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BIOL3671: Advanced Biochemistry

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Type	Open
Level	3
Credits	20
Availability	Not available in 2024/2025
Module Cap	None.
Location	Durham
Department	Biosciences

Prerequisites

One of BIOL2491 Metabolism OR BIOL2591 Biomolecules - Structure and Function AND one of BIOL2441 Molecular Biology OR BIOL2501 Cell Signalling.

Corequisites

At least one other Level 3 Biosciences module

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None

Aims

Advanced level study of biomolecular processes involved in cellular function and molecular communication in representative organisms.
Comparison of biomolecules and biochemical processes between cell types and under changing environmental conditions.

Content

Molecular mechanisms used to sense nutrient status, for example, metal ions/inorganic carbon and the metabolic changes that arise.
Metabolic and molecular differences between healthy versus unhealthy cells, for example tumour cells.
Metabolic and molecular adaptations of life under different conditions.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Advanced knowledge of molecular sensory mechanisms to respond to nutrient status.
Advanced knowledge of metabolic pathways used to survive in the absence of oxygen.
Advanced knowledge of link between genetics and cellular phenotype.
Advanced knowledge of biomolecular structure and altered function mutations.

Subject-specific Skills:

To be able to link mutations in protein sequence to effects on function allowing adaptation to growth conditions and responses to environmental cues.
To be able to use quantitative analytical skills to understand energy availability in different environment.
To be able to analyse complex metabolic systems and describe how these relate to growth and survival of a cell under specified conditions.

Key Skills:

Literacy, in being able to consult and extract information from printed and on-line archives.
Data analysis, in interpretation and critical analysis of data relevant to stress responses.
Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

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

Lectures deliver subject specific knowledge.
Tutorials/workshops support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific and self-motivation.
Unseen examinations demonstrate achievement of the appropriate level of subject-specific knowledge of development, with an emphasis of understanding and communication (essay and problem-based questions).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	24	Weekly	2 hours per week	24
Workshops	2	Termly	1 hour	2	Yes
Preparation and reading				174
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Unseen formal examination	2 hours	100	No

Formative Assessment

Two formative examination exercises of 1 hour each

More information

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