Biomedical Sciences

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr Henning Wackerhage

Pre-requisites

Prospective students should have, or expect to be awarded a 2.2 Honours degree or above in a sports/exercise-related degree.

Overview

After an introduction to ‘Molecular Exercise Physiology’ as a field you will learn about endurance training and the signal transduction that regulates the specific adaptations to this type of exercise. You will then learn about resistance training and the specific adaptations resulting from this form of training.

Structure

Assessment

2x on-line tests (7.5% each), 1x essay (15%), 1x examination (70%).

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Henning Wackerhage

Pre-requisites

Prospective students should have, or expect to be awarded a 2.2 Honours degree or above in a sports/exercise-related degree.

Notes

Overview

You will learn ‘hands on’ molecular exercise physiology techniques that include DNA, RNA and protein extraction, PCR, RT-PCR and Western blotting. The theoretical basis of these techniques will be explained and their use in research papers analysed.

Structure

Assessment

2x on-line tests (7.5% each), lab book (5%), lab report (10%), examination (70%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Henning Wackerhage

Pre-requisites

Prospective students should have, or expect to be awarded a 2.2 Honours degree or above in a sports/exercise-related degree.

Overview

The aim of the course is to cover a wide variety of molecular exercise physiology topics. They include genotype and performance-related traits and mechanisms by which exercise improves disease.

At the end of this course you should be able to:
- use genome browsers and bio-informatical tools to search 'in silico' for information related to molecular exercise physiology;
- justify whether animals are suitable models for exercise research;
- explain mechanisms by which exercise improves disease states such as type 2 diabetes, muscle wasting and osteoporosis;
- critically analyse papers published on these topics.

Structure

Assessment

2 on-line tests (3% each), oral presentation (4%), grant application (12%), bioinformatics essay (8%), 2 examinations (35% each).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Henning Wackerhage

Pre-requisites

Prospective students should have, or expect to be awarded a 2.2 Honours degree or above in a sports/exercise-related degree.

Overview

You will search for literature and compile a review-like thesis on a topic related to molecular exercise physiology

Structure

Weekly meeting with supervisor

Assessment

Thesis (100%)

Credit Points

Course Coordinator

Dr Henning Wackerhage

Pre-requisites

Prospective students should have, or expect to be awarded a 2.2 Honours degree or above in a sports/exercise-related degree. Only very basic knowledge of molecular and cellular biology is required.

Notes

Overview

Everything necessary for producing a MSc level research thesis.
At the end of this course, you (i.e. the postgraduate) should be able to: develop research hypotheses and produce a research plan; carry out the planned research; write a thesis.

Structure

Laboratory research
Weekly meeting with supervisor or on demand

Assessment

Thesis (100%)