Overview

This module will deal with the Molecular and Cellular foundation of the Biological Sciences. This falls into three broad areas:

1. Biochemistry: To introduce the types and roles of small molecules found in all organisms,animals, plants, microbes etc, the main reactions in which they are involved and the control of these reactions.

2. Molecular Biology: To introduce the central roles for large molecules in all life on earth. To introduce synthesis, structure, function and inter-relationships of nucleic acids and proteins.

3. Cell Biology: To introduce the structure and mechanisms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and how these impact on macroscopic physiology.

Module structure The module will be split into five separate units across both semesters. Each unit will be led by a different academic and consist of a number of lectures and sessions, and an end of unit test, which will contribute to your final grade.

The units are: 1. Chemistry of Life 2. Cell Biology 3. Genetics 4. Microbiology 5. Recombinant DNA

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts presented in the module. With basic knowledge of their general context.Equivalent category CNS general marking criteria:D- (42%) to D+ (48%)

-good -A good student should have a thorough factual knowledge across all aspects of the module, and be able to detail examples where appropriate. Good understanding of applications.Equivalent category CNS general marking criteria:B- (62%) to B+ (68%)

-excellent -An excellent student will have excellent factual recall (including good examples) and ability to link different parts of the module. Full appreciation of the relevance of the topics to a broader context.Equivalent category CNS general marking criteria:A- (74%) to A* (95%)

Learning Outcomes

• A basic knowledge of how life harnesses the sun's energy with an emphasis on oxidation/reduction reactions.

• A basic knowledge of the building blocks of life (metabolites) and how they are made via metabolic pathways, also the implications of this to nutrition and treatment of disease (infectious, acquired and inherited).

• A basic knowledge of the mechanisms of cell division, differentiation and death.

• A basic knowledge of the procedures used in gene cloning and transformation.

• A basic knowledge of the structure and function to proteins and their evolution.

• A basic understanding of the mechanisms of inheritance and importance of nucleic acids in living processes. The concept of the gene is central to this.

• An appreciation of the cellular and molecular basis of life; including relevance to Industry, Medicine and the Environmental Sciences.

• An appreciation of the ethical and social issues raised by the orhtodox explanation of the origin of life and of genetic engineering.

• An appreciation of the key role of the Cell Theory in Biology, Together with a knowledge of the types of cells (and related particles, such as viruses and prions).

• An appreciation of the structure of the eukaryotic cell and the key role in physiology played by cell membranes and cytoskeleton.