BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

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.

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.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Scott

Pre-requisites

BI 20B2 and BI 25B2 (other relevant courses may also be considered by the course coordinator)

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. Students will also be given some instruction on intravenous fluids, the relevance of respiratory pharmacology and physiology, and the physiology of blood. In addition, the course will also provide more in-depth study of various types of cardiovascular pathophysiologies such as: diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, angina, stroke and atherosclerosis. Students will also receive training in the ethical and health & safety aspects of blood sampling, recruitment of human subjects in research trials and how scientific discoveries are applied in clinical situations.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week and 1 all day practical.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment - (30%). Continuous assessment comprises: 1 laboratory report, 2 case studies.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- PRS-based revision sessions allow students to practice for MCQ tests and receive feedback on their performance.

Feedback

- Practical reports and case studies will be marked with written comments.
- Case study questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Students are given general feedback on performance during PRS revision sessions.
- Model answers for case studies and practicals also placed on MyAberdeen.
- Feedback on laboratory practical performance also given verbally during classes.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr D Scott

Pre-requisites

BI 20B2 and BI25B2 (other relevant courses may also be considered by the course coordinator)

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. It will explore pain, opioids and narcotic analgesics and drugs depressing CNS function (e.g. cannabinoids, antidepressants, anticonvulsants and antipsychotics), as well as discussing the issues/mechanisms of tolerance and addiction.

We will review applications of various drugs that affect the nervous system and explore how they were discovered and developed, how they are applied in everyday life, what the potential disadvantages of them might be, and also what the future holds for the development of novel drugs used to treat diseases/disorders of the nervous system. We will briefly also review the differences in how medical scientists and psychologists view what goes wrong during such diseases and disorders.

Finally, the course will explain various basic concepts in physiology and pharmacology and show how we statistically analyse data from experiments using novel drugs and what conclusions we can draw from such investigations.

Structure

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

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 data handling/statistical analysis exercise , one 1500 word essay, 2 case studies.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- PRS-based revision sessions allow students to practice for MCQ tests and receive feedback on their performance.
- Problem-solving sessions using real pharmacological data will provide feedback as to whether the students are understanding the topics covered within the lecture elements of the course and also if they understand how and why the data are analysed in specific ways. Feedback is given gradually during these sessions, ensuring that all students understand what is covered in that session before we move on to the next.

Feedback

- Practical reports, case studies and essays will be marked with written comments. Model answers are also supplied via MyAberdeen.
- Case study questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.
- Students are given general feedback on performance during PRS revision sessions.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr P Teismann

Pre-requisites

BI 20B2, BI 25B2

Overview

This course builds on the basics of nervous system function covered in level 2 and BM3502. 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

3 one hour lectures per week and 1 all day practical.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 one and a half hour essay examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).
Continuous assessment comprises: 1 laboratory report, 1 abstract.

Resit: 1 one and a half hour examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.

Feedback

- Practical report and abstract will be marked with written comments.

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.

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: methods for cell imaging, electrophysiology and genetic manipulation, endocrine 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%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor G Nixon

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, 1 eight hour practical followed by an objective structured practial examination 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%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Berndt Mueller

Pre-requisites

MB 3006; BC 3503 and MC 3504 or GN 3502 or BM 3501 with either PA 3802 or PY 3803 and 30 other credit points at level 3.

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 (33.3%), in-course assessment in the form of two essays, 4 elements (66.7%) in the form of a single three-hour exam paper.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr A Mavroeidi

Pre-requisites

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 4.

Overview

This course is designed to provide advanced knowledge and insight, based on current scientific research, in the issues associated with the process of aging. Common diseases that are highly prevalent in the elderly will be investigated and lifestyle approaches that could affect those diseases will be considered.

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week, 2 all day (7 hour) practicals and 1 (all day - 7 hour) tutorial (problem solving).

Assessment

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

Continuous assessment comprises: 2 laboratory reports

Resit: 1 two-hour essay examination (70%) and previous continuous assessment (30%).

Formative Assessment

- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen
- Problem-solving sessions

Feedback

- Practical reports will be marked with written comments.
- Problem solving questions will be discussed during a lecture/feedback session.
- Tutorial sessions will provide feedback on course content.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, BC 3503 and MC 3504 or GN 3502 OR BM 3501 with either PA 3802 or PY 3803.

Co-requisites

BM 4008, MB4050

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%).