Module FOUN0547: Biology for Medics

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

FOUN0547: Biology for Medics

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

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
• 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 interaction between organisms.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
• differentiate the different levels of biological organisation
• differentiate between the different types of biological molecules
• explain the action of enzymes
• explain how the biochemistry of respiration and photosynthesis are related
• differentiate between the different processes of cellular transport
• apply the concepts of Mendelian inheritance to genetic disorders
• define how the process of evolution has lead to the variety of organisms and the prevalence of some genetic disorders
• define the term biotechnology, with examples
• discuss the ethics of genetic engineering, with specific relation to medical applications

• By the end of the module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• carry out basic microbiology laboratory procedures safely
• 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:
• communicate effectively in writing
• apply number in the tackling of numerical problems in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data
• 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 in 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:

Weekly 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