Biology

What practical skills are essential for success in the field of biosciences? Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience, you’ll learn to analyse and present biological data using established scientific methods. By purifying your own protein and analysing its function, you’ll gain experience using a wide range of experimental tools, processes and equipment found in modern laboratories.

You’ll discover how to operate safely, professionally and with good laboratory practice. You’ll use digital tools to visualise, analyse and interpret scientific data, and apply mathematical and statistical skills to solve biological problems and make evidence-based conclusions.

By the end of this module, you’ll emerge equipped with the knowledge and skills to undertake scientific experiments confidently, safely and effectively.

Biomolecules are the fundamental building blocks of life on Earth, comprising amino acids, monosaccharides, fatty acids, and the bases of DNA and RNA. These molecules, though basic in structure, form the complex macromolecules—proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids—that underpin the diversity and adaptability of all life forms.

After exploring the intricate structure/function relationship in these building blocks, you’ll then focus on enzymes, remarkable catalysts that accelerate biochemical reactions. By analysing the kinetics of these enzymes, you will explore how these proteins work and how their activity is controlled, including the mechanisms of enzyme inhibition.

How can you leverage the skills you have acquired so far to thrive throughout your academic journey? This module will allow you to expand your skill set and advance through the scientific process under the guidance of established conventions that define excellence in academia, healthcare, and industry.

You'll apply your practical skills and knowledge to formulate hypotheses, test them effectively, and learn how to analyse and present data for a standard practical laboratory report. By following a series of progressive steps, you'll evolve towards becoming a confident, independent scientist, culminating in a mini-project where you'll integrate all your acquired skills in an extended investigation.

By the end of this module, you’ll have the groundwork in place to support your success in the later stages of your degree, undertaking and reporting on experimental work in line with professional standards in the life sciences sector.

In today's ever-evolving landscape of science and medicine, understanding the complexities of molecular and cellular biology within the context of evolution and the genetics of human disease is essential.

You’ll explore cell structure and organisation, the intricacies of cell membranes, molecular trafficking, and the orchestration of organelles vital for energy production and metabolism. In addition, you’ll navigate cells' internal skeleton, chromosome dynamics, and the fascinating processes of cell division and meiosis. You’ll also study DNA replication, repair, and recombination, uncovering the secrets of chromatin structure and mutation.

Further topics include the intricate pathways of transcription, mRNA processing, and protein production. You’ll also have a chance to immerse yourself in the world of genetics, from Mendelian inheritance to the complexities of human pedigrees and quantitative genetics. Finally, you’ll explore the mechanisms underpinning evolution and gain insight into the transformative power of molecular analysis in diagnosing human diseases.

Our planet supports an incredible variety of life. In this module you will explore this life in its many forms, from unicellular microbes and fungi to multicellular plants and animals. You will learn how to use morphological and molecular traits to classify any species within the tree of life. Together we will explore some of the grand evolutionary history and processes that underlie this phylogeny. By the end of this module, you will understand how animals are thought to have first evolved, how to practically classify bacteria, how plants first colonised land, and you will have begun to address many unresolved fundamental biological questions.

What are the relationships between plants, animals and their environment (ecology), and the geographical patterns of biological diversity around the world (biogeography)? In this module we will draw on ideas from physical geography, evolutionary biology and reproductive biology to help you understand how individuals, populations and communities are distributed, and how these organisms interact with their physical environment. We will begin with how the physiology and reproductive biology of plants has shaped the variety of habitats, ecosystems and biomes seen in the natural world today. Theories concerning how these geographical patterns have been affected by complex historical and current factors will also be explored. You will explore key concepts in population ecology, community ecology and island biogeography through practical classes and field work. The module will provide the foundational knowledge to help you understand how biogeographical and ecological principles inform global conservation strategies, and help us better understand how to manage threats to biodiversity from environmental change.

How do genes work and how can we manipulate them? How can techniques such as whole-genome sequencing and genome editing detect and treat diseases? This module deals with the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein in organisms, ranging from viruses to humans.

You’ll learn how genetic information is stored in DNA and RNA, how that information is decoded by the cell, and how the flow of information is controlled in response to changes in the environment or developmental stage. You’ll compare and contrast mechanisms of gene regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and explore the latest developments in molecular genetic techniques to analyse and manipulate gene function. You’ll also explore how these mechanisms can be applied to research on human disease and the biomanufacturing of useful biological products with real-world applications.

Whether it is biology, biochemistry or biomedical sciences, scientists need to understand their subject matter. But additional skills are also needed to successfully work as a scientist. These relate to scientific ways of answering questions and the generation of subject-specific knowledge.

In this module, you’ll interpret scientific data generated with experimental methods that are commonly used in the biological sciences. You’ll develop your understanding of how to generate new scientific knowledge based on such data and apply these skills to create scientific studies that use combinations of methods to answer scientific questions.

Finally, you’ll apply the skills you gain in this module to design a standard operating procedure as is commonly required by clinical and industrial employers of graduates.

Plants allow life on Earth as we know it, providing food and oxygen for the entire biosphere. They also provide essential materials for us such as shelter, fibre, fuel and medicinal compounds. With the pressing environmental challenges we currently face — such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and issues around food security and sustainability — understanding plant biology has never been more critical.

You’ll learn about plant physiology, genetics, epigenetics, and metabolomics, gaining insights into the mechanisms driving plant growth and development, and their adaptation to the environments around them. You’ll incorporate the latest discoveries and technologies into your work, and develop the knowledge, skills and critical thinking you’ll need for a future career in a growing area of the life sciences sector.

By the end of the module, you will have deepened your understanding of plant biology and will be better equipped to apply it to the pressing global challenges we face.

Animals represent a significant portion of Earth's biodiversity. By studying different species and their interactions with each other, we can gain insights into the complexities of ecosystems and the interdependence of living organisms.

In this module, you’ll comprehensively explore animal life across evolutionary history, focusing on key elements of functional anatomy and physiology. Through comparative physiology and the study of form and function, you’ll examine the diverse physiological systems found in various animal species, gaining insights into their adaptations and variations to changing environments over time.

By exploring these relationships, you’ll understand how animals have evolved in different environments, what challenges current global issues pose to different species, and what they — and we — can do to ensure species continue to thrive.

The cell is the fundamental structural unit in living organisms. Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalised structures and, like prokaryotic cells, they must perform several vital functions such as energy production, cell division and DNA replication, and modulate these functions in response to extracellular environmental cues.

This module explores the experimental approaches that have been taken to investigate cell biology and the similarities and differences between cells of complex multicellular organisms and microbial cells. Initially, you will study the functions of the cytoskeleton and the nucleus, followed by cell signaling, protein synthesis, and how these processes are precisely integrated to specific cellular compartments. Through exploring these topics, you will develop a deeper understanding of the molecular details underlying cell organisation and function and be able to use this to address fundamental questions in biotechnology and medicine.

Discover the ways in which ecological science can be applied to solve some of the crucial conservation problems facing the world today. You'll consider key ecological principles at the population, community and ecosystem levels, investigating how these principles can help guide management and policy decision-making. A major theme is how natural resources can be managed and exploited sustainably, drawing on examples from agriculture, urbanisation and forestry in temperate and tropical regions. Central to the topic is the question of how species and community conservation can be better incorporated into the wider needs of environmental management.

Microorganisms are all around us and form an integral part of us. Without them, we could not exist. You will explore the diversity, function and utility of microorganisms around planet Earth – and beyond. From their role in shaping the environment to their deployment in biotechnology, the microbial world is increasingly coming under the spotlight for its place in our ecosystem and the properties that allow it to operate in different contexts.

You’ll study the origin of microorganisms and the methods — classical and modern — used in their classification, cultivation and manipulation. Modern molecular tools offer significant benefits to microbiology, and you will learn about their background and the rationale for their use.

At the end of this module, you will have developed new insights into the essential role that microorganisms play in the world and the potential for harnessing and controlling them.

The human brain is the most complex living structure in the universe and has enabled humans to achieve breath-taking milestones such as walking on the moon, mapping the human genome, and composing masterpieces of literature, art, and music. But how does the human brain work?

You will learn about the biology of the mind, and the molecules underpinning these processes, to develop an understanding of how we experience emotions and initiate behaviours. You will consider the technological advances that have opened new horizons for the scientific study of the brain, and finally, you will apply your learning to the emerging science on brain disorders with wide societal impact, such as depression and addiction.

Have you got a burning question in biosciences you would like to answer? Do you want to hone your lab skills for a career in academia or industry? Do you see yourself as a bio-based entrepreneur, or is your passion for communicating biosciences to different audiences? In this module, you will work directly towards these ambitions by gaining experience in your chosen subject area.

Working closely with your academic supervisor, you’ll select either a lab-based or data-driven project in which you will answer scientific questions that interest you. These could potentially contribute to new discoveries and expand the frontiers of our current knowledge and understanding.

In a business project, you’ll develop your ideas into a business plan. In a communications project, you’ll create educational tools for either the general public, specific professional audiences, or school children. Whatever future career you have in mind, this module will provide you with essential skills to help you achieve your goals.

What is the future of biological research? What are the new horizons for basic scientific enquiry, and how will new biological understanding transform our society in years to come? This module asks where the current ‘unknowns’ lie in the field of biological science and how we can answer them. The module is split into two parts:

Unsolved Mysteries, where you will develop understanding across a range of topical areas in animal, plant and microbial biology. You’ll study recently published work addressing the themes of conflict and cooperation at all levels from genes to ecosystems.

Global Challenges, where you will explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ask how biological research can contribute to addressing these. Topics will vary from year to year but may include sustainable food production, solutions to climate change, consumption and production of biological goods, and equitable access to advances in healthcare.

This is your chance to conduct an independent and comprehensive research project under the guidance of a research supervisor, focusing on a topic within ecology, conservation, environmental science, or geography, aligned with your degree program and interests.

The opportunity to engage in personal research is an essential element of academic training in all disciplines, whether this be through desk-based study, practical fieldwork or laboratory work. The primary aim of the research project is to cultivate your proficiency in the organisation, analysis, and presentation of research. The approved investigation may be novel, i.e. one that has not previously been carried out, or it may repeat previously executed work for comparative or control purposes. It will typically involve some bespoke, project-specific training in practical skills, and will require you to generate research questions, hypotheses and/or theoretical frameworks for their project.

You could choose to involve the collection of new data or be based on existing information, and consider quantitative or qualitative analysis of results, depending on the discipline investigated. You will be expected to showcase your findings through a research seminar and a dissertation written in the form of a scientific paper - this acts as proof of your knowledge and skills, to help you stand out to employers.

Explore how climate has influenced the diversity of life on Earth, from the past to the present, as well as its likely future impacts. We 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 then explore the biological and ecological impacts of climate change on individual organisms, communities and ecosystems, with particular emphasis on how species are responding.

The module also explores how people are affected by and are responding to climate change, and the role of particular sectors and countries in mitigating the worst impacts of the climate crisis. We'll explore how conservation scientists and the environmental movement are using particular interventions to ameliorate the most harmful and destabilising effects of climate change, while also managing biodiversity. The module brings together perspectives from the natural and social sciences to explore the environmental, economic and political means to tackle climate change.

Is it possible to save the World’s most endangered species, even if there are only a few individuals remaining? You will examine today’s cutting-edge techniques that are available to wildlife biologists attempting to save some of the world’s most critically endangered species from extinction. You will be exposed to the challenges of recovering endangered species, including a range of perspectives from priority-setting and resource allocation, to small population biology and the role of zoo collections.

You will examine a number of cross-cutting themes relevant to recovering endangered species, including the management of invasive species, leadership of species recovery programmes, island endemic species, species of extreme rarity, reintroduction biology and managing infectious disease in conservation programmes. You will examine iconic case histories and use them as a way to consider the reasons why some programmes are successful whilst others fail. You will consider topics and case studies that will lead you to a reappraisal of particular approaches to species conservation such as institutional priority-setting, field infrastructures and leadership styles which tomorrow’s wildlife biologists will need to restore endangered species in the future.

How should we overcome the problems associated with managing endangered wildlife populations that have lost a lot of genetic diversity or are highly inbred? How can an understanding of genomic erosion help us to tailor plans to recover threatened species?

Genetic diversity forms the basis of the diversity of life on earth, and you will need to understand the fundamentals of evolutionary genetics, evolutionary ecology and conservation genomics, to be fully equipped to tackle the challenges that need to be overcome to successfully restore populations of endangered species. You will gain an understanding of the evolutionary and ecological processes that foster biodiversity and genetic diversity across timescales ranging from a few generations to millions of years.

In this module you'll learn about the importance of genetic processes that causes problems in small populations, and relevant evolutionary and ecological mechanisms within the context of conservation.

What are viruses and what can we do to protect ourselves? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought viruses into the focus of wider public attention. By analysing scientific research articles in an interactive, collaborative and student-led approach, you will establish an in-depth understanding of these unique pathogens that are not even living organisms.

You will discover how the evolution of viruses is driven by a continuous tug-of-war with the immune system. This will enable you to appreciate the successes that we have made in protecting ourselves from virus diseases but also highlight open questions and areas of future research. This knowledge and understanding brings you to the frontier of developments in the field, where you can help drive forward progress and make a real difference.

What is cancer and why is it so difficult to cure? Cancer is a disease that almost everybody is affected by during their lives, directly and/or indirectly. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the disease, including what defines a cancer cell, and the mechanisms underlying cancer cell formation and behaviour.

This will enable you to understand why cancer is particularly difficult to treat successfully, why cancer therapies are associated with significant adverse effects, and how cancer treatments have nevertheless dramatically improved over time and continue to do so. This knowledge will enable you to become an expert in cancer, who is up-to-date on this important disease and equipped to follow, understand and drive future developments and progress in the field.

We live in an exciting time where we can easily sequence entire genomes. This, coupled with advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), has driven significant development in bioinformatics methods - the tools we use to study the sequence information. You will explore state-of-the-art bioinformatics and genomics tools, with a strong focus on practical application of these tools to answer important biological questions. You will combine information from multiple tools to gain detailed knowledge and understanding in the interpretation of results from bioinformatics and genomics resources, particularly in understanding how genetic variants are associated with disease. The skills and experience you gain from applying knowledge through genomics tool gives you everything you need to kickstart your career in genomics.

Biology of Ageing delves into the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying the ageing process. You will explore the genetic factors, cellular changes, and physiology that influence lifespan and age-related health, as well as how these are influenced by lifestyle such as diet.

Through this, you will be equipped with a wealth of knowledge that you can use to understand the plethora of scientific and general news articles on the topic of ageing and use these to inform your own opinions. In addition to developing an overview of ageing biology, you will investigate the techniques, systems, and models that have been used to advance the field and learn to analyse real-life data generated by researchers in this field. Overall, you’ll understand the benefits and challenges underlying recent advances in age-related healthcare and the ethical, economic and societal benefits of these. This understanding will help you in making new discoveries in the field.

How do new scientific breakthroughs become embedded positively within society? How do we build trust and confidence in science and technology, so that the public are empowered to make the best decisions for themselves and those around them? How do we sustain a strong future for science by inspiring the next generation? Consider key principles in science communication, reflect on specific historic and contemporary case studies, and develop a personal and professional understanding of your social roles and responsibilities as a scientist.

You will explore ways in which scientist construct key messages in the context of professional disciplines such as media, policy makers, private sector and charitable organisations, and understand the role that scientists play outside of the immediate scientific environment. Finally, you will apply best practice in science communication and public engagement to global challenges for which science and technology provides potential solutions.