This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2009-2010 (archived)
Module BIOL3491: Stress & Responses to the Environment
Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
BIOL3491: Stress & Responses to the Environment
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 3 | 20 | Available in 2009/2010 | None. | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- Animal physiology AND Plant Physiology.
Corequisites
- Molecular Biology if it has not been taken at Level 2.
Excluded Combinations
- 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 | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 40 | Weekly | 1 hour | 40 | |
| Workshop | 1 | 1 hour | 1 | ||
| Preparation & reading | 159 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 90% | Unseen formal exam | 3 hours | 100% | |
| Continuous Assessment | 10% | Data handling | 0% |
Formative Assessment
None.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.