Module FOUD0571: CORE FOUNDATION BIOLOGY COMBINED

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0571: 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 living organism level.
• Biological Molecules and food tests and the role of enzymes.
• Cell structure and the role of cell organelles
• Cell membranes including transport across them, and their role in respiration and photosynthesis
• Evolution and variety of organisms; including mechanisms of speciation
• 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.
• The Nucleus; including nuclear division, the structure of DNA, the process of protein synthesis and the process of mutation
• Genetics; including Variation, Mendelian Inheritance, and the use of genetic problems to predict outcomes of genetic crosses

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.
• explain how the process of nuclear division relates to reproduction, growth and development.
• describe the structure of the genetic carrier and relate it to mutations and genetic variation.

• By the end of this module the student will have acquired the skills to be able to:
• 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 work with numerical data both in the tackling of numerical problems and in the collecting, recording, interpreting and presenting of data.
• be able to demonstrate problem solving skills.
• The test will assess SK1,SK2,SK3,SK4,SK5,SK6,SK7,SK8,SS1,KS1,KS2,KS3.
• The assignment will assess KS1,KS2,KS3.

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. Weekly online DUO tests for students to assess their own understanding. Regular exam- style questions interspersed with the relevant sections in the notes given to students. Worksheets done either in class or to be taken home for students to consolidate their learning.

■ 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