BIOCHEMISTRY

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

BI 20M3 and BI 25M7

Overview

• How enzymes function using selected examples; to include the role played by metal ions and co-enzymes, enzyme kinetics, inhibition of enzyme activity


• The actions of selected enzymes; to include chymotrypsin, aspartate- and metallo- proteases, impact on medicine


• How enzymes are regulated; to include allosteric regulation, covalent modification, isozymes, precursor processing


• The background rational and experimental evidence for the traditional concept of a rate-limiting enzyme in the regulation of flux through metabolic pathways


• The concept of metabolic control analysis to explain how flux through metabolic pathways is regulated; to include the flux control coefficient of each enzyme in a pathway


• The concepts of chemiosmosis and intracellular homeostasis


• The structural and functional features of selected membrane transport proteins


• The mechanisms that regulate body mass and the resultant metabolic diseases that occur when these go awry


• The current status of understanding of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Molecular mechanisms that regulate cell shape and movement; to include cellular cytoskeleton biochemistry

• Selected aspects of cell signalling including the operation of tyrosine kinase receptors, G-proteins, lipid-derivatives and calcium ions as second messengers, cell signalling in the immune system


• The nuclear receptor superfamily and describe the overall mechanism of action of steroid receptors and related non-steroid receptors (thyroid hormone, retinoic acid, vitamin D receptors)


• The tissue specificity of hormone response as regards glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids


• The molecules and mechanisms that govern cell-cell adhesion and cell-matrix interactions

Structure

3 one hour lectures per week and 1 all day practical (7 hours) every week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of an essay and practical reports.

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of an essay and practical reports.

Formative Assessment

• Mock exam allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.


• 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.


• PRS-based MCQ in lectures/practicals.


• Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.


• Problem-solving sessions.

Feedback

• Practical reports and essays 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.


• Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.


• Students are given general feedback on performance during PRS revision sessions.


• Students receive on-line feedback on completion of the MCQ tests and quizzes.


• PRS MCQ assessment answers discussed at the end of assessment session. Immediate feedback on practice questions available on MyAberdeen.


• Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr B Muller

Pre-requisites

BC 3503, MB 3006, and GN 3502 or MC 3504

Co-requisites

BC 4514, MB 4050.

Overview

In Biochemistry Option 1 - Receptors and Cell Signalling, the structural and functional features of the different families of membrane bound receptors important for human development and health will be discussed and the cell signalling pathways of some of these will be covered in detail. The mechanism of action of members of the nuclear receptor superfamily will be discussed as well.

In Biochemistry Option 2 - Biochemistry of Human Diseases, biochemical processes that open the ways to a rational design of methods for preventing and treating illness will be explored. Two important human diseases are explored: cancer, the second highest cause of death in the UK, and prion diseases, a group of rare diseases that have an interesting biochemical basis. You will build on previous knowledge of molecular and cell biology to develop an understanding of the nature of these diseases.

Additional insight into complementary fundamental aspects of Biochemistry will be achieved by independently researching and writing two essays.

Structure

This course consists of two modules with 15 hours of contact time each, in the form of lectures, tutorials and seminars
Total contact hours: 30 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written paper (66.7%), in-course assessment consisting of two essay (2000 words) (33.3%).

Resit: 1 three-hour written paper (66.7%), previous in-course assessment (33.3%).

Formative Assessment

- Mock exam with personal tutor allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving sessions with personal tutor.

Feedback

- Essays 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.
- Comments will be provided on the mock exam question.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr B Muller

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, IM 3501 and GN 3502 or MC 3504.

Co-requisites

BC 4514, MB 4050

Overview

Biochemistry Option 1 - Receptors and Cell Signaling. The structural and functional features of the different families of membrane bound receptors important for human development and health will be discussed and the cell signalling pathways of some of these will be covered in detail. The mechanism of action of members of the nuclear receptor superfamily will be discussed as well.

Immunology Option 2 - Molecular Immunology. The role of MHC molecules, T cell function, cytokine signalling, immune system components involved in regulation and inflammation, receptors involved in the immune response, antigen recognition.


Additional insight into further fundamental aspects of Biochemistry/Immunology will be achieved by independently researching and writing two essays.

Structure

This course consists of two modules with 15 hours of contact time each, in the form of lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written paper (66.7%), in-course assessment consisting of two essay (2000 words) (33.3%).

Formative Assessment

- Mock exam with personal tutor allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Case-study exercise with feedback in preparation for summative assessments.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen.
- Problem-solving sessions with personal tutor.

Feedback

- Essays 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.
- Comments will be provided on the mock exam question.
- Feedback on problem-based learning exercise.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

BC 3503, MB 3006, GN 3502 or MC 3504

Co-requisites

BC 4012, MB 4050

Notes

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.

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.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks with minimum of 6h per day, 4 days per week in laboratory
Two 2h research tutorials: 4 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%) consisting of: Laboratory work (1 element); Honours thesis (2 elements) (5,000 words) and Thesis defence (1 element).

Formative Assessment

- Practice oral presentations of research data
- Mock exam allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen
- Problem-solving sessions

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays 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.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

MB 3006, IM 3501 and GN 3502 or MC 3504

Co-requisites

BC 4012, 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 or 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.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks with minimum of 6 hours per day, 4 days a week in laboratory.
Two research tutorials: 4 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%) consisting of: Laboratory work (1 element); Honours thesis (2 elements) (5,000 words) and Thesis defence (1 element).

Formative Assessment

- Practice oral presentations of research data
- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance with personal tutor
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen with personal tutor
- Problem-solving sessions with personal tutor.

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays 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.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

BC 3503, MB 3006, GN 3502 or MC 3504

Co-requisites

BC 4012, MB 4050

Notes

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.

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.

Structure

Research project: 10 weeks with minimum of 6h per day, 4 days per week in laboratory
Two 2h research tutorials: 4 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%) consisting of: Laboratory work (1 element); Honours thesis (2 elements) (5,000 words) and Thesis defence (1 element).

Formative Assessment

- Practice oral presentations of research data
- Mock exam allows students to practice for essay based exams and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam essay allows students to write under exam conditions and receive feedback on their performance.
- Practice exam questions on MyAberdeen
- Problem-solving sessions

Feedback

- Practical reports and essays 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.
- Written comments will be provided on the mock exam question.