Biological Chemistry

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

Biological Chemistry is a module that addresses the central chemical concepts in Biology. It is not a chemistry module, but does require some chemistry knowledge. The topics covered in the module include understanding enzymes and the mechanism by which they catalyse biological reactions as well as carbohydrate and lipid structures. Protein structure discussed in the Molecular Biology module in autumn term will be built upon and discussed in terms of the structure and mechanisms of action of haemoglobin.

The module includes practical sessions as well as tutorial problems and lectures.

Cell Biology

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module covers the fundamentals of cell structure and function. The module begins with a comparison of procaryotic and eucaryotic cells, and then proceeds with a systematic dissection of a eucaryotic cell with modules on the nucleus, membrane architecture and permeability, the secretory apparatus, origin and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts and their role in metabolism, the cytoskeleton, the cell cycle, and the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion. Emphasis will be placed on the role of key proteins in regulating specific cellular functions and on experimental techniques used to study cellular processes.

Essential Skills in Life Sciences

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

The aim of this module is to discuss the structure, synthesis, secretion and metabolic effects of the major classes of hormones such as insulin, glucagon, thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, sex steroids, the renin-angiotensin system, growth hormone and prolactin. Emphasis will be placed upon how imbalances in the synthesis and secretion of these hormones leads to disease states, their symptoms and treatment (e.g. diabetes mellitus, Addisons Disease, Cushing's Syndrome, Grave's disease, hypothyroidism, acromegaly and dwarfism, hypertension).

Human Physiology

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

An introduction to homeostasis, physiological mechanisms and control in humans and other mammals. This module deals with circulatory and respiratory systems, fluid balance and kidney function, digestion and feeding. The approach to regulation and control uses hormonal signalling as a unifying principle, with several negative feedback examples. Furthermore, some case studies are explored such as exercise related cardiovascular and respiratory changes, diabetes as a break-down of control and regulation, and satiety mechanisms and obesity.

Introduction to Metabolism and Pharmacology

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module aims to introduce you to the general principles of metabolism and pharmacology. The initial lectures cover ATP, substrate-level phosphorylation, Chemiosmosis and oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and the the Krebs cycle. This is complemented by lectures covering glycogen, nucleotide and lipid metabolism, introducing metabolic flux with exercise as an example. Anti-metabolites, anti-cancer drugs and G protein agonist and antagonists will be discussed as examples of therapeutic intervention. The pharmacology aspects of the module will cover how drugs act at receptors, ion channels and specific enzymes, their molecular targets and the underlying cellular mechanisms of action. It will cover methods and measurement in pharmacology and the absorption and distribution of drugs, their elimination and pharmacokinetics.

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

The aim of the module is to introduce you to organic chemistry and develop the ground-work needed for further study, which will include the structures of organic molecules, bonding and an introduction to chemical transformations.

Molecular Biology

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 1

This module will introduce you to fundamental concepts in cell and molecular biology.

Some of the topics covered are: cell biology (including cell diversity, cellular organelles, the cytoskeleton, biomembranes, intercellular communication and the cell division cycle); the structure and function of proteins and enzyme action (including the properties of proteins, protein conformation and its relation to biological activity, protein folding and denaturation, and the molecular basis of enzymic activity); nucleic acids and chromatin structure (including secondary and tertiary structures of nucleic acids and nucleoprotein complexes, and DNA replication); an introduction to gene expression (including gene structure, transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, mRNA processing, genetic code and the effect of mutations); an introduction to gene regulation (including the regulation of DNA by histone modification, transcriptional regulation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, alternative pre­mRNA splicing, regulatory RNAs, RNA interference, translational regulation, and the post­translational modification of proteins).

There are also laboratory classes in subjects such as microscopy, cell biology, determination of protein concentration, spectrophotometry, nucleic acid isolation, and gene regulation in bacteria.

Research Methods in Biochemistry

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 1

This module aims to give you a deeper understanding of important techniques which underlie modern biochemistry. These include methods for separation and purification, such as centrifugation and column chromatography; methods for detecting and measuring molecules, such as gel electrophoresis and scintillation counting; and methods for studying molecules, such as spectroscopy including NMR, redox potential measurement and crystallography.

Theory in lectures is closely linked to practical classes and computer simulations.

Applications of Organic and Bioinorganic Chemistry

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The aim of the module is to provide an overview of medicinal chemistry and metal ions in biochemistry. With regards to the former, you will learn about the basic principles of medicinal chemistry, from the shape of biomolecules and target complexes, to the development of new drugs. Two case studies will be presented. The second aim is to give you an overview of the importance of metal ions in biological systems, the transport of metals and the biosynthesis of metal binding sites. A few metal-containing proteins and enzymes will be described in detail.

Cell Regulation and Cancer

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

The module aims to introduce students to the mechanisms by which cell metabolism and growth is regulated in normal and diseased states, focussing on cancer. It will cover cell regulation at the level of single cells and the body as a whole and will discuss the major signal transduction pathways used by hormones, neurotransmitters and growth factors to control cell growth and metabolism in the normal state and also the use of pharmacological agents to discriminate between receptor subtypes. This will lead to a discussion of how loss of control of these signaling pathways by the generation of oncogenes or changes in tumour suppressor genes leads to alterations in the cell cycle and the development of cancer. The difference between normal and transformed cells, the altered signal transduction mechanisms and the epidemiology, incidence and mortality in different cancers are reviewed.

Clinical Biochemistry

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

This module will outline the biochemical mechanisms for controlling the pathways of lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism under different physiological and nutritional conditions and will discuss the importance of diseases arising from defects in these pathways. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the aetiology, symptoms and treatment of diseases such as type I and II diabetes mellitus; the obesity epidemic and metabolic syndrome; hypertension; atherosclerosis and other lipid disorders and inborn errors of carbohydrate and amino metabolism. It aims to introduce the role of the clinical chemistry laboratory in the National Health Service and will cover the principles of laboratory analysis and automation; what is normal, including issues of sensitivity, specificity, predictive value and reference ranges. A variety of routine biochemical tests will be discussed, together with their importance for the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and screening for disease. The module consists of lectures, including visiting lecturers with direct experience of the clinical field, online quizzes, a problem class and practicals.

Combating Disease

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

The module will cover the basic concepts that are essential for a first understanding of contemporary aspects of cellular and molecular immunology as the same time expanding on the modes of action of a range of common therapeutic agents, in terms of their modes of action, receptor / drug targets and associated physiological responses.

The module will discuss the role of innate and adaptive immunity in defense mechanisms, explaining how the innate immunity is able to recognise non-self-antigens and the meaning of inflammation. Emphasis will be given to how the structures of the antibody classes are related to their function and how antibody diversity and T-cell receptor diversity are generated. The structure and function of T cells receptor and major histocompatibility complex will be reviewed. In order to understand T cell activation, antigens processing & presentation and the function of cytokines networks will be covered. Particular emphasis will be given to how cell mediated and humoral immune responses are coordinated.

The module will also be covering: antibiotics and their mode of action, adrenergic transmission and the use of sympathomimetic agonist and antagonists, the cardiovascular system and the regulation of blood pressure by the renin angiotensin-aldosterone system.

Developmental Biology

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 2

How does an adult organism arise from a fertilized egg? This module presents the concepts and principles that are rapidly emerging from studies of developmental processes in animals.

Topics to be discussed include egg organisation and origins of cell differences, molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation, cell movements and inductive interactions, long-range signalling mechanisms, the cellular and molecular processes underlying pattern formation, and the evolutionary conservation of developmental mechanisms in different phyla.

Genetics and Genomics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module will cover aspects of both classical and molecular genetics. Starting from the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance and meiosis the concepts of genetic linkage, recombination and mapping will be introduced. How the understanding of these processes can be used in the analysis of human disease traits will be discussed in detail. The module will then move onto looking at the structure of genomes, again with an emphasis on the human genome and how changes to this structure can relate to human disease. Finally the module will build on the basic molecular genetics covered in the level 4 molecular biology module to describe the advanced techniques now being used to analyse and manipulate genomes.

Principles of Neuroscience

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

In the first half of this module we will study in detail how plants sense their environment (plant growth regulators), take up nutrients (ion transport and membrane properties) and photosynthesise (carbohydrate synthesis, phloem translocation and sink tissue metabolism). We will then focus on the molecular biology of plants, and topics covered will include compartmentation of plant DNA, plant gene expression, and the plant genome. This will lead on to lectures on plant genetic manipulation and the application of such technologies.

Structural Basis of Biological Function

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 2

This module builds on the topics of protein structure and function relationships introduced by first year modules Fundamentals of Cell and Molecular Biology and Biological Chemistry. Topics covered will include:

• an introduction to protein structure and folding
• the methods used to determine high-resolution protein structures
• protein superfamilies
• the functional properties of enzymes
• the methods of analysis for exploring enzyme mechanism
• how enzyme properties can be modified by protein engineering techniques to produce new enzymes with desirable properties, illustrated using a case study of subtilisin
• the specificity of small molecule enzyme interactions, illustrated using an example of rationale drug design
• the role of proteins as transducers of mechanical energy, explored by considering the role of actin and myosin in muscle contraction.

Life Sciences Final Year Research Project

30 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This is an individual research project involving the investigation of a biological problem or phenomenon using experimental procedures, or the investigation and evaluation of a medical condition, intervention or treatment using literature-based methods, in addition to patient feedback where possible. You will obtain data and information from either laboratory or field-based experiments; from work performed in silico, or from literature-based research.

Bio-organic Chemistry

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

The aim of the module is to describe the unifying biosynthetic principles which underlay the diverse structures of natural products and to show the relevance for the primary structures of proteins to their shape and to the catalytic properties of enzymes. To introduce a basic set of chemical transformations applied in the chemical synthesis of the major classes of biomolecules such as nucleic acides, peptides and glycans.

Cell Signalling and its Applications in Therapeutics and Disease

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

The aim of this module will be to discuss the major signalling pathways in cells and how perturbations of these can result in disease processes such as hypertension, cancer, gigantism, cholera, secretory diarrhea, polycystic kidney disease and septic shock. The module will demonstrate how a knowledge of these pathways has led to the design and use of specific pharmacological agents to target these pathways for therapeutic intervention. The signalling pathways covered will include Ca2+, cyclic nucleotides, nitric oxide and guanylate cyclase, MAPK kinase pathways, PI-3-kinase and PKB, Jak/Stat pathways and integrins.

Development of the Nervous System

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The human adult nervous system consists of a wide range of specialised cell types that make up the brain, central and peripheral nervous system, as well as specialised sensory organs such as the eye and ear. These different neuronal cell types arise from a common progenitor during development, and furthermore, many of the essential genetic elements required for their development have been retained across different species during evolution. This module will cover selected highlights of contemporary research findings from drosophila, chicken and mouse developmental biology that have informed our emergent understanding of the genes and cellular processes involved in nervous system development and organisation, that will likely impact on the ability to repair spinal cord injuries and treat neurodegenerative disorders in your generation.

Endocrinology and Disease

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The aim of this module is to discuss the structure, synthesis, secretion and metabolic effects of the major classes of hormones (e.g. insulin, glucagon, thyroid hormones, glucocorticoids, sex steroids, the renin-angiotensin system, growth hormone and prolactin). Emphasis will be placed upon how imbalances in the synthesis and secretion of these hormones leads to disease states, their symptoms and treatment (e.g. diabetes mellitus, Addisons Disease, Cushing's Syndrome, Grave's disease, hypothyroidism, acromegaly and dwarfism, hypertension).

Genome Stability, Genetic Diseases and Cancer

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The design of new therapies for cancer depends on first understanding the molecular events that cause the disease. Genomic DNA is damaged spontaneously by chemical carcinogens and by radiation. If unrepaired, this damage leads to mutations, cancer and other developmental disorders. All cells have evolved a sophisticated array of repair and response mechanisms to deal with DNA damage. The aim of this module is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control DNA repair and to appreciate how defects in genes involved in these repair processes are associated with different, in many cases cancer-prone, genetic disorders. Throughout the module, emphasis will be placed on both the review and critical evaluation of recently published experimental evidence; advances in this area rely on a combination of biochemical analysis, genetic approaches and bioinformatics. Lectures on this module will be complemented by discussion groups.

Genomics and Bioinformatics

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module will introduce the common types of genomic and proteomic data available in biological databases; including DNA and protein sequences, motifs, gene structure, protein interactions and expression profiles. The aims and methods of DNA and protein sequence analysis will be covered, including analysis of homology, identification of motifs and domains, pair-wise and multiple alignments and prediction of gene structure.

The practical sessions will include the analysis of DNA and protein sequence data from biological databases. In these sessions you will learn how to integrate data to find the functional links between disease related genes and proteins.

Immunology in Health and Disease

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

In this module, there will be an emphasis on the experimental applications of immunology, important for clinical procedures and for basic research. For example, the module will outline methods for the analysis of antigen expression on cells, for the study of hypersensitivity reactions, for cell-mediated cytotoxicity, for vaccine production and clinical analysis of their effects. Also, the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against cancer, graft rejection and autoimmune diseases will be discussed.

Innovation in Bioscience and Medicine

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

The purpose of this module is to provide you with an overview of how research in the life sciences can lead to innovation in society, and the factors that shape, boost or inhibit such innovation.

The module explores the applications of bioscience, particularly in medicine, its products and processes, and their patterns of development. It examines the mechanisms through which products and services are commercialised, such as university-industry links, spin-off firms and corporate alliances. Wider regulatory and ethical debates and the role they play in the development of biotechnology are also explored.

Molecular Genetics

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

The module will cover the application of molecular genetics to the study of processes in model systems and higher eukaryotes. Particular topics will include cell cycle and checkpoint control, recombination and mating type switching in lower eukaryotes, gene mapping and cloning disease genes in higher eukaryotes, and the production of transgenic animals.

Post Transcriptional Control of Gene Expression

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

This module explores in detail the molecular mechanisms controlling RNA export, translation and decay in eukaryotes. It focuses on how such processes are carried out and regulated - by hormones and growth factors, miRNAs, viral infection, ischaemia, hypoxia and stress - and what goes wrong in the diseased state.

Protein Form and Function

15 credits
Spring teaching, Year 3

Protein Form and Function provides a sense of how protein structures are related to each other and of how these structures relate to protein function. On this module you will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to learn about and appreciate this class of molecule. This module covers aspects of protein structure in detail and introduces computational and experimental techniques that are essential for studying proteins, and provides the basis for the in depth discussion of more topical issues such as protein engineering and design, protein folding, chaperones and protein folding diseases.

Regulating the Transcriptome

15 credits
Autumn teaching, Year 3

This module takes an in­- depth look at the molecular mechanisms controlling RNA expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, focussing largely on gene transcription but also examining RNA processing events. The mechanism of action of RNA polymerase, transcription factors and RNA processing factors will also be examined in detail.