as calcium scaffolding. Building on these fundamentals, students are introduced to Scorpion Atoms, a theory by Karen Nussbaumer, which proposes that atomic stability can be epigenetically influenced and inherited through generations of radiation exposure. Some populations may carry atoms with stronger bond integrity and electron stability, offering resilience against ionizing stress. This inherited atomic strength parallels the concept of Scorpion Cells, framing atomic and cellular adaptation as protective responses that influence vulnerability, resilience, and longevity. By combining molecular storytelling with applied clinical chemistry, students gain both a practical and conceptual foundation for interpreting chemical data, understanding atomic disruption, and linking chemistry to the broader diagnostic science of resilience and adaptation.