SM3001: FRONTIERS OF MOLECULAR MEDICAL SCIENCES (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05

Course Overview

This course covers many of the core technologies that are essential for advanced research in molecular medical sciences and will demonstrate how they have allowed us to push the boundaries of medicine beyond anything we could possibly have imagined just a few years ago
You will gain in-depth and focussed knowledge of core experimental approaches and technologies and their practical applications
Most especially, you will see how these cutting edge technologies have led the fight against Covid-19 and have allowed us to develop stunningly-effective vaccines in a fraction of the time normally required, and how gene therapies are allowing us to develop treatments and deliver hope to those suffering from previously-incurable genetic disorders
(Hopefully), you will see the incredible future and opportunities this subject offers for the development of treatments for any number of unmet medical needs, and the potential benefits to humanity waiting to be tapped into (in your future careers!)
You will acquire core practical laboratory skills
This course will prepare you for advanced study of molecular medical sciences
Wider transferrable skills such as creativity, independent research, analytical thinking, problem-solving and advanced laboratory techniques are interwoven strands aimed at developing graduate attributes and employability

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	First Term	Credit Points	30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr I.R. Greig

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

One of BI2002 Genes and Evolution (Passed) or BI2017 Genes and Evolution (Passed) or BI20M3 Molecular Biology of the Gene (Passed) or BI25M5 Microbes, Infection & Immunity (Passed)
Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

SM3002 Frontiers of Biomedical Sciences (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

This course describes and explains the theory and practice of the tool kit that modern molecular biology uses to derive information about how biological systems function and interact, and then apply this towards the development of new therapeutic agents. Detailing a wide and comprehensive range of molecular techniques, the material leads from basic molecular biology and the manipulation of DNA and RNA, through gene cloning and gene expression analysis, to studies of the function of genes and their protein products, the functions of these proteins, and finally to how we make use of all this in the development of new disease treatments.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

20% Computer Programme Practical

25% Exam Essay Style Answer for One Set of Lectures

25% Problem Solving Question

30% Presentation Style explanation (ppt) on one topic

Alternative Resit Assessment

Online exam

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.