Undergraduate Biology 2020-2021

Five themes, critical to understanding biology and life, will be explored – Developmental Biology, Microbiology and Disease, Evolution and Behaviour, Immune Systems and Environmental Physiology. Each theme is structured to provide you with core knowledge, insight into how science is practiced, an introduction to current research topics and skills that are useful for investigating, recording and analysing information.
The course will be delivered using a blended learning approach and can be taken by students who will be on campus in first semester, or those who may choose to stay at home

A walk through the evolutionary tree of life, examining the amazing diversity of major groups of organisms from plants through fungi to invertebrates.

Learn about how each group of organisms arose, their characteristics, and how they achieved success.
Practical activities provide hands on experience of materials demonstrating the diversity of plants and invertebrates.
You will be assessed by a combination of exercises based on practicals, on which you will get feedback to help you develop your skills, and online tests, each based on a particular section of the course, which will be spread throughout the course.

This course will take you on a journey through the physical workings of the Earth, the interactions between species and their environments and then on to the effects humans are having on the planet, potential solutions and thoughts on the future.

Teaching is by staff with different subject specialisms who give both variety and immediacy to course material.

Exposure to the problems we are facing both now and in the future will help you make informed choices in their everyday lives.

A range of ‘wet’ and computer-based practicals enhance the classroom teaching and develop generic scientific skills.

• A walk through the evolutionary tree of life, examining the amazing diversity of advanced invertebrates and vertebrates.
• Learn about how each group of organisms arose, their characteristics, and how they achieved success. For example what are the key evolutionary steps enabling life away from the water? How do birds fly?
• Practical activities provide hands on experience of materials demonstrating the features of invertebrates, amphibians, fish, birds and mammals.
• You will be assessed by a combination of laboratory reports, on which you will get detailed feedback to help you develop your skills, and an exam .

The week-long residential course is based at the University’s Bettyhill field station in the far north of Scotland. The location is stunning and, for many students, a new experience of unfamiliar plant communities.
Most of the time is spent in the field visiting a wide range of habitats and learning how to identify the species found. The emphasis is on recognising key features of plant species and how to use plant guides to identify them: these transferrable skills can be used to help identify plants all round the world.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

• look at how instructions in genes are transformed by natural selection to produce the diversity of life on Earth;
• learn how species evolve, how we determine evolutionary relationships;
• why populations change, understand why humans (and other organisms) must carry genetic diseases;
• meet enthusiastic staff; each teach about areas we are expert on;
• take 3 Genes & Evolution Practicals to gain hands on experience of approaches used by researchers to map genes,
  estimate rates of evolution, and determine evolutionary relationships;
• keep up to speed with in-course tests, understand basic statistics, see why mutations are not the only evolutionary currency

The course will help you consolidate and develop skills in experimental design, sampling, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of data. You will be encouraged to seek to improve your academic writing and develop other transferable skills.

Each week, there is one 1-hour introductory lecture.  In two 2-hour sessions when will work through a series of computer-based data tasks, using relevant and realistic biological and environmental themes.

Teaching is informal and friendly. During sessions, staff will chat to you about your progress and provide help where necessary.

Assessments are two online multiple-choice tests (each 25%) and an individual project (50%).

This course builds on themes from introductory ecology courses.  You will develop your abilities to interpret data by applying theory discussed in classes to real-life data sets using short problem-solving exercises linked to each topic.  Feedback will help you improve writing and interpretation skills.  Extended problem-solving exercises will improve your communication skills, scientific writing and introduce you to valuable approaches to summarising complex datasets in Excel.  A series of tutorials will allow you develop critical thinking as you explore specific themes in more detail.  You will also consider issues around experimental design. 

• Physiology is the science of understanding life.  It allows you to explore and understand why your body does what it does and how it does it;
• This introductory physiology course explores living processes at the level of cells and molecules;
• The course lays down many of the fundamental concepts of physiology required to appreciate advanced study of many of the medical science disciplines;
• You will gain practical experience and understanding of electrophysiological techniques required for the study of electrically excitable tissues, like nerves and muscle;
• You will also gain valuable experience in the key skill of writing formal scientific reports

• this course will provide a comprehensive understanding of how genetic information is stored, how it is accessed by the cell to form functional proteins and how the release of this information is controlled to produce a healthy human child;
• understanding this process is essential to understanding the basis of human disease and the course will examine how genetic differences affect disease susceptibility;
• this popular, comprehensive and cutting edge course will equip students with the essential knowledge, skills and confidence in molecular biology required to progress on all courses undertaken in the School of Medical Sciences

Lectures and practical classes consider important and controversial conservation issues, encouraging you to discuss and develop your ideas and thinking.  A visit to a local nature reserve introduces the management issues and opportunities facing small urban sites.  An essay provides you with the opportunity to study a Biodiversity Action Plan species of your choice and to analyse critically the work undertaken to conserve it.  Extended problem-solving exercises will develop your skills in diagnosing causes of species decline.  Detailed feedback on written work which will help you consolidate your skills in scientific writing and writing for a more general audience.

Physiology is the study of the normal functions of living systems.  This course will introduce you to the basics of invertebrate and vertebrate physiology.

Lectures will guide you through the various body systems and their interactions that maintain homeostasis in animals.  Associated practicals allow you to explore particular systems in further detail and to develop relevant lab skills.

Through the study of examples from across different phyla, you will gain an appreciation of processes fundamental to all animals, and of differences across groups.

• the digestive, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and reproductive systems are covered using a variety of innovative teaching methods; 
• you will participate in practical classes where students act as subjects and investigators. These will reinforce lecture material, develop scientific acumen and build team working skills; 
• focussed and interactive problem solving sessions apply knowledge to clinical scenarios, and begin developing fundamental skills critically required in the final years of the degree;  
• informal teaching sessions allow one-to-one staff-student interaction and encourage discussion in a non-threatening environment; 
• a low stakes in-course mock exam is included to prepare you for the high stakes degree exam

This is a residential field course designed to provide you with training in field identification and sampling techniques based in Kelvinside Academy John Duff Lodge, Corgarff, Strathdon. Group based project work provides skills in team working, data collection, analysis and presentation.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Residential field course designed to provide you with training in field identification and sampling techniques in Cromarty.

Group based project work provides skills in team working, data collection, analysis and presentation.

Hard work throughout the days is rewarded through the development of deep understanding and the enjoyment of spending time with peers and staff. 

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Residential field course designed to introduce you to the main groups of parasitic invertebrates and protozoa in our indigenous wildlife and provide you with training in field identification and sampling techniques.

Field work provides opportunities to observe, identify and collect host and intermediate host species, and training in field identification and sampling techniques.

Lab work provides for the morphological and molecular identification of parasites, and experiments on parasite physiology and manipulation of host behaviour.

Group based project work provides skills in team working, data collection, analysis and presentation.

We aim to pack as much experience into this course as we can in 6 days, so we work long and quite intensive days to allow you to develop deep understanding of parasitology, but there is always time at the end of the day to unwind with peers and staff in the excellent social facilities and to enjoy the unique environment of the Isle of Cumbrae.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Residential field course in Shetland designed to provide you with training in ship-based applied marine biology and ecology based at the North Atlantic Fisheries College, Scalloway.  We will use the college trawler, Atlantia, for sampling fish species using trawls. In addition, oceanographic conditions, plankton samples and benthic core sampling will all be undertaken and all analysis will be done using the R statistical language with the data collected by students. We will also visit local fish/shellfish farms and the bird sanctuary at Sumburgh Head. Bed and Breakfast accommodation will be provided in Bridge-end Outdoor Centre situated in a coastal area.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

During day trips from Aberdeen, you will learn and practice a variety of techniques for sampling and identifying organisms in the field.

We will take opportunities to interact with scientists from NGOs and research institutes, who will give instruction on techniques and provide overviews on the remits and opportunities within their organisations.

Group based project work provides skills in team working, data collection, analysis and presentation.

You will develop skills in biological recording by maintaining a detailed record of the field activities in a field notebook.

By visiting and working in a variety of environments you will become familiar with common species, the ecological characteristics of local habitats and have opportunities to apply your classroom learning to the field.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

By working through a range of online activities you will develop your understanding of field sampling methods and design considerations, your capacity to use keys and identify organisms, to work with field data sourced form a range of habitats, and to increase your awareness of fieldwork risk assessments.

Twelve modules provide structured activities and lecture content to help you appreciate why certain methods are used, what data are collected, how they are analysed, and what some of the limitations of the methods and data might be.

You will demonstrate your achievements of the course learning outcomes by passing a test at the end of the course.

• If you counted the bacteria in your gut, you might be surprised to find that you have 10 times more than you have cells in your body;

• The moment we are born, we become colonised with beneficial microbial life, the start of a relationship that impacts upon our health and well-being

• Pathogenic microbes represent an important health threat requiring an understanding both of infection and technology that we use to protect us.

• This course explores the positive and negative aspects of our relationship with microbes, and how our immune system helps to maintain a fragile peace with our closest neighbours

• understanding the fundamental workings of cells is important to a wide range of scientific disciplines; 
• this course integrates the key metabolic and biochemical processes that underpin human, animal and plant life in relation to health and disease; 
• this core knowledge prepares you for more advanced study in all areas of life sciences and has wide ranging applications; 
• you will also participate in an award winning practical series focussed on drug discovery which will build essential employability skills in experimental design, data analysis and practical laboratory skills

A course in which several researchers explore both core and emerging issues in the plant sciences, focusing in particular on the inter-dependence of plants, people and environment.  Students are encouraged to develop a range of important generic and applied skills, through lectures, practicals and seminars. Two practicals and one seminar contribute 50% of the course mark. An exam contributes 50% of the overall course grade and consists a choice of multiple-choice questions and short, structured questions.

This course introduces the biology of the open oceans, shelf seas, coastal waters, estuaries and shores. The focus is mainly on the diversity of lifeforms in different marine environments and the adaptations of these organisms to their living conditions, taking account of the physical and chemical characteristics of the environment. The course also aims to develop skills in marine biological research methods, data analysis, reading scientific articles, critical thinking, and scientific writing. The knowledge and skills developed through these activities provide a strong foundation for further study of the functioning of marine ecosystems and the impacts of humans on them.

You will utilise a robust approach to statistical analysis, a skill highly valued by employers and researchers.
Lectures provide context, background and step-by step guidance on how to conduct and interpret a selection of statistical analyses.
Through a series of exercises, you learn to explore data, to specify appropriate linear models for your research question and to interpret their results.
A set of online tests structured around the exercises and the lecture content allow you to demonstrate your achievement of course learning outcomes.
With a group of students, you complete tasks and strengthen your understanding of applications of statistics.

Fundamental concepts of animal behaviour are introduced through a series of lectures and practicals, essential knowledge for those interested in better understanding animal behaviour as well as potentially undertaking an animal behaviour Honours project.

During the practicals students are encouraged to reflect on the theoretical knowledge learned during the lectures and apply that in explaining the observed behaviour of animals.

Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of animal behaviour by producing an innovative multimedia presentation on the observed behaviour of a species of their choice.

• You will be trained in broad environmental thinking required to understand complex, contemporary environmental problems.
• Following a text will immerse you in ways of thinking about environment-society relations, critical consideration of different perspectives and gain experience with interpretive tools.
• By preparing and presenting a case study you will engage in the co-production of knowledge.
• Nine objects of concern are available as case studies (E.g., carbon dioxide; trees; wolves; uranium; tuna; lawns; bottled water; French fries; and, e-waste).
• Short written assessments develop your written communication skills; group activities and discussions develop your capacity for attentive exchange, informed argument and reasoning.

This course is about thinking and doing - coming up with original ideas that have value. Humans are creative in ways that we have yet to detect in other species, but having the opportunity to be creative in a scientific environment can sometimes feel limited. Creativity is often erroneously connected only to non-science subjects, but science is a creative discipline – think of techniques such as PCR and gene sequencing, various theories on evolution, inspirational and transformative communicators (e.g. David Attenborough), clever yet simple devices like pipettes and Petri dishes, and modern tools such as Apps and programmes that can identify species or inform farmers of environmentally-friendly ways to use their land. The list goes on and on. All exemplify imagination, creativity and innovation in science.

On this course, students will initially have a series of presentations and workshops delivered by experts in a range of disciplines, who work outside and within the university, including; creative processes, problem solving in industry, using computer programming to solve problems, communication using installation art, video and audio. As the course progresses, students will begin addressing problems by designing and making products - students will be at liberty to choose the problems themselves – staff can help with this, but it will be for students to come up with novel solutions to problems they can define.  

One problem will form the basis of an individual project and the other problem will be team-based (mainly 2 students, but this can change, depending on the project). What sort of problems? Anything life-science related, although if staff see sufficient merit in an idea, there may be opportunities to have a ‘wild card’ science-related problem, suggested by students. Just a few examples of some problems: how can we better teach molecular biology to children with a visual disability? How can we change the perception of how the public view scientists? How can we induce the public to plant more wild flowers in their gardens? How can we facilitate stakeholders to make money from conservation projects? Can we design a simple tool that reduces electricity use or a product that can reduce plastic use? There is virtually no end to problems that need to be solved.  

Students will be at liberty to choose their type of product – just a few examples are: using computing (for instance Blockchain, an app or computer hack), a performance piece, art installation, written prose, posters, piece of music, business plan, a device or small piece of equipment etc. Students will be encouraged to use the skills they already have and also have a go at something completely new, but the final decision will the student’s. Marking criteria are very different to what a scientist might expect and students will be very much encouraged to take risks. Endeavour, imagination, novelty as well as the ability to conceive, realise and define, will be assessed.  

Formative feedback will occur throughout the course by way of informal discussions between staff and students, and between students themselves. Although there may be a healthy level of competition between students and groups, the ethos will be very much that staff and students are part of a team pulling in the same direction – being imaginative and creative. 

Upon completion of the course, students will showcase their creations at an event, static display in or other arenas. Summative assessment will be based on one group project and one individual project.

This non-credit bearing course will facilitate your preparation for your Honours project.

Lectures and workshops will clarify expectations for project work and provide training in risk assessment, consideration of ethical issues, environmental impacts and project planning.

Resources to help you define and plan your project will be made available through MyAberdeen, helping you to be confident that your project planning is sufficiently advanced by the end of your Programme Year 3.

Submission of an agreed (with your supervisor) project outline, completed checklists and preliminary risk assessment will allow you to demonstrate engagement with your project.

‘Mediterranean’ ecosystems have unique characteristics, with many endemic species. This is an 8-day field course in Catalonia, Spain. The course will run during 2 - 10 June 2021 inclusive. Cost, excluding flights, is likely to be about £440.

Field work will be in three contrasting Natural Parks. You will use observation, discussion, and group projects to understand each ecosystem more fully. You will talk with locally-based biologists.

The course will help you learn skills in developing a fast, detailed understanding of unfamiliar ecosystems and their species, and to record observations in a field notebook.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

We spend a week in the Cairngorms National Park (Deeside and Speyside) meeting land managers from a range of organisations (e.g. RSPB, NTS, SWT, grouse moor managers, Forestry & Land Scotland and farmers) to gain first-hand experience of key conservation issues.  This course allows you to explore, discuss and debate the complex and sometimes conflicting land management goals of different groups.  Meeting the people responsible for on the ground decisions about land management provides an unparalleled opportunity to understand these complex issues in real life.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

This course will run from 16-23 April in 2021

• Students gain practical skills in qualitative and quantitative surveys, and the identification of marine and estuarine plants, algae, fish and invertebrates.
• Understanding of shallow-water, coastal and estuarine marine biodiversity is enhanced by hands-on activities in the field and lab.
• There is also an element of Mediterranean fisheries biology and the marine environmental impacts of fisheries.
• Students gain confidence, build team-working and problem-solving skills by participating in this residential field course.
• The international context of the course fosters foreign language skills and an increased awareness of cultural diversity.
• The course involves several days of snorkeling-based activities. Even though participation in snorkeling is not mandatory, students will benefit much more from the course if they do participate.

Please note that the information provided is subject to change due to the ongoing Covid-19 government guidelines

Interactive course that explores key underlying principles in
conservation and the challenges of applying those in the real world. 

Field excursion to important protected area to learn about the
practical issues of protecting biodiversity.

Guest lecturers from key figures in Scottish conservation and
other relevant disciplines to give you insight into career choices and
alternative perspectives. 

Weekly field trips will provide opportunities to observe wildlife and develop an understanding of the adaptive value of animal behaviour.

Tasks involving the design of simple experiments to address cause and function of animal behaviour will develop skills in experimental design and hypothesis testing. 

Training in the use of a field notebook allows students to demonstrate competence in record keeping.

Written report and oral presentation on a field based experiment supports the develop of communication skills.

Short weekly lectures will reinforce concepts, outline expectations and provide a framework for the practical work in the field.

Practical laboratory experience enables you to develop skills and competencies relevant to lab-based Honour’s projects.

Lectures provide the theoretical foundation for understanding the techniques, methodologies and data generated.

Online structured learning consolidates your understanding of health and safety issues and your competence in using standard procedures related to creating solutions and determining sampling protocols.

Feedback on your lab notebook and lab report will help you develop your record-keeping and communication skills and allow you an opportunity to engage with critical evaluation of practical work.

This course will run from 10-21 May in 2021

This course emphasises how evolution has shaped the patterns of biodiversity we see around us, and how we can use molecular genetic tools to gain a better understanding of what biodiversity means and how we can measure it.
In lectures you are guided through the theory of evolution, complementing your other biological sciences courses and helping you make sense of the diversity in the living world.
In practical sessions, you gain insight into the processes of evolution and some tools used to study biodiversity.
Through a poster presentation you gain specialised knowledge and experience communicating complex ideas and synthesizing information.

Under the supervision of an academic, you develop a research
proposal suitable for submission to a funding organization.

The exercise of defining a researchable question, outlining
the methodology, and writing an argument as to
why the research should be funded provides excellent training for students
interested in pursuing a career in science. 

During regular meetings with the course coordinators you develop
your skills in record keeping, oral communication, and critical
appraisal. 

From feedback on your draft proposal you will gain
experience in refining a written argument and in presenting documents
professionally.

This independent research project develops your skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis, as well as important generic skills, including presentation and time management.

Projects are field-, lab- and/or desk-based, developed on a topic of your interest under the direction of a supervisor. 

Training in skills needed to perform your project is provided by world-leading researchers and their teams.

Workshops and drop-in sessions provide training in data analysis and thesis production.

This skill set will be appropriate for advanced study in the field of biological science or other careers where the generic skills that you will develop are highly valued.

You research a topic and write an extended essay, developing specialist knowledge and refining your synthesis and evaluation skills.

You choose your topic from a list that includes fundamental and cutting-edge issues, providing you with flexibility and an opportunity to pursue your interests.

An introductory workshop reminds you of good practice in writing an extended essay and a meeting with your essay supervisor provides you with feedback on your essay plan. You also have the opportunity to submit a draft essay for comments from your essay supervisor.

An opportunity to gain first-hand experience in communicating biological sciences to young people in a school setting

A chance to develop classroom skills, supervised and encouraged by experienced school teachers.

Course grades are derived from four activity areas: reflective writing, group presentation, teacher evaluation, end-of-course report

Accumulate a set of transferable professional experience and skills that are likely to enhance employability.

Through regular engagement with the SBS Research Seminar Programme you will increase your appreciation of the diversity of research approaches, presentation and discussion styles present in biological and environmental sciences.
By meeting with an experienced, visiting scientist , you will gain skills in formulating effective interview questions (based on structured reading) and in structuring a discussion.
Through hands-on practice, you will get an insight into the media communication world and apply this understanding to your own short seminar presentation.
By writing brief reports for social media dissemination, you will sharpen your writing skills and strengthen your public communication skills.

By participating in on-campus workshops and completing a range of reflective assessments, students gain professional development and enhance their employability.

Students engage in external, work-related activities in placements that they secure, typically over the summer months but it can be during the academic year, as well.

External engagement activities require the approval from the student’s academic School.

This course provides a foundation in understanding and managing environmental pollution.

Divided into contaminated land, waste, air, freshwater and marine pollution, each week the subject, legislative and regulatory context, site investigation and appraisal, and management are introduced.

Guest speakers from industry join the course each week (from Remedios, SEPA, ACC) giving you access to the reality of the role and important contact with practitioners.

Each theme also has an associated practical element to provide hands on experience in techniques in environmental pollution, providing you with a grounding in the assessment and management of environmental pollutants.

This course is about thinking and doing - coming up with original ideas that have value. Humans are creative in ways that we have yet to detect in other species, but having the opportunity to be creative in a scientific environment can sometimes feel limited. Creativity is often erroneously connected only to non-science subjects, but science is a creative discipline – think of techniques such as PCR and gene sequencing, various theories on evolution, inspirational and transformative communicators (e.g. David Attenborough), clever yet simple devices like pipettes and Petri dishes, and modern tools such as Apps and programmes that can identify species or inform farmers of environmentally-friendly ways to use their land. The list goes on and on. All exemplify imagination, creativity and innovation in science.

On this course, students will initially have a series of presentations and workshops delivered by experts in a range of disciplines, who work outside and within the university, including; creative processes, problem solving in industry, using computer programming to solve problems, communication using installation art, video and audio. As the course progresses, students will begin addressing problems by designing and making products - students will be at liberty to choose the problems themselves – staff can help with this, but it will be for students to come up with novel solutions to problems they can define.  

One problem will form the basis of an individual project and the other problem will be team-based (mainly 2 students, but this can change, depending on the project). What sort of problems? Anything life-science related, although if staff see sufficient merit in an idea, there may be opportunities to have a ‘wild card’ science-related problem, suggested by students. Just a few examples of some problems: how can we better teach molecular biology to children with a visual disability? How can we change the perception of how the public view scientists? How can we induce the public to plant more wild flowers in their gardens? How can we facilitate stakeholders to make money from conservation projects? Can we design a simple tool that reduces electricity use or a product that can reduce plastic use? There is virtually no end to problems that need to be solved.  

Students will be at liberty to choose their type of product – just a few examples are: using computing (for instance Blockchain, an app or computer hack), a performance piece, art installation, written prose, posters, piece of music, business plan, a device or small piece of equipment etc. Students will be encouraged to use the skills they already have and also have a go at something completely new, but the final decision will the student’s. Marking criteria are very different to what a scientist might expect and students will be very much encouraged to take risks. Endeavour, imagination, novelty as well as the ability to conceive, realise and define, will be assessed.  

Formative feedback will occur throughout the course by way of informal discussions between staff and students, and between students themselves. Although there may be a healthy level of competition between students and groups, the ethos will be very much that staff and students are part of a team pulling in the same direction – being imaginative and creative. 

Upon completion of the course, students will showcase their creations at an event, static display in or other arenas. Summative assessment will be based on one group project and one individual project.

You research a topic and write an extended essay, developing specialist knowledge and refining your synthesis and evaluation skills.

You choose your topic from a list that includes fundamental and cutting-edge issues, providing you with flexibility and an opportunity to pursue your interests.

An introductory workshop reminds you of good practice in writing an extended essay and a meeting with your essay supervisor provides you with feedback on your essay plan. You also have the opportunity to submit a draft essay for comments from your essay supervisor.

Interactive course that allows you to explore in depth one topic that dominates current discourses in conservation. 

You will write an essay, and give a science presentation to develop critical writing and presentation skills for a scientific audience.

You will also give a creative presentation to develop skills in getting your message across to a general audience

Under the supervision of an academic you conduct independent research and produce a thesis in the form of a peer-reviewed manuscript.

This project develops your skills in scientific inquiry and critical analysis, as well as useful generic skills, including time management.

Projects are field-, lab- and/or desk-based, developed on a topic of your interest under the direction of a supervisor. 

This skill set will be useful both for future careers and further study in the field of biological science or other careers making use of these generic skills.

Students will write a scientific document and a document aimed at a public audience and present their work to a mixed audience of specialists and non-specialists. Students will submit their public written document for publication. Skills in communicating complex ideas in clear and simple language will be developed. Students will also take advantage through the academic year of opportunities to communicate science to a public audience e.g. in radio and TV interviews and at science festivals – these will be assessed formatively.

During peer-review sessions students will gain experience in evaluating communication documents and in providing critical and constructive comments.