BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

(see also Anatomy, Developmental Biology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Pharmacology)

Level 1

BM 1002 - BIOMEDICAL BASICS: AN INTRODUCTION TO YOUR DISCIPLINE
Credit Points
5
Course Coordinator
Dr C Bolger and Dr A Jenkinson

Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

SR 1002

Notes

Normally only available to level 1 students studying BSc Sport & Exercise Science or BSc Sports Studies (Exercise & Health) degree programmes.

Overview

This course will introduce core disciplines associated with the School of Medical Sciences. Key topics in biomedical sciences will be described through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical demonstrations, and problem solving sessions. This will include utilisation of discipline specific skills and techniques and also training in broader skills and methods.

Structure

1 two-hour lecture/practical session per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%). Written and practical assessments.

Resit: 1 one-hour MCQ exam (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

Informal/Verbal assessements provided during practical classes.

Feedback

Verbal feedback provided during practical sessions.

Written feedback provided on continuous assessment elements.

BM 1502 - BIOMEDICAL BASICS: DEVELOPING YOUR DISCIPLINE
Credit Points
5
Course Coordinator
Dr C Bolger and Dr A Jenkinson

Pre-requisites

None.

Co-requisites

SR 1503

Notes

Normally only available to level 1 students studying BSc Sport & Exercise Science or BSc Sports Studies (Exercise & Health) degree programmes.

Overview

This course will further develop core disciplines associated with the School of Medical Sciences. Key topics in biomedical sciences will be discussed through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical demonstrations, and problem solving sessions. This will include utilisation of discipline specific skills and techniques and also training in broader skills and problem solving methods.

Structure

1 two-hour lecture/practical sessions per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%). Written and practical assessments.

Resit: 1 one-hour MCQ exam (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

Informal/Verbal assessements provided during practical classes.

Feedback

Verbal feedback provided during practical sessions.

Written feedback provided on continuous assessment elements.

Level 2

BM 2009 - HUMAN ANATOMY A
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr I Stewart

Pre-requisites

SM 1001; SM 1501; CM 1015 or CM 1016; CM 1510

Co-requisites

SM 2001; BI 20M3; BI 20B2

Notes

This course is restricted to students on the degree of BSc Biomedical Sciences. 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 School Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course is prosection based and thus consists of student led group work centred on prosections of a cadaver. Specific learning objectives are given for each practical. Other resources used are anatomical models. The course concentrates on the study of the locomotor system (limbs and back), the respiratory and cardiovascular system, alimentary system and nervous system as they are arrayed in the thorax and abdomen.

Structure

2 two-hour practical classes per week and 1½-hour tutorial/short talk per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written and practical examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%). 4 in-course assessments, each worth 10% of final total. Each in-course assessment using questions in same style as those to be included in final exam and carried out under exam conditions.

Resit: 1 two-hour written and practical examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

1 in-course assessment using questions in same style as those to be included in final exam and carried out under exam conditions. Carried out prior to summative in-course assessment.

Feedback

Model answers provided to students immediately after each in-course formative or summative assessment, and marked scripts returned to provide continuous feedback as to performance.

Weekly list of sample questions provided in hard copy with model answers provided the following week.

BM 2509 - HUMAN ANATOMY B
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr I Stewart

Pre-requisites

BM 2009

Co-requisites

BI 2506; BI 25M6; BI 25B2.

Notes

This course is restricted to students on the degree of BSc Biomedical Sciences. 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 School Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course is prosection based and thus consists of student led group work centred on prosections of a cadaver. Specific learning objectives are given for each practical. Other resources used are anatomical models. The course concentrates on the study of the reproductive and urinary systems (pelvis and perineum) and the nervous systems (head, neck and brain).

Structure

2 two-hour practical classes per week and 1½-hour tutorial/short talk per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written and practical examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%). 4 in-course assessments, each worth 10% of final total. Each in-course assessment using questions in same style as those to be included in final exam and carried out under exam conditions.

Resit: 1 two-hour written and practical examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Weekly list of sample questions provided in hard copy.

Feedback

Model answers provided to students immediately after each in-course summative assessment, and marked scripts returned to provide continuous feedback as to performance.

Model answers provided the following week for weekly sample questions.

Level 3

BM 3006 - MOLECULES, MEMBRANES AND CELLS
Credit Points
30
Course Coordinator
Dr A M Jack and Dr S Tucker

Pre-requisites

BI 20B2, BI 25B2

Notes

  1. this core course is required by students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme.

  2. 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 School Disability Co-ordinator.

Overview

The course will cover 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, and action potential physiology. It covers membrane biophysics and the properties of ion channels and gap junctions in addition to ion and non-electrolyte transport pathways. Molecular biology relating to DNA and protein synthesis will also be covered.

Structure

12 week course, Thread I. 3 one-hour lectures per week. In course assessment includes a problem solving exercise, mock examination essays and one all day laboratory session. Students will also be required to show competence using spreadsheets (instruction will be provided where necessary). 6 hours of career information/advice over 12 weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%) (problem solving exercise (10%), practical and report (10%), mock exam essay (5%) and computer simulation exercise (5%)).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%) (problem solving exercise (10%), practical and report (10%), mock exam essay (5%) and computer simulation exercise (5%)).

BM 3501 - CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr D Scott

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

  1. 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.

  2. The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities.

  3. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the School 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.

Structure

6 week course, Thread II - 3 one-hour lectures per week, one all day laboratory session over 6 weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination (70%) and in-course assessment - essay, laboratory practical (30%).

BM 3502 - NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr D Scott

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

  1. This core course is a requirement for students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Options A, B, D and E of the Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme.

  2. 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 School 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.

Structure

6 week course, Thread I - 4 one-hour lectures per week, 2 three-hour data-handling practicals over 6 weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment - essay and practicals (30%).

BM 3803 - INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr P Teismann

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 School 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.

Structure

6 week course, Thread I - 3 one-hour lectures per week, multiple three-hour laboratory sessions over 6 weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: One 90 minute written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment.

Level 4

BM 4001 / BM 4501 - BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES HONOURS PROJECT
Credit Points
60
Course Coordinator
Dr D Shewan

Pre-requisites

BM 3006

Notes

  1. Only open to Biomedical Science students.

  2. 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 School 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.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks of 5 day per week of library project or laboratory project.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course 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 School 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 neuronal growth and development and physiological, pathophysiological and pharmacological aspects of ion channels and their regulation.

Structure

12 week course, Thread II - 4 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour research seminar per week, 1 six-hour laboratory demonstration session, 1 student-led session on ethics.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment - 1 essay, 1 laboratory report and 1 viva (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 School 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 physiology and the impact of exercise, training and disease states.

Structure

6 week course, Thread I - 3 one-hour lectures per week, 2 eight hour practicals and 3 problem solving sessions over the period of the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

BM 4008 - BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (MOLECULAR BIOLOGY) A
Credit Points
30
Course Coordinator
Dr Berndt Mueller

Pre-requisites

BM 3006; MB 3005; BM 3501;
BM 3502 and BC 3503 or IM 3501.

Co-requisites

BM 4508; MB 4050.

Overview

The formal teaching comprises two options each 15h contact time. Each option will cover separate areas of Biochemistry working from the original literature under the supervision of 1-3 members of staff.

Structure

Two essays will be written and examined. 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 the tutor appointed by the Head of School.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 elements (33%), in-course assessment in the form of two essays, 4 elements (67%) in the form of a single three-hour exam paper.

BM 4509 - BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES (MOLECULAR BIOLOGY) B
Credit Points
60
Course Coordinator
Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

BM 3006, MB 3005, BM 3501, BM 3502 and BC 3503 or IM 3501

Co-requisites

BM 4008, MB 4050

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 10 weeks laboratory work and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. 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 School.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%).