BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES | 2003 Undergraduate Catalogue of Courses

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

(see also Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology)

Level 2

BM 2009 - HUMAN ANATOMY A
BM 2509 - HUMAN ANATOMY B

BM 2009 - HUMAN ANATOMY A

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr I Stewart

Pre-requisites

BI 1003, BI 1505, CM 1010 or CM 1011 and CM 1506.

Co-requisites

BI 20B1, BI 20M1, BI 20B2

Notes

(i) This course is restricted to students on the degree of BSc Biomedical Sciences.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course is dissection based and thus consists of student led group work centred on dissections of a cadaver given specific learning objectives for each practical. Other resources used are anatomical models. The course concentrates on the study of the locomotor system (limbs and back), and the respiratory and cardiovascular system, alimentary system and nervous system as they are arrayed in the thorax and abdomen.
12 week course - 2 three-hour practicals per week. 3 tutorials over the term - based on problem solving scenarios. Directed self-learning - 6 hours per week.
1 two-hour written and practical examination (80%) and continuous assessment on submitted written work (20%). Discretionary oral examination for borderline candidates.

BM 2509 - HUMAN ANATOMY B

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr I Stewart

Pre-requisites

BM 2009

Co-requisites

BI 25B3, BI 25M1, BI 25B2

Notes

(i) This course is restricted to students on the degree of BSc Biomedical Sciences.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities.
(iii) If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

This course is dissection based and thus consists of student led group work centred on dissections of a cadaver given specific learning objectives for each practical. Other resources used are anatomical models. The course concentrates on the study of the urogenital system (pelvis) and the head and neck including the central nervous system.
12 week course - 2 three-hour practicals per week. 3 tutorials over the term - based on problem solving scenarios. Directed self-learning - 6 hours per week.
1 two-hour written examination and practical examination (80%) and continuous assessment on submitted written work (20%). Discretionary oral examination for borderline cases.

Level 3

BM 3006 - MOLECULES, MEMBRANES AND CELLS

Credit Points: 30
Course Coordinator: Dr A M Jack

Pre-requisites

BI 20B2, BI 25B2

Notes

(i) This core course is required by students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience, Human Life Sciences and Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course will include reviews of basic principles of cell physiology, pharmacology and molecular and cell biology. To include receptors, agonists and antagonists, signalling and transduction mechanisms, voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, synaptic transmission, genes, regulation of gene expression, transcription and recombinant DNA technology. It covers membrane biophysics and the properties of sodium channels, potassium channels, calcium channels and gap junctions in addition to ion and non-electrolyte transport pathways.
12 week course, Thread I - 3 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour seminar per week, 2 two-hour and 2 all day laboratory sessions over 12 weeks.
1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment - essay, laboratory practicals (30%).

BM 3501 - CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr G F Nixon

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

(i) This core course is a requirement for students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities.
(iii) If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course will cover the physiological and pharmacological aspects of the functioning of the mammalian heart and circulatory systems; the mechanisms of control and adaptation will be examined in detail. Practical work and demonstrations will be used to illustrate the experimental techniques which are utilised to derive knowledge of the functioning of the system.
6 week course, Thread II - 3 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour seminar, 3 one day laboratory sessions over 6 weeks.
1 ninety minute written examination (70%) and continuous assessment - essay, laboratory practicals (30%).

BM 3502 - NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROPHARMACOLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr R A Ross

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

(i) This core course is a requirement for students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Options A and B of the Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course will include lectures on functional neuroanatomy, autonomic and neuromuscular pharmacology, neuropharmacology to include functional aspects of excitatory and inhibitory amino acids, monoamines, peptides and nitric oxide. Also to include pain, opioids and narcotic analgesics and drugs depressing CNS function.

6 week course, Thread I - 4 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour seminar per week, 1 eight hour laboratory session, 3 three-hour tutorials over 6 weeks.
1 two-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment - essay, laboratory practicals, problem solving (30%).

BM 3803 - INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Dr R A Ross

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities.
If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The major focus of the Integrative Neuroscience course relates to "Plasticity" associated with neuronal tissue. Structural and functional alterations occur in neuronal tissue during development, in the adult and in disease states. This course aims to: outline a number of these changes; identify and explain the mechanisms underlying these plastic events; provide an understanding of their functional consequences.
6 week course, Thread I - 3 one-hour lectures per week, 2 one day laboratory sessions over 6 weeks.
1 ninety minute written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment, computer simulated experiments and group poster session (30%).

Level 4

BM 4001 or BM 4501 - BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES HONOURS PROJECT

Credit Points: 60
Course Coordinator: Dr G F Nixon and Dr D J MacEwan

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

(i) A student may take either BM 4001 or 4501, but not both.
(ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

A 10 week research project is undertaken and the student learns laboratory and literature research techniques and presents a thesis. The thesis is defended in an oral presentation. Students gain extensive experience of data acquisition and databases using microcomputers.
Research project: 10 weeks of 5 day per week of library project or laboratory project.
Continuous assessment with contributions from Thesis and performance during the project.

BM 4004 - ADVANCED MOLECULES, MEMBRANES AND CELLS

Credit Points: 30
Course Coordinator: Dr R H Scott

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

This course provides (1) a re-capitulation and extension of third year material from BM 3006 (Molecules, Membranes and Cells) and (2) a more advanced account of some selected topics related to the research interests of the individual academic staff of Biomedical Sciences. The topics for study will include: intracellular signalling; synaptic transmission, plasticity and integration; and physiological, pathophysiological and pharmacological aspects of ion channels and their regulation.
12 week course, Thread II - 4 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour seminar per week, 1 three-hour laboratory demonstration session over 6 weeks.
1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment - 2 essays (30%).

BM 4005 - HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Credit Points: 15
Course Coordinator: Professor M A Cotter

Pre-requisites

PY 3002

Notes

The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the Department Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

This course will build on course PY 3002 (Integrated Physiology) and will provide a detailed coverage of Human Physiology covering issues related to muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory and thermoregulatory physiology.
6 week course, Thread I - 3 one-hour lectures and 1 seminar per week. 1 tutorial per fortnight and 2 eight hour practicals over the period of the course.
1 two-hour written examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%).

BM 4006 - MEDICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY A

Credit Points: 60
Course Coordinator: Dr I Stansfield and Dr B Connolly

Pre-requisites

BM 3006, MB 3003, BM 3501, BM 3502 and BC 3804 or IM 3802.

Co-requisites

BM 4506

Overview

The formal teaching comprises a core lecture programme (thread 1) plus two options (thread 2). The core (45 1 hour lectures) covers advanced aspects of protein structure, gene expression, developmental biology, cell biology and analysis. Each option (each 15 hours contact time) will cover two separate areas of biochemistry and medical molecular biology in detail working from the original literature under the supervision of 1-3 members of staff. Three essays will be written and examined. Two of the essays will be on the theme of Medical Molecular Biology. All students are required to prepare for, and to attend, a reading party in the week prior to term. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with a tutor appointed by the Head of Department.
45 hours lectures over ten weeks (core lecture programme) plus30 hours further contact time (covering two options) and 2 one-hour tutorials.
2 @ 3 hour exam at end Semester 1 (73%) and continuous assessment (27%).

BM 4506 - HONOURS MEDICAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY B

Credit Points: 60
Course Coordinator: Dr I Stansfield and Dr B Connolly

Pre-requisites

BM 3006, MB 3003, BM 3501, BM 3502 and BC 3804 or IM 3802

Co-requisites

BM 4006

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 9 weeks laboratory work, starting one week prior to the beginning of Semester 2, and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. A project essay that covers the subject of the laboratory research will be completed and assessed as part of the Semester 1 Honours course. Students are expected to spend a minimum of 25 hours in the laboratory each week. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the Semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of Department.
9 weeks @ 25 hours per week.
1 @ 2 hours, 1 @ 3 hours and 1 @ 4 hours examination at end Semester 2 (62%); continuous assessment (38%).