Natural Sciences BSc(Hons)

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.

This module covers four areas of physical chemistry: properties of ideal and non-ideal introductory thermodynamics, solution chemistry of acids, bases and salts and reaction kinetics, including catalysis.

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 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 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 introduces you to the natural global processes that have shaped the world we live in. It will explore how the past and current environment has been influenced and the interaction between the biosphere and the geosphere. It will begin with the emergence of life on earth and how the generation of oxygen via photosynthesis transformed the terrestrial environment. The module will then progress to examine the classical nutrient cycles (C, N, S, P, Fe, I) and how human intervention has modified and accelerated them. The role of basic soil processes (CEC, hydraulic conductivity, alkalinity etc) in the retention and release of elements and how these impact plant, animal and human nutrition will also be explored. The module will particularly focus on the impacts of agriculture, industry and global climate change. The module has a strong practical component with a focus on fieldwork, data collection, analysis and reporting. The fieldwork element of this module will be delivered during scheduled class time.

This module introduces fundamental concepts in linear algebra. This module will provide you with a thorough grounding in matrix theory, including properties of matrices (determinant, rank, inverse etc.) and their use in solving systems of linear equations, including existence, ill-conditioning, linear dependence, orthogonality, QR factorisation, Cholesky factorisation, LU factorisation and other solution methods.  You will be introduced to the concepts of eigenvalues and eigenvectors, determining eigen-solutions using both deterministic and numerical methods.

The module is designed to give you an introduction to the mathematical foundations and the use of statistical methods and methodologies. A variety of real-life problems (involving the analysis of data and interpretation of results) will be used to develop your ability to select and use relevant statistical methods and methodologies. This module gives you a grounding in probability theory and statistical modelling and analysis. It will develop an understanding of probability spaces, conditional probabilities, Bayes theorem, discrete and continuous random variables, statistical distributions, independence, density and mass functions, variance, standard deviation, expectation, statistical sampling and sampling distributions, - chi squared, t-tests. This module will develop both the theory and application of statistical methods through a range of real problems focusing particularly on the analysis of data and interpretation of results.

This module provides coverage of the more important methods of forming carbon-carbon single and double bonds. Following on from year 1 carbonyl chemistry, some more advanced aspects of carbonyl chemistry will be discussed. Main-group elements and their role in synthesis will also be considered. Retrosynthetic analysis will be introduced in the context of carbonyl chemistry and will be developed to enable you to plan some complex multistep syntheses. The synthesis and reactions of the main classes of simple heterocyclic compounds will be covered. The chemistry of other biologically-important compounds such as carbohydrates amino acids will also be detailed. More advanced aspects of stereochemistry are covered, and the relationship between conformation and reactivity is explored. The module has a practical component which focuses on the use of more advanced techniques for the preparation, isolation and analysis (IR and NMR) of target molecules. A part of the practical session is devoted to the isolation of stereochemically pure products.

This module covers six topics: equilibrium and dynamic electrochemistry, phase equilibria, colloids and colloidal suspensions, colligative properties, kinetics of composite reactions and quantum theory – basic principles and simple applications. With the exception of quantum theory, material in the other areas builds on that presented in year 1.

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 aims to build on the basic physiology that was studied in the first year. The organisation and regulatory roles of the nervous system are considered and their interaction investigated. This module will introduce you to the techniques used to investigate the molecular events of the nervous system. The electrophysiological techniques of voltage and patch clamp will be explained. Subsequently the central nervous system (CNS) will be investigated and the functions associated with its anatomical regions. Interactions such as sensory and motor integration, sleep-wake cycles and higher mental functions (consciousness and memory) will also be introduced. Endocrine physiology will also be considered with particular emphasis on the role of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis in endocrine control and integration of activities of the nervous and endocrine systems. The physiological role of hormones in reproduction and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis will be examined. Glucose regulation and the pathologies associated with dys-regulation will also be discussed.

​The module is designed to be an extension of Molecular and Cellular Biology module, where cells and tissues are studied in more depth. The nature of biological membranes is considered in detail, particularly the more complex phospholipids and glycolipids. The module extends to consider how cells exist in tissues and the role of extracellular matrix components and cell junctions in cellular interactions. Material covered in a number of earlier modules is integrated in order to appreciate the complexity of multicellular organisms and the problems associated with communication between cells. Two second messenger systems (cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate and inositol phospholipids) are covered in depth in order to focus on the problems associated with transduction of signals across biological membranes. Cellular communication is covered, including signalling membrane receptors and intracellular signalling pathways. Different types of cell communication are highlighted using specific tissue/cell type examples. The practical element of the module involves the sub-cellular fractionation of tissue derived cells and the identification of the appropriate marker enzymes in the separate sub-cellular fractions.

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 introduces you to the concept of the anthropocene – the epoch of human influence. It will focus on the global impacts of human population on earth systems including atmosphere, soil and water systems. A case study approach will be taken focusing on major issues such as climate change, energy generation, ozone depletion, air quality, mining and ore processing, xenobiotics, water resource and land management.

In this module you will develop your ability to address complex problems using mathematics by developing your skills in advanced mathematical methods. You will be introduced to alternate representations of functions e.g. by a Fourier series, in terms of orthogonal polynomials, or as a Fourier or Laplace transform. You will learn advanced tools for analysing and solving differential equations such as Laplace transform methods. Finally, you will obtain a grounding in vector calculus.

This module enables you to build on your knowledge of basic statistical methods, studying a range of statistical techniques which can be used to help solve real-life problems involving the analysis of data and interpretation of results. You will explore sampling theory and estimation of mean and variance, hypothesis testing, significance testing, measures of independence and goodness of fit. You will also study linear, multiple and stepwise regression, correlation and analysis of variance tests. Many techniques will be developed and applied through the use of a statistical package such as R, or Minitab, etc.

This module draws together the basic concepts of synthesis and reaction mechanisms in the context of providing methods for designing suitable synthetic routes to target compounds and also extends the range of reaction types to include pericyclic reactions. The module introduces contemporary preparative methods for the synthesis of organic compounds. Further aspects relating to designing a synthesis and the connection between design and retrosynthetic principles are covered. The selectivity of reactions and the concepts of regio-, chemo-, stereo- and enantioselectivity are developed as are the rules governing pericyclic reactions. The reaction mechanism component draws together concepts in both physical and mechanistic organic chemistry. This section provides techniques that can be used to differentiate between mechanistic types. The use of product analysis, activation parameters, linear free energy relationships and isotope effects to determine reaction mechanisms are described.

This module covers various aspects of advanced physical chemistry. The properties of surfaces and the interaction of gas molecules with surfaces will be discussed. Different theories of adsorption will be compared. The kinetics of surface reactions will be related to the mechanism of the reaction. The application of surface science type measurements in developing an understanding of how atoms and molecules adsorb on surfaces will be covered. Central to chemistry is being able to relate observation made in the laboratory to behaviour at the atomistic level and equally to use the interaction of atoms and molecules to derive quantities that can be measured at the macro-level. Thus statistical thermodynamics will be introduced and used to derive fundamental properties. Atomistic modelling also provides a view into the molecular world and after reviewing the fundamentals of quantum mechanics the methods for approximating multi electron systems will be introduced and the applications in computational chemistry explored. One important application of quantum mechanics which is used routinely throughout chemistry is spectroscopy. We will therefore show how the quantum definitions of the allowed vibrational and rotational energy levels of a simple harmonic oscillator and a rigid-rotor can be used to derive the observed IR and microwave spectra of diatomic molecules and introduce other related aspects of the theory relating to atomic and molecular spectroscopy.

In this module the basic description of separation science provided earlier in the course will be expanded and extended. Recent developments in the subject will be discussed in terms of basic chromatographic theory. The application of separation methods to the identification and quantification of drugs and their metabolites in toxicological samples will be discussed. The metabolism of drugs, in so far as this process impinges upon the analytical methodology employed in toxicological analysis, together with the effects of sample type and their storage will be highlighted.

In this module you'll be provided with an overview of contemporary spectroscopic techniques and their relevant areas of application. In mass spectrometry you'll be introduced to the range of ionisation and scanning techniques and the ways in which the coupling of chromatographic methods with mass spectrometry can enhance and extend the capabilities of both methods. In NMR you'll have the opportunity to consider a range of advanced experimental methods to enhance the quality of the analytical information which can be obtained. Modern electroanalysis is a powerful and versatile analytical tool for investigating a wide range of analytical problems. This module will introduce you to a selection of these methods and will illustrate the practicalities, uses and limitations of these techniques. Sensor technologies represent a rapidly expanding area of analytical science. The module aims to familiarise you with the wide range of fields, which contribute to sensor developments, and then to reinforce this knowledge with pertinent examples such as glucose monitoring systems for diabetics.

The module examines diverse areas of cutting edge physiological research. Epithelial membrane transport, maintenance and differentiation will be covered in detail. This will introduce the diverse molecular mechanisms of membrane transport, encompassing ion channels and pumps, water movement, lipid and amino acid transporters. Furthermore, the importance of stem cells in maintaining epithelial tissue homeostasis will be introduced. The usefulness of electrophysiological techniques, such as voltage clamp, patch clamp, patch clamp fluorometry and in vitro planar lipid bilayer assays, in defining/detecting channel activities and studying channel biophysics will be examined. Aspects of synaptic transmission in combination with the use of neurotoxins will be covered. Lastly, methodologies for the engineering/modification of ion channels in combination with gene therapy will be considered in terms of their therapeutic potential. Other areas of study will include the physiological relationship between the mother and the fetus with particular regard to the in-utero programming of disease. Finally, the physiological role for angiogenesis in the development of cancers will be covered.

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 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 will review the nature of Geography and encourage you to analyse critically the strengths and weaknesses of a geographical approach. The module will focus on the application of geographical concepts, perspectives and techniques, including GIS (Geographic Information Systems) illustrating how they can be used to address contemporary issues both in the United Kingdom and at a global scale. This will involve introductory lectures, 'issues workshops' and tutorial guidance.

This module provides you with the opportunity to gain the basic knowledge for the design and analysis of chemical/biochemical reactors. It also provides the basis to acquire further skills needed for the solution of quantitative problems encountered in the process industries. Effects of non-ideal flow conditions, ideal mixing and fixed or fluidised bed catalytic reactors will also be covered.

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to investigate multivariate systems in depth. The main aim of this module is to give you the skills and experience to formulate statistical models and execute techniques associated with multivariate analysis on data sets representative of real life that may be encountered in a professional environment.

This module introduces you to partial differential equations (PDEs) and the types of systems they can model, demonstrating methods of solution of PDEs based on characteristics, transformations, and other methods. It also introduces you to basic concepts of continuum mechanics, and the Euler, Stokes and Navier-Stokes equations describing fluid flow. You will learn how to solve fundamental equations for flow fields for various special cases and investigate stability of solutions of partial differential equations in the context of fluid flow.

In this module you will further develop your understanding of both ordinary and partial differential equations. You will explore a range of numerical methods and their solutions, including Euler’s methods and Matrix methods. You will also be introduced to elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic partial differential equations and their numerical solution methods.

The relationship between the forensic scientist and the justice system will be explored with a view to addressing aspects of criminal and civil law. Aspects of presentation of evidence as well as the role and responsibility of the expert witness will also be explored. The requirements of quality systems will be considered within context of presenting robust evidence; as well as the considerations of ethical practice. Quality Assurance procedures and importance of standard operating procedures in relation to accreditation will be explored (i.e. ISO17020 and ISO17025).

This module will cover the molecular and cellular targets of medicines and will focus on the biological macromolecules that they interact with. Key classes of biological macromolecules will be covered including: proteins (enzymes and receptors); nuclei acids (DNA, RNA and their biosynthetic machinery). The main focus of the lectures and tutorials will be to provide a comprehensive analysis of the general principles of drug action for students with a chemical and biological background. It is of interest to those wanting to learn about drug design and the molecular mechanisms by which drugs act.