Keele Badge

LSC-30065 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 18 April 2024

LSC-30065 - Medical Glycobiology (Level 6)
Coordinator: Mark Skidmore Room: Hux168 Tel: +44 1782 7 33945
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

LSC-20072

Description for 2024/25

Carbohydrates are a major class of biologically relevant molecules that are rapidly increasing in clinical significance. This module will investigate the structure, biosynthesis, and biochemistry that underpins medically important carbohydrates, prior to a case by case discussion of their relevance to a wide range of clinical areas. The possibility of novel carbohydrate based therapeutics will be examined for a wide range of pathological conditions, examples may include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, prion based disease, malaria, HIV and influenza. The emerging field of glycomics will be explored, including current and impending techniques for glycan analysis, with particular relevance to future roles in diagnostics.

Aims
The principal aim of this module is to provide students with a working knowledge of the core concepts of Glycobiology. The module will consist of two parts, the first covering the basic science underpinning carbohydrates and their application to biochemistry and medical sciences, the second covering physiological and pathological states, of clinical relevance, that present in relation to changes in their structure and function.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe the biosynthesis for the major glycan classes: 1,2
explain how glycosylation may alter the physicochemical properties and function(s) of proteins: 1,2
discuss the key role that carbohydrates play in biological recognition: 1,2
examine the role of carbohydrates in both physiologic and pathologic states: 1,2
appraise carbohydrate-based molecules as potential glycotherapeutics with reference to appropriate scientific literature: 1,2
interpret and evaluate complex scientific data: 1,2
design, construct and edit an online encyclopaedia (wiki) web-page in a relevant area of glycobiology: 1
recognise and discuss the structure and/or properties of biologically relevant carbohydrates: 1,2
recall and explain carbohydrate nomenclature and terminology: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours workshops
12 hours seminars and tutorials
2 hours lectures
14 hours asynchronous lecture material
110 hours independent study, preparation for workshop sessions, and preparation for assessments.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Computer Task weighted 50%
Creation of a Glycosciences Wikipedia-styled page.
Students will individually create a wikipedia style page from a list of predetermined subject areas within the Glycoscience field (up to 2000 words)

2: Commentary weighted 50%
Presentation of journal article content to a general audience (submission within 28-hours of content release).
A journal article (related to the content covered during the programme of study) that will form the scientific content for the student's commentary (recorded oral presentation) will be released on the KLE as a pdf document 28 hours prior to the submission deadline for their recorded presentation. Students will be expected to prepare and present a recorded commentary, summarising the scientific content and findings of the journal article to a general audience. This assessment is based on real-word situations, where embargoed journal articles will often be released to academics/scientists for media comment within a short timescale (frequently less than 24 hours).

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 18 April 2024