This course provides a broad understanding of invertebrate biology. The Moodle site is an essential part of this learning experience

The module will focus on the following key areas of modern cell biology: cell cycle, cell growth and differentiation, apoptosis, cell senescence, cell polarity, cell shape and cell motility, organelle origin and functions. The module will give theoretical knowledge in modern cell biology methods, including microscopy and live cell imaging, and will introduce basic concepts on evolutionary constrains in cellular functions and links between cellular functions and development.

We will study the processes that lead from a fertilised egg into a variety of complex organisms with well-defined body plans and tissues, and the basic cellular processes and signalling pathways that underlay these developmental phenomena.

This course is about plants and all the interactions they require to complete their life cycle. We review the critical ecological and evolutionary role of biotic interactions in determining the composition and functioning of plant communities. We focus on biotic interactions because they are the building blocks of biodiversity, although they are frequently overlooked compared to species-focused approaches. We focus on the interactions of plants with other organisms because they are the base of trophic changes, and they support fundamental ecosystem services we rely on.

BS2150

Applications of Molecular Genetics in Biology

Co-ordinator: Dr Paul Devlin

First Term

Evolution is the study of how the genotypic and phenotypic composition of populations changes through time. This course covers the foundation of evolutionary biology and the mechanisms that have shaped organisms since life began. We will discuss: how the evolutionary synthesis came to be, the origin of variation, the allelic composition of a population (and how different processes, including natural selection) modify this composition, and adaptation. This approaches lead to considering of how we can study evolution using phylogenetic methods and the mechanisms of speciation. We will finally explore the fascination topic of human evolution.

In this course you will learn about how the food you consume is turned into biological energy through some key metabolic pathways, with a particular focus on cellular respiration and its regulation.

Please contact the relevant lecturer about material taught in their classes.

For course coordination issues contact Dr Christopher Wilkinson.

Textbook: Lodish et al Molecular Biology

In this course we will be studying the mammalian (human) immune system. The initial focus is antibody proteins, before we progress to the activity of T lymphocytes.

One of the main objectives of this course is to explain how neurons communicate. We will discuss how the neuronal membrane adjusts its permeability allowing an active and regulated flow of currents responsible for transmitting information, and what happens once this "information" reaches the end of the journey.

During the second half of the term, we will discuss more general principles of cellular signalling. These signalling events are essential not only to neuronal cells but to all cells in our body. Thus we will look at these mechanisms from a less "specific" point of view, not necessarily restricted to neurons.

This course provides material relevant to the third year course in Endocrinology (BS3570) and is a prerequisite for Cell and Molecular Neuroscience (BS3580).

PREREQUISITES for this course are: BS1061 and BS1091!

The course will cover the various aspects of drug action, their effect on normal physiology and their therapeutic applications.