LSC-10066 - Module Specification School of Life Sciences Faculty of Natural Sciences
For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 19 April 2024
LSC-10066 - Molecular Cell Biology
Coordinator: Sheila Hope Room: Hux230 Tel: +44 1782 7 33674
School Office: 01782 734414
Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Co-requisites
None
Prerequisites
None
Barred Combinations
None
Description for 2024/25
This module is an introduction to molecular cell biology. Starting with the cell as the basic unit of life, you will look at the subcellular architecture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. You will explore the diversity of prokaryotic cells and you will also look at the incredible diversity of cells within a multicellular organism and how these cells interact with and communicate with each other. You'll find out the important roles of cellular membranes and be introduced to key signalling pathways. You will discover the importance of the genetic material and how the information stored in DNA is processed via RNA intermediates to produce proteins and how this genetic information is passed from one generation to the next (at the cellular and organismal levels). You will look in detail at structures of nucleic acids and compare and contrast the processes of transcription and translation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and how these different types of cells control which genes are expressed. You will be introduced to how we can exploit some of the DNA processing enzymes used by bacterial cells for recombinant DNA technology and will investigate some of the bioethical implications of research used to study our genomes or create new DNA molecules.The course is lecture based, with supplementary material available on the KLE page. There are supporting tutorials and workshops and the laboratory programme includes the use of microbiology techniques to identify a bacterial sample and some basic molecular biology techniques. On this module, you'll get the chance to develop some of your communication skills, such as producing a poster, contributing to a blog and giving a short oral presentation.
This module introduces students to the fundamentals of molecular cell biology, focusing on the mechanisms involved in the storage, processing and controlling the expression of the genetic information and the subcellular locations thereof. We investigate how cells within a multicellular organism interact with and communicate with each other. The module also looks at the diversity of cells and organisms, showing how genetic diversity is generated and how evolutionary pressures contribute to the wide biodiversity of organisms. The workshop programme aims to equip students with, problem solving, bioethics, communication and analytical skills.
Intended Learning Outcomes
describe and compare the architecture of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, explaining the roles of cellular organelles and the cellular and molecular interactions involved in the formation of tissues: 1,2explain the fundamental differences between the processes of bacterial cell division and mitosis and meiosis in eukaryotic cells and the implications these different types of cell division have on the genetic diversity of offspring (Mendelian genetics): 2describe the chemical structure and function of the key nucleic acids and describe the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication, transcription and processing of RNA molecules, explaining how these processes differ in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: 2compare and contrast the processes of translation and post-translational processing of proteins in prokaryotes and eukaryotes: 2describe some of the major mechanisms of controlling gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and relate phenotypic diversity of cells within a multicellular organism to differences in gene expression: 3describe the major mechanisms for generation of genetic variation at the level of DNA and relate phenotypic diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes to the process of evolution by natural selection: 3discuss the structure and properties of biological membranes and describe the general mechanisms by which molecules are transported across them: 3describe the different types of intra- and inter-cellular signalling systems in eukaryotic cells: 3describe the practical applications of some of the naturally occurring DNA processing enzymes in recombinant DNA technology and the ethic implications of their use: 3analyse and interpret experimental data and discuss the ethical implications of the use of animal models: 1,4communicate in a variety of different formats (poster, bioethics blog, oral presentation) to different audiences: 1,4,5
Study hours
Active learning hours6 x 1.5 hour live workshops2 x 1 hour tutorial2 x 1 hour tutorials (assessment preparation)1x 1 hour oral and poster presentationstructured engagement with online activities (9 topics at10 hours per topic)Independent study hours2 x 1 hour completion of online 2 class tests plus 2 x 60 hour reading and revision74 hours completion of the communication skills portfolio (including reflection from labs delivered as part of LSC-10087)
School Rules
None
Description of Module Assessment