Explore UCD

UCD Home >

PHYS20050

Academic Year 2024/2025

Cell-Cell Communication (PHYS20050)

Subject:
Physiology
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Marie-Victoire Guillot-Sestier
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is designed to give the student an in-depth knowledge of cellular communication and signalling, with a particular focus on muscle and nerve biology. Students will learn how cells of the human body communicate with each other and with their environments and be introduced to the signalling mechanisms used by the immune system as part of host defence. They will learn how membrane potentials arise and how these are specialized within nerve and muscle tissues. Students will also cover the molecular basis of skeletal and smooth muscle contraction and muscle mechanics. This is a core module for the MB BCh BAO Medical Degree and the Graduate Entry to Medicine programme, and is offered as an option for Biomedical Health and Life Science students that have some background in biological science.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Biomedical Knowledge:
On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Describe basic cellular structures that contribute to cellular functions.
2. Compare and contrast the main cellular signalling pathways.
3. Explain the principles of nerve physiology and neural communication.
4. Compare and contrast skeletal and smooth muscle contraction.
5. Describe the basic mechanisms of cell signalling used in host defence.

Clinically-relevant Skills:
On completion of this module students will be familiar with basic cellular communication mechanisms that control normal physiological functions and the potential clinical relevance of defects in these pathways.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

6
Autonomous Student Learning

78
Lectures

26
Small Group

6
Tutorial

3
Computer Aided Lab

6
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching on this module is predominantly lecture-based.

The module content is divided in to three sections:

1. Cell structure and function
2. Excitable cells and electrical signalling
3. Cell-cell signalling and communication

In addition to core lectures each section of the module will include one small class tutorial and a computer aided learning (CAL) class. Tutorial and CAL activities are designed to evaluate module content from different viewpoints.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHYS10020 - An introduction to Physiology:, PHYS20040 - Cell and Tissue Physiology, PHYS20060 - Fundamentals of Physiology , PHYS20100 - Cell-Cell Signalling

Equivalents:
Cell-cell Comm & Signalling (MDSA10030)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Students will be assessed based on their participation in various defined activities and tutorials. On line MCQ associated to Tutorials and CALs must be completed. Week 3, Week 6, Week 11 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
 No
Quizzes/Short Exercises: Preparation for exams. The students will work in groups to answer examples of exam questions from previous years. Week 10 Graded No
5
 No
Exam (In-person): Short answer questions covering all sections of the module. Done at the same time as MCQ. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
51
 No
Exam (In-person): This is the MCQ component of the end of module assessment. This will include 40 questions covering the content of the whole module. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
34
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Submitted work will be annotated by the examiner for feedback and guidance purposes. General feedback will also be provided at the class level post-assessment. Students who require additional feedback may request to meet the module coordinator and/or examiner.

Name Role
Assoc Professor John Baugh Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Jayne Carberry Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Marguerite Clyne Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Claire Robinson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Jeffrey Glennon Tutor
Dr David Gomez Tutor
Professor Brendan Loftus Tutor
Dr Sergio Rey Tutor
Professor Denis Shields Tutor
Dr Ashish Singh Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11 Fri 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1 Fri 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 2, 6, 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 2, 6, 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 7 Week(s) - 2, 6 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 2, 6, 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 9 Week(s) - 2, 6, 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 16 Week(s) - 3, 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 17 Week(s) - 3, 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 18 Week(s) - 3 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 18 Week(s) - 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 20 Week(s) - 11 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 20 Week(s) - 2 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 20 Week(s) - 6 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 21 Week(s) - 3, 7, 12 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 3 Fri 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 11 Fri 16:00 - 17:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - 6 Tues 15:00 - 16:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 2 Week(s) - 11 Fri 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 2 Week(s) - 6 Wed 08:00 - 09:50
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 2 Week(s) - 3 Wed 13:00 - 14:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.