Biochemistry BSc(Hons)

This module starts with an introduction to basic cytology, the cellular basis of life is considered and a comparison between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells performed. The concept of 'compartmentalisation' is dealt with and the lecture course follows a 'walk through the cell' theme where each organelle is dealt with individually, both in terms of structure and function. Cell culture techniques are introduced, in particular the use of mutants and complementation to analyse biological processes is considered. The problems of packaging DNA in a eukaryotic chromosome is also discussed. The module extends to consider genetic analysis in a number of systems. Simple Mendelian genetics is considered together with more complex linkage analysis and its uses in identifying genes. The special genetic systems of bacteria and fungi are introduced with examples of the strategies employed to make use of these systems.

This module aims to introduce students from diverse backgrounds to the range of skills required in modern analytical science and illustrate how analytical methodology underpins scientific investigation across the conventional discipline boundaries. The module will build on and develop your prior knowledge of analysis whilst not assuming any particular area of expertise and will also endeavour to improve your numerical, IT and communication skills by illustrating analytical methodology in the context of these key skill areas. This module also aims to develop your ability to obtain and interpret a wide range of spectroscopic data in a systematic and logical fashion. In this way you'll be taught to apply your knowledge to a wide range of new problems and in so doing develop your general problem solving skills. The module will be taught primarily by lectures and tutorials with illustrative practical work to highlight salient points from the lecture material.

This module teaches you to recognise a range of functional groups and to name systematically compounds that contain them. Structure and bonding in organic compounds are discussed, as are the concepts of the octet rule, orbital hybridisation, formal charge, bond polarisation and resonance. The importance of molecular geometry is introduced and the basic principles of molecular conformation and of stereochemistry are covered. In preparation for the chemistry to follow, an integrated treatment of the 'language of chemical change' is presented. The ideas of mechanism and reaction intermediates are met, together with the curly arrow symbolism which chemists use to represent the electron movement inherent in chemical reactions. In the second half of the module, the chemistry of the principal functional groups is considered, using the ideas developed earlier. The lecture programme is reinforced by regular tutorials in which problems are worked. Running parallel to the lecture programme is a continuously assessed practical course that introduces you to the basic techniques of preparative organic chemistry.

Research in science ranges from finding out what is already known to carrying out investigations to add to our store of knowledge. This module provides the requisite background skills for successful completion of an Honours Degree in Biology. Basic generic skills involving literacy, numeracy and use of IT are applied to summarising, understanding, interpreting and presenting data generated by laboratory investigations. Throughout the module the emphasis is on learning the skills that will be used in various parts of the degree course. Acquisition of learning skills takes precedence over memorising facts. Learning about current topics in science involves finding peer-reviewed scientific literature (using library facilities and database searches), and summarising it with source attribution as a report using correct scientific style. Basic statistics is taught using spreadsheet and statistics programs. You'll also have the opportunity to build up a portfolio of evidence relating to your skills for Personal Development Planning.

This module covers all the major organs of the body together with models of normal and abnormal bodily function. Emphasis will be directed to the concept of homeostasis and the integration of dynamic processes involved in the maintenance of health.

This module considers protein structure in relation to function, in particular enzyme action and membrane mediated metabolic processes. The various types of post-translational modifications of proteins are discussed in detail, followed by an account of protein folding. Protein mis-folding, aggregation and intrinsic disorder are also discussed using prion proteins, amyloid and FnBPA as examples. Various globular and fibrous proteins illustrate regulatory strategies. Channels, pumps and cytoskeletal components illustrate higher levels of organisation of proteins. The techniques of X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM for protein structure determination are introduced. Advantages and limitations are discussed. Lectures will discuss various techniques for analysing protein structure, folding and protein-protein interactions (isothermal titration calorimetry, near and far UV circular dichroism). The structure and function of mitochondria and chloroplasts is also covered including respiration and photosynthesis pathways, focusing on electron transport chains. Mechanisms of enzyme catalysis are discussed with numerous examples (acid-base, covalent, nucleophilic, metal ion etc). In lectures, practicals and problem based tutorials you'll have the opportunity to develop the skills required for determining kinetic and inhibition constants (kcat, catalytic efficiency, Ki). Practicals will also allow you to isolate a pure protein from egg white, assess product quality and consider the commercial value of this purified material.

This module aims to provide an understanding of genome organization in eukaryotes, and the tools for the evolutionary analysis of protein and nucleic acid sequences. It describes the arrangement of genetic information in the major groups of living organisms, and recent fundamental changes in our understanding of them. This will include the organisation and packaging of nuclear genomes, organelle genomes (chloroplast and mitochondria), whole genome projects from yeast to human, repetitive DNA and its use as a tool, transposition, recombination and mutation. The module will then cover in depth methods for sequence assembly and phylogenetic reconstruction, and apply these to a variety of problems in molecular evolution, focusing particularly on eukaryotic diversity, as well as the origins of animals and humans. Theoretical aspects will include the neutral theory, phylogenetic reconstruction and dating using the molecular clock.

This module further develops general research skills including writing, presentations, using statistical analysis and elements relevant to your final year research projects. Teamwork skills are promoted in a group data analysis project, including statistical analysis of the data and group presentation in one term. In the other term, you'll have an opportunity to research a biological topic in depth and, building on the skills learned in year one, to write an essay on the topic. Personal tutorial meetings promote employability skills including further development of the CV and personal development planning as well as a continuation of enterprise and employability skills through the tutorial programme. Research ethics and health and safety aspects are also considered in preparation for your final year capstone project.

In this module you'll have the opportunity to consolidate the interpretative skills learnt in the module Analytical Science 1 and extend these to the analysis of spectra from more complex organic molecules. The majority of samples encountered in analytical science are mixtures, you'll be introduced to the basics of the most widely used forms of chromatography and a number of application areas of each will be described including the application of combined separation and spectroscopic techniques. Additionally you'll be introduced to a selection of instrumental analyses including atomic spectroscopy, thermal methods and electrochemical techniques, and statistical methodology which provide solutions to many of the analytical problems which are encountered in modern society. This module aims to develop your abilities in these directions to enable you to design an analytical process whilst further developing your IT, communication and numerical skills.

The module will start with an overview of fundamental concepts in pharmacology including the absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs (ADME). The module will then explore the molecular aspects of drug action, with detailed examples of various targets (including receptors, ion channels, enzymes and transporters). You'll then have the opportunity to investigate the theoretical relationship between ligand concentration and binding-site occupancy (Hill-Langmuir equation). This will be combined with discussion in lectures of protein-ligand interactions and what factors may influence binding affinity. As the largest family of proteins targeted by drug discovery methods, the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of fundamental importance to pharmacology. Individual case studies of GPCRs will be used to highlight the fundamental concepts covered in the first term. The case studies will highlight the therapeutic relevance of GPCRs with details of their molecular properties, kinetic models of action, and receptor oligomerization. In the latter part of the module, you'll have the chance to learn about biopharmaceuticals and gene therapy. The module will include consideration of the drug discovery and development process and technologies involved (chemical screen libraries, assay development), including high throughput screening. The stages of development of a new drug with details of initial lead-finding, optimization, pre-clinical development, phase I, II, III trials and regulatory approval will be discussed.

This module introduces you to the underpinning biophysical pharmaceutics for the formulation and compounding of medicines valuable for understanding of extemporaneous preparation, but also for the rational design of existing drug formulations. The theory outlining the formulation of drugs for improved absorption, metabolism and biological targeting provides the opportunity to gain a practical understanding of efficient pharmaceutical design.

The aims of this module are to introduce you to a range of pathogens responsible for major and emerging infectious diseases globally. To outline how pathogen biology not only influences pathology and transmission of disease, but is also the target for therapeutic intervention. We'll provide you with an overview of the drug discovery pipeline and other factors involved in the control of infectious diseases. This module also covers the mechanisms of action of existing and potential new therapies and discusses the significance of infectious diseases in the context of 21st century life. It also introduces the emerging importance of the commensal microflora and the concept of dysbiosis in the aetiology of a range of pathologies. The bases of pathogenicity and virulence for a range of bacterial, eukaryotic and viral pathogens will be addressed alongside discussion of current and prospective treatments for the diseases caused by these micro-organisms. The emerging importance of commensal microflora and the concept of dysbiosis in the aetiology of a range of human pathologies and antibiotic/drug-resistance are also important themes in this medical microbiology-themed module. Infectious diseases significant in a UK context and more widely in a global context will both be addressed. Lectures and assessment will cover bacterial, viral, and eukaryotic pathogens, which are the aetiological agents of human disease in tropical and temperate countries. Lecture content will include discussion of leading causes of mortality globally: e.g. cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV-AIDS. Threats posed by antibiotic resistance, challenges and opportunities associated with new medicine development, and the significance of emerging diseases against a backdrop of climate change will all be addressed.

The module starts with the basic definitions of the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome. There is then an overview of protein structure and how this is related to function. Protein supersecondary structure is discussed alongside various computational methods for secondary structure prediction (including alpha helix, beta strand, Coil-Coil, and disordered regions). This is followed by a description of domain classification schemes (SCOP & CATH). The concept of a priori protein structure prediction is introduced at a basic level. The computational challenge of finding the global energy minimum is described alongside attempts to simply the problem. The importance of membrane proteins in biology is illustrated with examples of bacterial, eukaryotic and mitochondrial proteins. Included in this are details of conformational change, control of protein activity and protein-lipid interactions. The use of X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM, NMR and mass spectroscopy to solve chemical and macromolecular structures will be described, together with the use of this data in computational research. Structural databases (The Protein Databank) and molecular modelling software will be used to explore the 3D structure of proteins and molecular interactions of macromolecules and small compounds (e.g. enzyme-inhibitor complexes). You'll have the opportunity to will gain hands on experience of X-ray refinement using the widely used program COOT. You'll then have the chance to rebuild and optimise a model to maximise the fit to real experimental data. Structure will be related to protein function in areas such as metabolic regulation in diabetes and cancer.

This module provides an in-depth description of many of the current applications of molecular genetics and will begin with a description of vectors and their uses in recombinant DNA technology. Practical considerations for cloning, PCR and site-directed mutagenesis techniques will then be covered. The application of modern molecular biological techniques for medical research, the production of pharmaceuticals, the generation of transgenic organisms, genome engineering (e.g. CRISPR), methods for silencing expression of genes and protein engineering will be described with illustrations of current research in these areas. This will be followed by a description of techniques to improve plants by genetic manipulation. Tutorials will reinforce salient points in lectures and develop problem solving and investigative skills, (e.g. characterisation of genetically modified organisms and designing strategies for cloning and mutagenising genes). The pitfalls will be discussed and the strategies which have been adopted to circumvent these.

This module introduces you to genome and population–level biology. It concentrates on nucleic acids biology and introduces contemporary methods for DNA and RNA sequence acquisition and the multitude of genome sequencing and variation projects undertaken by the research community. It explores various technical aspects underpinning high–throughput methods and presents applications and challenges of genomic research using examples from a wide variety of model systems and application approaches. Finally, it considers the achievements and challenges of high-throughput biology and explores their societal and ethical implications. The computer laboratory part of the module concentrates on exploratory analysis of high–throughput data using publicly available databases and resources.

This module covers the use of molecular genetic and cytogenetic techniques to delineate the cause and treatment of disease and illnesses and delivers an introduction to genetic counselling. The module begins with an account of the aetiology of human genetic disease and how DNA technology has aided disease gene mapping, cloning and sequencing and gives you an overview of gene and mutation databases. The latest methods used for disease diagnosis are then discussed, including fluorescence in situ hybridisation and high-throughput DNA sequencing. Prenatal diagnosis, population screening and ethics in medical genetics are discussed. You'll also be introduced to the concepts and tools for the study of complex diseases. The current state of gene therapy and animal models for human disease are also considered. The module highlights two particular diseases of interest – the diagnosis, molecular pathology and treatment of cystic fibrosis and the genetics and epigenetics of diabetes.

After a brief introduction to the nature of the immune system with an emphasis on clonal selection, antibody structure is studied in fine detail. The incredible ability of the vertebrate immune system to produce a vast range of antibody specificities is discussed and the genetic mechanisms by which this repertoire is generated receives an in depth coverage. Following this, the properties of the various types of T cell are explored with a discussion of the role of the Class I and Class II MHC molecules in recognising virally infected cells. The module progresses to consider what happens when the immune system "goes wrong" and a number of pathological conditions are considered. The subsequent part of the module outlines the molecular and cellular interactions between infectious organisms and the host immune system. Selected infectious organisms and agents, including a range of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms will be studied in detail to illustrate the complexity of the host/pathogen interaction. The way these organisms have evolved to overcome detection by the immune system will be discussed. The life cycles of selected viruses, protozoa and parasitic worms will be covered in detail.

Pathobiology (the biology underlying disease) is a critical element of biomedicine. This module considers the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of some of the major chronic diseases that affect human health with an emphasis on cancer and will also include neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease, diabetes and others. The module will also include chronic conditions associated with the disruption of the normal human immune system including inflammatory conditions, auto-immune diseases and hypersensitivities. The aims of this module are to introduce you to a range of chronic diseases and their global significance. To explain in detail the molecular and cellular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of chronic diseases, and describe the symptoms and progression of chronic diseases including modern methods in diagnosis and screening. This module also discusses the targets and treatments for therapeutic intervention in chronic diseases.

This module provides a detailed investigation of all the stages of drug development. The module begins with drug design and methods of discovery (chemical synthetic, biotechnological, animal and plant origin). The fundamentals of the pre-clinical, clinical and prescription phased trials and monitoring of new drugs will be covered, outlining the required stages and difficulties of introducing new drugs. The drug development process will be extended to an appreciation of how genetic variation may underpin personalized medicine, especially in the context of pharmacogenomic analysis. Biomarkers are used as surrogates for genotypic direction of personalized medicine and the science of these developments will be considered in detail. The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic perspectives will be studied as well as inter-patient variation in the expression of drug metabolising/ activating enzymes and differences in expression of drug targets such as receptors, genes, enzymes and growth factors. Biometric analysis, bioinformatics and the relevant IT will be explored in relation to ‘OMIC’ technologies as applied to pharmacogenomics.