Module FOUN0391: CORE FOUNDATION BIOLOGY COMBINED

Department: Foundation Year [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

FOUN0391: CORE FOUNDATION BIOLOGY COMBINED

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Core Foundation Biology 1, Core Foundation Biology 2.

Aims

• To encourage students to develop confidence in their own abilities in a science subject.
• To develop students' learning skills.
• To introduce a basic bank of knowledge on which students can build either by the process of self study or in further courses of directed study.
• To develop confidence in a laboratory situation.
• To introduce a range of equipment.
• To develop observational and interpretative skills.
• To introduce scientific report-writing, data handling and critical evaluation.

Content

• Basic characteristics of life.
• Biological organisation from molecular to ecological levels.
• Biological Molecules and food tests and the role of enzymes.
• Cell membranes including transport across them, and their role in respiration and photosynthesis
• Reproduction including basic genetics problems.
• Evolution and variety of organisms.
• Microbiology: including growing microorganisms; biotechnology old (e.g. brewing and baking) and new (e.g. insulin production, mycoprotein); genetic engineering, ethical considerations.
• Respiration; including glycosis, Krebs cycle, Electron Transfer Chain, membranes and ATP production, anaerobic respiration.
• Photosynthesis; including pigments, chloroplasts, light-dependent and light-independent reactions, photosystems, membranes and ATP production, compensation point.
• Relating respiration and photosynthesis to the interactions between organisms.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• describe the different levels of biological organisation.
• differentiate between the different types of biological molecules.
• describe the action of enzymes.
• explain how the biochemistry of respiration and photosynthesis are related.
• differentiate between the different processes of cellular transport.
• define how the process of evolution has lead to the variety of organisms.
• define the term biotechnology, with examples.
• discuss the ethics of genetic engineering, with examples.

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• carry out basic microbiology laboratory procedures safely.
• use a light microscope.
• use keys and their acquired knowledge to differentiate between types of organisms.
• solve genetics problems.

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• be able to be able to communicate effectively in writing.
• be able to apply number both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data.
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills.

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

• Theory, initial concepts and techniques will be introduced during seminars and laboratory practicals.
• Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured practicals during sessions and independent research during students' own time.
• Knowledge and understanding of concepts will be assessed a written assignment.
• Knowledge and ability to use and apply concepts will be tested by an end of module test.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Students will be given self testing units on a weekly basis. Students will be given some formative research exercises.

■ 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