Biology - BSc (Hons)

The cell is the fundamental structural unit in living organisms. Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalized structures that like prokaryotic cells, must perform several vital functions such as energy production, cell division and DNA replication and also must respond to extracellular environmental cues. In multicellular organisms, certain cells have developed modified structures, allowing them to fulfil highly specialised roles. This module reviews the experimental approaches that have been taken to investigate the biology of the cell and highlights the similarities and differences between cells of complex multicellular organisms and microbial cells. Initially the functions of the cytoskeleton and certain cellular compartments, particularly the nucleus, are considered. Later in the unit, the mechanisms by which newly synthesised proteins are secreted or shuttled to their appropriate cellular compartments are examined.

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This module will consider the anatomy and function of the immune system and immunopathology and then consider the diseases and microorganisms that affect the different organs and tissues of the human body. Indicative topics will include inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity to pathogens, immune defence mechanisms against bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, antibody classes and functions, antigen processing and presentation, complement, the generation of antibody diversity, cell communication and immunopathology, including autoimmunity, hypersensitivity and transplant rejection. In the medical microbiology section of the module, indicative topics will include epidemiology, virology, parasitology, fungal infections, skin infections, GI tract infections, CNS infections, respiratory tract infections, UTI and STD infections.

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This module will consider the anatomy and function of normal tissues, organs and systems and then describe their major pathophysiological conditions. It will consider the aetiology of the condition, its biochemistry and its manifestation at the level of cells, tissues and the whole patient. It may also cover the diagnosis and treatment of the disease condition. Indicative topics will include the reproductive system; muscle; nervous system; and endocrine system.

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One-on-one meetings and small group tutorials focused on academic progression and the development of key skills to support the core curriculum and future study or employment. Students meet with their Academic Advisor individually or in small groups at intervals during the academic year. Individual meetings review academic progress, support career planning etc. Themed tutorials develop transferable skills; indicative topics are essay and report writing, presentation skills, sourcing information, critical analysis etc. The tutorials are informal involving student activity and discussion. Year group events deliver general information e.g. on University resources, 4-year programmes, module selection etc.

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A. Communication Skills in Biosciences: Essay writing, oral presentations, laboratory reports, the scientific literature and literature reviews. Working in groups.

B. Techniques in Biomolecular Science: Electrophoresis, Immunoblotting, Protein Determination, Activity Assays, Purification.

C. Computing for Biologists: Bioinformatics, phylogenetic trees, database searches for protein/DNA sequences.

D. Mini-project – introduction to research skills: Students will work in groups of eight to undertake directed experimental work (Group Project) before extending the project further through self-directed experiments working as a pair (Mini Project).

E. Careers: The programme will be delivered by the Careers Advisory Service and will review the types of careers available for bioscience students. The sessions will incorporate personal skills, careers for bioscience graduates, records of achievement, curriculum vitae preparation, vacation work, postgraduate study, interview skills and action planning.

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You study the diversity of animal life throughout evolution, including elements of functional anatomy and physiology such as circulation and gaseous exchange, the digestive system, the nervous system and reproduction.

Topics:

A. Comparative physiology - in this section the diversity of different physiological systems will be studied including circulation, gaseous exchange, feeding and digestion, excretion, nervous tissue and the senses, reproduction and immunology.

B. Form and Function - in this section a diverse range of taxonomic groups and their characteristics will be studied to understand the relationship between structure and function. How these characteristics equip the animal to survive and succeed in its particular environment will be explored.

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This module will cover the following areas:

* Plant specific features of cellular organisation and processes – cell wall synthesis, cell division, endoreduplication, plasmadesmata.

* Photosynthesis – mechanism and regulation of photosynthesis, photorespiration, C3, C4 and CAM.

* Plant hormones and signalling – e.g. auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins etc. and their roles in tropism, photoperiodism, and flowering.

* Adaptation and stress response – environmental stress, acclimatisation and adaptation.

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The module deals with the molecular mechanisms underlying the ecological, medical, scientific and commercial importance of microorganisms (including prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms). This involves descriptions of how microbial genetic information is stored in DNA, how that information is decoded by the cell and how this flow of information is controlled in response to changes in environment. The Module also discusses microbial interaction with humans and the environment. Throughout the module, the mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes will be compared and contrasted and will touch on the latest tool development in microbiology.

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The module deals with the molecular mechanisms of gene expression and its regulation in organisms ranging from viruses to man. This involves descriptions of how genetic information is stored in DNA and RNA, how that information is decoded by the cell and how this flow of information is controlled in response to changes in environment or developmental stage. Throughout, the mechanisms in prokaryotes and eukaryotes will be compared and contrasted and will touch on the latest developments in how we can analyse gene expression, and what these developments have revealed.

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This module will introduce students to the importance of genome-wide DNA sequence analysis in a range of different fields of study including forensic science, medical diagnosis and historical research. They will acquire a full grounding in the basic biology of how sequence data is acquired and analysed, and engage with up-to-date methods of DNA sequence analysis in the practical sessions. At the broad level, the module will be structured around the following 4 themes:

What is a genome? This addresses genome content and structure, including both functional and non-functional elements of the genome such as the simple "junk" DNA repeats used for forensic identification.

Understanding genomic variation. This addresses the molecular causes of genomic variation between individuals – i.e. what makes us all unique – and the technical methodologies used to detect genomic variation.

What are the implications of being able to read DNA? This covers the extent to which we can infer phenotype from genomic sequence – e.g. how much you can tell about a person once their genome has been sequenced. Specific examples may be drawn from forensic science, medical diagnosis and historical analysis.

What are the implications of being able to write or edit DNA? This addresses nascent and future technology for genome editing – what can it achieve, what are the risks, what are the ethical issues?

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Early in the Autumn term, projects are assigned to students by the project co-ordinator (a member of academic staff), where possible in accordance with student choice. Students then meet with their project supervisor to discuss the objectives of the project and obtain guidance on background reading. During the Autumn term students write a brief formative literature review on the project topic providing them with a good background before embarking on the project work. At the end of the formal project time, students are allowed time to complete the final project report, although they are encouraged to start writing as early as possible during the Spring term. The supervisor provides feedback on content and style of a draft of the report. In addition, students are expected to deliver their findings in presentation lasting 10 minutes with 5 minutes of questions.

The module introduces the student to cell cycle and teaches how its precise regulation is essential for all life. The course will introduce to the students the current understanding of cellular reproduction and how it emerged. The initial lectures will describe the important breakthroughs in cell cycle research in their historical and experimental context. The course will go on to give the students a detailed understanding of the key events that occur and how they are regulated by mechanisms conserved from yeast to man.

A synopsis of the curriculum:

1. Outline of microbial physiology and genetics part II

2. Microbial taxonomy and phylogenetics

3. Microbial homeostasis - regulation of primary and secondary metabolism

4. Genomic regulation - Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression

5. Experimental approaches used to study microbial physiology, microbial genomes and gene expression

6. Microbial biochemistry

7. Microbial biodiversity and complex signalling in the environment

8. Application of microbes in biotechnology

Practical on bacterial transcriptional regulation using gene-expression reporter fusions

Group presentation of a research paper relating to topic areas on Microbial biodiversity at the physiological and biochemical level."

This module will introduce the students to the diversity of eukaryotic organisms (mainly microbes in the six domains of the eukaryotic tree of life), theories on endosymbiotic events (chloroplasts & mitochondria), organellar adaptations and diversity, primary and secondary acquisition of other organelles, lateral gene transfer in eukaryotes, adaptations to extreme environments (from anoxia, to salinity and to parasitism), community evolution (microbiome) and the evolution of multi-cellularity.

The module begins byoverviewing the diverse mechanisms used by cells to communicate, consideringthe main modes of cell-cell communication, the major classes of signallingmolecules and the receptor types upon which they act. It then focuses onnuclear, G-protein coupled, and enzyme linked receptors covering in moleculardetail these receptors and their associated signal transduction pathways.

Cells and subcellularcompartments are separated from the external milieu by lipid membranes withprotein molecules inserted into the lipid layer. The aim of this module is todevelop understanding of both the lipid and protein components of membranes asdynamic structures whose functions are integrated in cellular processes.

This module will cover four topics: Eukaryotic pathogens (parasites); Bacterial pathogens; Viral pathogens; and Human fungal pathogens.

The module aims todevelop understanding and analytical skills in virology, based aroundinteractive seminars wherein students will analyse, present, and discuss therelevant research literature. The students will gain experience in scientificdesign, literature analysis, scientific communication, and the analysis ofexperimental data.

The aim of this AdvancedImmunology module is to review topical aspects of advanced immunology withemphasis on the regulation of the immune response, and the role ofdysfunctional immune systems in the aetiology of a variety of disease states.Indicative topics include antigen processing and presentation, transplantrejection, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, cell migration homing andextravasation, cytokines, tumour immunology, mucosal immunology andautophagy.

BioinformaticsData sources & Sequence analysis: Databases and data availability. Usingsequence data for analysis – sequence searching methods, multiple sequencealignments, residue conservation, Protein domains and families. Protein Bioinformatics Methods: Protein structure and function prediction.Prediction of binding sites/interfaces with small ligands and with otherproteins. Bioinformatics analyses using protein data.Genomics: An introduction to the analysis of genomic data, primarily focussingon the data available from genome sequencing – how it can be used to studygenetic variants and compare genomes (i.e. comparative and functionalgenomics).

This module will lookat Cancer formation and progression; underlying factors, cancer cellheterogeneity, uncontrolled cell division, invasive growth/ metastasisformation; as well as the Molecular Biology of Cancer: (Proto-)Oncogenes,tumour suppressor genes, cell cycle control, cell death; and Cancertherapies.

The module deals with basic neuroanatomyand molecular and cellular neurobiology, such as transmission of signals withinthe nervous system and sensory perception. It explores more complex functionsof the nervous system, e.g. behavioural and cognitive functions includinglearning, memory, emotions and appetite control. Throughout the module both thenormal nervous system and disorders that arise as a consequence ofabnormalities will be covered.

The module overviews the importance of studying ageing,the organisms and methods used to do so and considers how organisms agetogether with providing a detailed understanding of the processes and molecularmechanisms that govern ageing.

 "This module is designed toprovide students across the university with access to knowledge

This module will provide the fundamental theoretical and comparative perspective that lies at heart of biology, with a particular focus on the order Primates. Particular attention will be paid to the evolutionary history of the primates and comparative primate (skeletal) anatomy, both placed in an evolutionary ecological context (e.g. a consideration of dentition in relation to diet and feeding; post-cranial anatomy in relation to locomotion and phylogenetic trends). The module covers latest discoveries and developments in these areas, engaging students with primary literature. Extensive use of casts of primate skeletal material will provide hands-on 'experiential' learning. The module will provide a detailed treatment of natural and sexual selection as key components of evolutionary theory that shape the adaptations of organisms, and the way adaptations are used to make sense of the diversity of organisms with particular reference to the primates.

Humans are unique primates; anatomically peculiar and culturally complex, our 300,000 years on Earth have led us to be a species like no other. This module focuses on the scientific study of what it means to be human, from a combined biological and cultural perspective. The module traces the origins, and subsequent biological and cultural evolution, of modern humans (Homo sapiens) from the late Pleistocene through to the Holocene and modern era, highlighting the concurrent development of diet, cognition, anatomy, behaviour and culture.

This module will inform students how climate has influenced the diversity of life on Earth, from past to present, and its likely future impacts. We will begin with a summary of the physical science basis of contemporary climate change and the role that anthropogenic factors have played since the commencement of the industrial era. We will then explore the biological and ecological impacts of climate change on individual organisms, populations and communities, with particular emphasis given to understanding how species are responding. The module will then explore how conservation biologists are using particular interventions to ameliorate the most harmful and destabilising effects of climate change. From a more general perspective, the social, economic and political ways in which climate change can be mitigated will be assessed.

Recent events have illustrated the importance of ensuring that science iscommunicated effectively to non-scientific audiences. This module considersbest practice in science communication, making use of case studies thatillustrate its importance in developing an informed and empowered public, whiledeveloping skills in different modes of communication that enhance future employability.