Fundamentals of Cell and Molecular Biology

• Offered for Year: 2011

• Module Leader(s): Dr Ethan Hack

• Owning School: Biology

Semesters

Semester 1 Credit Value:	10

Aims

To survey the fundamentals of cell and molecular biology and introduce key methods used in research on these subjects. This module is intended for students taking Masters-level courses in biological subjects who have not undertaken degree-level study of cell and molecular biology or who need to refamiliarise themselves with these topics.

Outline Of Syllabus

Introduction: genes and cells.
Proteins: composition and structure.
Organisation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Protein synthesis: transcription and translation mechanisms.
Principles of regulation of gene expression.
Genomes: prokaryotic, eukaryotic nuclear, mitochondrial, and plastid.
Essential techniques in molecular biology: DNA cloning, library screening, PCR, detection and measurement of gene expression, DNA sequencing.
Revision Lecture
Lab: fundamentals of recombinant DNA technology.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Category	Activity	Number	Length	Student Hours	Academic Staff Contact Hours	Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Lecture	17	1:00	17:00	17:00	N/A
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	17	2:00	34:00	0:00	Exam revision
Guided Independent Study	Assessment preparation and completion	6	1:00	6:00	0:00	N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities	Practical	4	6:00	24:00	24:00	N/A
Guided Independent Study	Independent study	19	1:00	19:00	0:00	N/A
Total				100:00	41:00

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures review background, explain key concepts and outline illustrative examples. The final lecture is a revision session. The in-class test assesses students' progress and provides students with an opportunity to answer practice exam questions. The practicals give students hands-on experience, with supervision and guidance, with recombinant DNA technology and the use of computers to analyse DNA and protein sequences. Private study is necessary for students to absorb information presented in lectures, to deepen their knowledge and understanding through reading supporting material, and to complete the analysis of data from the practicals.

Assessment Methods

Exams

Description	Length	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Written Examination	90	1	A	70

Other Assessment

Description	Semester	When Set	Percentage	Comment
Practical	1	M	28	To answer structured questions
Other	1	M	2	Exam Practice

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam (choice of 3 from 5 multi-part questions) assesses knowledge and understanding of the relevant subject material and the ability to integrate information from lectures and additional reading. A structured set of questions (deadline week 8) assesses students’ ability to produce, record and interpret data from experiments involving recombinant DNA technology. The exam practice (week 8) assesses students' progress in developing command of the course material and gives students the opportunity and incentive to develop their exam technique.

Reading Lists

• Reading List Website : reading.ncl.ac.uk
• BIO8009's Reading List