Cell Biology and Genetics - LIFE40006
Aims
The behaviour of living cells is influenced by both their genetics and by their environment. In this module, you will explore how the genetic information in cells is expressed as a phenotype, and how this expression is regulated in response to stimuli from the cell's environment. The module will address the central information transfer pathways in the cell (replication, transcription and translation), and aims to develop your skills in analysing genetic systems in model organisms. It will familiarise you with the compartments from which eukaryotic cells are constructed and how proteins are targeted to them. We will also explore specific examples of cellular interactions: neuronal signalling, vertebrate immunity, and viral infection. In the practical work in the summer term, you will work as a team to design experiments to investigate your own hypotheses in the context of the interaction between the growth of bacterial cells and their environment. We will continue to develop both your quantitative and writing skills.
Role
Lecturer
Virology - LIFE95019
Aims
To provide fundamental understanding of the nature of viruses, how they replicate, interact with their host cells, cause disease, and how virus diseases can be controlled. To illustrate the experimental approaches which have been used to gain our current knowledge and understanding of viruses and to impart skills in the interpretation of experimental data. To identify outstanding problems in virology and to impart skills in experimental design to test hypotheses and develop new concepts and knowledge. To impart practical skills in modern molecular virology, including the writing of practical reports.
Role
Course Leader
Challenges in Cell Biology - LIFE95006
Aims
CCB will give students an understanding of current cell biology research challenges and the approaches being developed to tackle them. It will discuss areas of cell biology that are new to second year Biochemists and so complement their previous cell biology teaching as well as introduce themes that will be developed in several final year courses.
Role
Lecturer
Genetics with Statistics - LIFE95010
Aims
By the end of the Genetics section of the module students should be able to (1) Describe factors affecting the expression of genes in eukaryotes, including the phenomenon of epigenetics; (2) Discuss the origin of new genes, evolution of genes and factors affecting population gene frequencies in time and space; (3) Describe the inheritance of complex or quantitative traits, and the use of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in mapping; (4) Discuss how genetic techniques can be applied to natural history, reconstructing relationships (phylogenies) and conservation; (5) Students will demonstrate their competence in genetics techniques by inducing and scoring mutations in Salmonella and conducting a population genetics analysis of microsatellite dataset using standard software such as GENEPOP. By the end of the Statistics section students should be able to (6) Obtain descriptive statistics of the data; (7) Produce meaningful visualizations the data by plotting them for exploration as well as model fitting; (8) Test for certain properties of data, such as normality, log-normality, etc. (9) For two samples, be able choose the appropriate test (e.g., t-test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney u-test; randomization test etc); (10) Understand and use linear models including linear regression and ANOVA, check model assumptions using QQ plots, residual plots etc; (11) For data with non-normal errors or count data, be able to choose and perform appropriate tests especially generalised linear models (GLMs), and interpret the output
Role
Lecturer
Applied Molecular Biology with Bioinformatics - LIFE95002
Aims
The first aim of this course is to enable all biology students to gain a fundamental understanding of the theoretical and practical basis of modern molecular and cell biology techniques and to appreciate how such techniques are used in a wide range of biological disciplines. The second aim is to ensure that all students gain a knowledge of bioinformatics and understand its role in genomics and molecular biology.
Role
Course Leader