This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)
Module BIOL3531: Stem Cells & Tissue Engineering
Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
BIOL3531: Stem Cells & Tissue Engineering
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 3 | 20 | Available in 2010/2011 | None. | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- Development AND Molecular Biology.
Corequisites
- At least one other Level 3 Biology module.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To provide an advanced overview of aspects of stem cell biology and the experimental methods used to study stem cells.
- To develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical basis underpinning tissue engineering.
- To provide an overall appreciation of the strategies and methodologies employed in the development of translational research in the stem cell/tissue engineering fields and their biological rationale.
Content
- Experimental methods in mammalian cell and organ culture.
- Embryonic and adult stem cells.
- Tissue engineering.
- Clinical applications of tissue engineering and stem cells.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- To appreciate how cell and organ culture is used experimentally for stem cell and tissue engineering research.
- Understand how stem cells from embryonic and mature animals are identified, specialised aspects of their biology and the functional significance of their behaviour.
- Describe different experimental strategies for tissue engineering.
- Understand how therapies/applications can arise from knowledge of stem cells and tissue engineering.
- Recognize and describe some of the limitations and difficulties associated with translational research.
Subject-specific Skills
- Ability to use information from the primary literature in the context of understanding diverse types of stem cells, their biology and applied potential.
- Ability to critically evaluate and discuss experimental data pertaining to stem cell biology and tissue engineering.
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 | 5 | Termly | 1 hour | 5 | |
| Preparation & reading | 155 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 90% | Unseen formal examination | 3 hours | 100% | |
| Continuous Assessment | 10% | Data handling | 100% |
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.