School of Biology

This module is an introduction to molecular and cellular biology. It covers cell diversity and the origins of life, cellular structures and fundamental processes. The central dogma of molecular biology is investigated through the examination of the structure and function of DNA, RNA and proteins, and how this knowledge led to modern developments in biotechnology. The final section of the module gives an introduction into molecular and population genetics with an emphasis on the process of evolution. Throughout the module the lecture material is complemented by extensive practical classes where biological laboratory techniques are taught an practiced through, for example, microscopy, DNA isolation, dissection and thin layer chromatography.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module provides an introduction to the diversity of life on Earth and will address key elements of organismal and ecological aspects of life. The module is divided into several sections beginning with the classification of life and an introduction to the kingdoms Monera, Fungi and Protista. Photosynthesis, respiration and the evolution and diversity of plants will be studied. Students will then look at the diversity of animals in the sea and the movement of some groups onto land. The module will also provide an introduction to animal behaviour and developmental biology, before finishing off by introducing ecology and the various factors promoting and threatening biodiversity. Throughout the module the lecture material is complemented by extensive practical classes introducing a variety of fieldwork and laboratory techniques.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This is an introductory module covering general aspects of animal cell structure and associated physiology. The module stars with a general overview of the regulation of the cell cycle, the roles of protein complexes essential to cell shape and adhesion and the homeostatic role of ion pumps, transporters and channels in the maintenance of solute compositions in both the intra- and extra-cellular fluid compartments. The module continues with detailed structure-function relationships within cells from three major tissues - i) nerve cells and the mechanisms of generation and propagation of the action potential, ii) skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle cells and mechanisms controlling contraction and finally iii) blood cells and O2 transport, immune response, coagulation and cell signaling pathways.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module builds on BL1201 Molecular Biology. The module will further develop the understanding and application of techniques, skills and concepts, which are integral to the revolution that has occurred in the biological sciences in recent years. The module is essential underpinning for all branches of modern biology and biochemistry. The lectures include coursework on biological molecular architecture, cellular architecture, enzymes & metabolism, genomics and conclude with an introduction to the molecular basis of infection and immunity. The laboratory element will develop practical skills and the use of bioinformatics resources.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Zoology is the study of animals, ranging from the simplest types of multicellular organisms such as sponges and jellyfish, through to humankind itself. The module surveys the animal kingdom, describing the key groups and the defining characteristics of their body plans and lifestyles, while putting this in an evolutionary context to reveal the patterns and trends in the kingdom as a whole. Special topics that are of fundamental importance to animals, such as animal communication, and the mechanisms of locomotion on land and in the sea and air, are considered in more detail. An extensive series of practical exercises reinforces and complements the lecture component of this module.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module covers the principles of physiological adaptation in a range of animals, including examples from all major taxa and from all habitats. Initial comparisons relating to scaling and design of animals will be followed by more specific units on: (A) Comparative principles of ionic and osmotic exchanges; water balance in aquatic and land animals, adaptations at skin, kidney, and respiratory surfaces. (B) Respiratory systems in water and on land, and associated circulatory mechanisms. (C) Principles of temperature balance; ectotherms and endotherms. (D) Feeding and digestive systems; food collection, ingestion, and absorption at different trophic levels; and waste disposal. (E) Sensory systems in different environments (especially visual, olfactory, auditory, and special senses). (F) Control systems using hormones and pheromones and (G) the immune system in a range of animals.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Ecology and Evolution are central to our understanding of life on Earth and the relationships between all organisms and their biotic and abiotic environment. The principles of Ecology and Evolution have determined the variety and distribution of all organisms and will determine their future responses to global change. This module will introduce students to principles and patterns of Ecology, ranging from the global (for example, patterns of energy flow through ecosystems and the biogeography of organisms and communities) to the individual (competition between and within species) and the history and processes of Evolutionary Biology (Darwin, natural selection, population genetics, the evolution of sex and speciation).
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module builds on material covered in BL1201 Molecular Biology and BL2104 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It first considers the structure of genes and the composition of genomes and then examines genetic activity in eukaryotes in relation to nuclear organisation, chromatin structure and epigenetic mechanisms. Regulation of expression at the levels of gene transcription, RNA processing, RNA stability and translation are next covered in detail, drawing particular attention to the nature of protein-nucleic acid interactions. Specific control mechanisms in different prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, induced by environmental, cell cycle, and metabolic signals are highlighted.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module deals with the structural and functional organisation of biological membranes. The dynamic molecular components of biological membranes are studied by investigating the mechanisms involved in the control of membrane fluidity, and the biogenesis of new molecular components of the membrane. The central role that biological membranes play in the regulation of the movement of molecules between different extracellular, intracellular and transcellular compartments is also considered. The process of molecular transport is studied at both a theoretical and practical level. The interaction between the structural and functional organisation of the cell membrane is highlighted by studying the specialisation seen in the major transporting epithelial tissues. Topics covered include: (i) structural and kinetic analysis of ligand-receptor interactions; (ii) GTP-binding proteins and the generation of intracellular second messengers: cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, diacyl glycerol and inositol triphosphate; (iii) the activation of receptor and intracellular protein kinases: serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases; (iv) de-sensitisation of signal responses and receptor 'cross-talk'; (v) direct and indirect activation of plasma membrane ion channels. The practical component includes experiments to illustrate methods used to elucidate signalling pathways as well as providing training in laboratory and transferable skills.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

The conversion of one form of energy into another by a biochemical process is at the centre of all life. This module studies the biological systems for conserving energy from food oxidation and light absorption (photosynthesis) and the conversion of the resulting redox energy into chemical energy in the pyrophosphate bonds of ATP. The module also considers electron transfer processes in biology and the energetics of trasport processes. Chemiosmotic theory and the principles are considered in detail as are the structure and function of electron and proton transfer systems of energy tranducing systems. Practical classes will introduce the student to the methods used in this field of study. The module will comprise twenty lectures, eight hours tutorials/seminars in total, and twelve hours in practical classes.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module deals with the fascinating and rapidly changing field of Developmental Biology. It examines how an organism develops from an egg to an adult (including instances of metamorphosis), as well as how lost or damaged body parts can be regenerated. Also the interactions between development and ecology and evolution will be considered. There will be a focus on some of the typical model species used in developmental biology, including fruit flies, nematodes, mice and frogs, but this will be expanded to include other valuable comparative models, such as sea squirts, annelids, cnidarians and flatworms. The course will encompass multiple biological levels, from molecules, through cells and embryos, to the environment and the organism’s evolutionary history. As such this module is of wide relevance to a range of other biological disciplines.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module has lectures in three component areas: parasite infections, viral disease, and pathogenicity of common bacterial infections, and will include consideration of host defences and effective treatment. In all three component areas the emphasis will be on understanding at the molecular level.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module builds on the material covered in BL1201 and BL2104 to provide an understanding of more advanced aspects of protein structure and enzymology. The module begins by considering the protein-folding problem. The energetics of protein folding and the dependence of structure on sequence are examined. Protein folding diseases like spongiform encephalopathies are used as examples to highlight the significance of protein folding. The molecular basis of prion diseases is discussed in detail. The second part of the module focuses on the mechanisms of enzymes. This in turn leads into the phenomena of allosteric regulation, signalling cascades and transporter systems and is followed by a consideration of enzymes as pharmacological targets. The third part of the module introduces the major techniques for protein structure determination that are at the heart of modern biochemistry, molecular biology and drug discovery. Strategies for obtaining three-dimensional images of macromolecules by electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance are discussed. The laboratory course associated with this module introduces the fundamentals of safe laboratory practice. It provides grounding in the basic laboratory techniques, including associated calculations, as well as those associated with the study of proteins and enzymes.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

An introductory residential module to Honours study for students studying Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Biology degrees held at the Burn between the resit diet and the start of semester 1. This module introduces students to the skill of critically analysing scientific literature and the methodology behind preparing research proposals. Students will work in groups to develop a grant proposal and present their ideas to a mock research grant panel. In response to detailed feedback students can improve their skills and finally submit an extended referees report on a real grant proposal.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Few biologists are statisticians or mathematicians, but all biologists use statistics and mathematics. This series of workshops is designed to build confidence in organising and analyzing data to address biological questions efficiently. The module will help you learn how to identify statistical and quantitative approaches, and how to manage and analyse data in a code driven statistical programming package. An introductory workshop will cover basic concepts and practical training that will be used in a choice of specific workshops that cover applications across the range of Biology.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This project will involve extensive laboratory or field research to investigate a defined problem within biology, appropriate to the degree programme being studied by each student. The project will involve diligence, initiative and independence in pursuing the literature, good experimental design, good experimental and/or analytical technique either in the field or the laboratory, and excellent record keeping. The project will culminate in the production of a high-quality report that demonstrates a deep understanding of the chosen area of research. Students will be allocated to a member of staff within the School of Biology who will guide and advise them in research activities throughout the academic year.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This project will involve an extensive literature review to investigate a defined hypothesis or problem within the field of biology, appropriate to the degree programme being studied by each student. The project will involve diligence, initiative and independence in pursuing the literature, and the production of a high-quality dissertation that demonstrates a deep understanding of the chosen area of research. Students will be allocated to a member of staff who will guide and advise them in research activities throughout the academic year. The project will be written up in the form of a research dissertation.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module will commence by establishing the fundamental basis of antimicrobial efficacy in terms of selective toxicity, with a brief history of antimicrobials and factors that make the ideal antimicrobial. This will be followed by study of the known inhibitory action of antibacterial and antifungal drugs at the molecular level, and study of the molecular basis of microbial resistance to these drugs. Lastly, potential new sources of antimicrobials will be considered, particularly antimicrobial peptides and 'natural' antimicrobials.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

In order to establish an infection in a host, pathogenic bacteria rely on mechanisms to adhere to host tissue, gain entry into cells, escape the host's immune response and spread and survive within or on the host. These processes are mediated by bacterial virulence factors, i.e. proteins and other bacterial products that utilise and subvert diverse host cellular processes for the benefit of the pathogen. In this module students will explore how structural biology has led to significant breakthroughs in understanding the molecular bases of some important bacterial infections.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module is about using computers to search and study protein and DNA sequences, and related data such as mRNA expression levels. Vast quantities of such data are publicly available, and, if viewed in the right way, can provide strong evidence concerning function, structure, and evolution of DNA, RNA, proteins and genes. Because of this, computational analysis has become a crucial component of modern biology, including biochemistry, molecular biology, ecology, evolutionary biology and biomedical research. With hundreds of genome sequences and vast quantities of expression data available, the approach has greater potential than ever before. This module will give an overview of the data, software and methods of analysis, and in-depth practical training in applying bioinformatics techniques to questions of biology and biomedical research. Case studies where researchers use genomes to ask questions about divergence, adaptation and speciation will be discussed. The emphasis of the module is not mathematical, but rather concerns data, the general features of methods, use of software, applications relevant to biology, and results. The module will involve use of computers and simple computer programming, for which training will be provided as part of the module.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Highly-efficiently chromosomal DNA replication is essential for all forms of cellular life on Earth and requires the complex interplay of a large range of protein factors in a temporally- and spatially-coordinated manner. In humans, defects in the replication process may lead to genetic disease or cancer. This module will summarise current knowledge of the enzymes and mechanisms of chromosomal DNA replication in bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic cells with particular emphasis on exploring the diverse range of experimental systems and techniques used in the laboratory to probe the structure, function and regulation of the replication apparatus. Similarities and differences between cellular and viral DNA replication strategies will be explored and diverse aspects of the evolution of the replication machinery highlighted.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Geomicrobiology explores the interactions between microbes and materials within inorganic environments and investigates the effects of microbial activity on these substances. Throughout the Earth's history, microbes have successfully colonised numerous and different inorganic environments, and in the process have changed the chemical nature of geological materials therein. The current interest in geomicrobiology has been reawakened by climate change and environmental issues. The module will commence by investigating very early Earth and its initial colonisers 3.7 BYA - the sulphate-reducing and methane-producing anaerobic bacteria - and later development of the aerobic environment. Then issues concerning today's Earth and the consequences of geomicrobial cycling are investigated, as well tomorrow's Earth and the influence of microbial activity on global climate change. What are the future implications of geomicrobiological activity? Finally, hypotheses regarding the geomicrobiology of a variety of newly explored space environments are considered.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

All cells depend on enzymes to catalyse the reactions that produce the energy required for life and that make and repair DNA, proteins and lipids. Understanding enzymes and their regulation underpins research on, for example, drug development. This module will study how the structures and molecular functions of selected examples enable the biological roles. Topics will include flavoproteins, DNA repair enzymes, nitric oxides synthases and other enzymes depending on the research interests of the academic staff. It will develop deductive skills, literature research, and communication of specific knowledge from reviews and primary research articles, and will encourage integration of previous basic knowledge of bioenergetics, protein structure and function, gene expression and metabolic regulation into the exploration of the cellular roles of enzymes.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Viruses as a group include many important human and veterinary pathogens such as influenza virus, hepatitis C virus, foot and mouth disease virus as well as emerging viruses like Ebola virus, and remain a continuing threat to human and animal welfare. This module will consist of a mixture of lectures, tutorials and personal-based learning on aspects of RNA virus host interactions. The topics covered will include comparison of the molecular mechanisms employed by enveloped and non-enveloped viruses to enter and exit from cells, discussion of how small RNA viruses maximise their coding capacity, comparison of the replication of positive and negative strand RNA viruses, discussion of how selected viruses reprogram the host cell to ensure their own replication, description of how RNA viruses intercede with innate immune responses, and understanding of how selected viruses interact with their vectors. In addition, discussion of virus-related topics that have made headline news in recent years will be addressed, and an understanding of the more commonly used molecular techniques to study viruses will be expected.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Predators and their prey are locked in an evolutionary arms race which continuously refines and improves the abilities of predators to locate and capture prey, and of prey to detect and evade predators. This strong selective pressure has produced some spectacular adaptations in both the nervous systems and the overall anatomy of the animals concerned. This, combined with the usually unambiguous motivation of the animals involved in predator-prey interactions (eat or starve, escape or be eaten) has made such adaptations favoured targets for study by neuroscientists, behavioural scientists, and biomechanicists. Students on this module will undertake a series of guided case studies researching the primary literature, and the module will also include some hands-on laboratory work. The aim is both to uncover some general principles of neural and biomechanical organisation, and also to reveal the variety and ingenuity with which evolution has found different solutions to shared problems.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

In this module, students will develop a detailed understanding of molecular neuroscience. There will be three main sections. Firstly, how neurons stay alive (e.g. neurotrophic factor signalling cascades) is examined; then how neurons age (e.g. White matter thinning, Gliosis (neuroinflammation), and thirdly, how the nervous system responds to neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease. Work will focus at the biochemical and molecular level, so that detailed knowledge of signalling pathways including the kinase cascades from the neurotrophic factors and death pathways will be gained.The module concentrates on three key areas relating to neurodegenerative processes. 1) How neurons stay alive, for example the neurotrophic factor signalling cascades 2) The aging nervous system: Changes that can 'prime' neurons for degeneration, degenerative disorders - risks, pathology, treatments. Including a practical session looking at aging murine brains (histology) and at aging neurons and glia in vitro 3) How the nervous system responds to neurodegenerative diseases, with particular focus on Alzheimer's disease.Work will be especially at the biochemical and molecular level, so that detailed knowledge of signalling pathways including the kinase cascades from the neurotrophic factors and death pathways will be gained.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Practical skills are the core of research in biochemistry and molecular biology. This module is designed to prepare students for laboratory research projects in internationally competitive research. The module is designed to foster skills such as experimental design, core practical skills, data analysis and excellent record keeping. Each practical requires some prior theoretical familiarity. Emphasis is placed upon experimental design - notably anticipation of experimental outcomes and the choice of appropriate experimental controls. This planning phase is followed by execution of the experiment and analyses of the data.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Extensive and versatile communication between nerve cells using special junctions called synapses endows the nervous system with many complex functions like learning and memory. This module will cover important recent progress in understanding the morphology and ultrastructure of synapses, neurotransmitter synthesis, release and clearance mechanisms, synaptic plasticity, the role of glial cells and the development of neurotransmission. Some laboratory work will provide students with hands-on experience of advanced research methods.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Membrane trafficking mediates the transport of substances between different cellular organelles and the secretion of substances from cells. As such, regulation of membrane trafficking is applicable to all cell types, but especially to specialised secretory cells such as neurons, which secrete neurotransmitters and pancreatic beta-cells which secrete insulin. This module will consider how molecules control the movement of substances through the secretory pathway, but will focus on how cells regulate the release of contents. Within the module you will look at the proteins involved, the different experiments used to study the process and how model organisms are enhancing our understanding.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

Until recently the nervous system was viewed as a black and white world in which neuronal networks carried out tasks using fast chemical synaptic transmission to produce an appropriate network output. However the output of neuronal networks is not fixed but instead is modifiable under different behavioural or developmental circumstances. A major source of flexibility in the output neuronal networks derives from neuromodulation; a process in which the basic operation of the networks remains the same but the strengths of synaptic connections and the integrative electrical properties of neurons in the networks are changed by the actions of a range of neuromodulators. This module explores the diverse range of neuromodulatory mechanisms and outlines their importance in information processing in the nervous system.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

The process of developing a new drug from conception to the clinic takes on average 15 years and costs over $800M. There are now many examples of drugs developed based on a knowledge of the three dimensional structure of the target, and all major pharmaceutical companies have structural biology as part of their core drug discovery programmes. Many drugs currently used to combat AIDS were developed from a detailed knowledge of key HIV proteins, as were the two drugs used for influenza. Most major pharmaceutical companies are targeting kinases in the search for new cancer therapies, with international efforts focusing on producing structural details of huge numbers of human kinases.This module will examine case studies of drugs that have been developed with the aid of structure-based methods.
[source: University Module Catalogue]

This module is based on the Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme launched in 2002. It provides final year students within the Faculty of Science with the opportunity to gain first hand experience of science education through a mentoring scheme with science teachers in local schools. Students will act initially as observers in the classroom and later as classroom assistants. With permission of the teacher-in-charge, students may also be given the opportunity to lead at least one lesson, or activity within a lesson, during their placement. This module will enable students to gain substantial experience of working in a challenging and unpredictable working environment, and of communicating scientific ideas at various different levels; and to gain a broad understanding of many of the key aspects of teaching science in schools. While of particular value to students aiming for a career in education, these core skills are equally important for any career that requires good communication. Entry to this module is by selection following application and interview during the preceding semester.
[source: University Module Catalogue]