Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module BIOL3491: Stress & Responses to the Environment

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3491: Stress & Responses to the Environment

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Animal physiology AND Plant Physiology.

Corequisites

  • Molecular Biology if it has not been taken at Level 2.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide an advanced theoretical overview of the abiotic and biotic stresses to which selected organisms are exposed.
  • To develop an understanding of the mechanisms used by selected organisms to detect, respond, and adapt to these stresses.

Content

  • Plant/invertebrate interactions.
  • Abiotic stress in plants.
  • The unfolded protein response.
  • Abiotic stress in animals.
  • Abiotic stress in bacteria.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • The student will develop knowledge of and the ability to critically evaluate experimental data in the following areas:
  • Plant responses to invertebrates;
  • The responses of a variety of species to selected biotic and abiotic stresses.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to use information from the primary literature in the context of understanding stress responses in diverse organisms.
  • Ability to critically evaluate and discuss experimental data pertaining to stress responses in diverse organisms.
Key Skills:
  • Interpretation and critical evaluation of data.
  • Critical analysis of literature.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures, Workshops, Unseen exam and Data handling.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 40 Weekly 1 hour 40
Workshop 1 2 hour 2
Preparation & reading 158
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 80%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Unseen formal exam 3 hours 100%
Component: Continuous Assessment Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Data handling 100%

Formative Assessment:

None.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University