Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook
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 BISS3212: BIOLOGY OF DISEASE

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences (Biomedical Sciences) [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

BISS3212: BIOLOGY OF DISEASE

TypeLevelCreditsAvailabilityModule CapLocation
Tied 3 40 Available in 2010/2011 None. Queen's Campus Stockton

Tied To

Pre-requisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop knowledge and understanding of the biology of disease in man.
  • To integrate knowledge and skills acquired in other parts of the course.

Content

  • Cancer.
  • Endocrine system disease.
  • Neurological disorders.
  • Genetic disease.
  • Physiological basis of systemic disease.
  • Degenerative disease and regenerative medicine.
  • Diseases of the cytoskeleton.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge
  • At the end of the module students should be able to integrate knowledge from different disciplines studied in Biomedical sciences and discuss disease processes.
Subject-specific Skills
  • At the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology and investigation of selected human diseases.
  • Critical assessment of research paper.
Key Skills
  • Students should be able to present information in a variety of ways to critically discuss aspects of disease process.

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

  • Lectures provide a solid foundation for knowledge and understanding, both practical and theoretical, and form a framework for students’ self-directed learning.
  • Workshops serve to encourage communication skills, team work and opportunities to extend subject specific knowledge.
  • Case studies are a powerful tool to work through biomedical problems from first principles to disease outcome, and as such explore both subject specific knowledge and skills in terms of critical analysis and data compilation, as well as key skills of problem solving and communication.
  • Unseen examinations are a test of the range depth and sophistication of the students knowledge and understanding of the material in a module. They also test key skills in ability to present arguments and communicate them effectively in a concise written form.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotal HoursAttendance Monitored
Lectures 31 1-3 weekly 3 hours 93
Practicals 3 3-4 hours 12 Yes
Workshops/CAL 3 3 hours 9 Yes
Preparation & reading 286
Total 400

Summative Assessment

ComponentComponent WeightingElementLength/DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Examination 67% Unseen formal examination paper 1 3 hours 50%
Unseen formal examination paper 2 3 hours 50%
Continuous Assessment 33% Case Study 30%
Scientific article exercise 30%
Extended essay 30%
Critical assessment of research paper 10%

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.