PHYS40150 Molecular Physiology

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module is designed to develop an advanced understanding of techniques used to study molecular physiology with an emphasis on assay design, development, and optimisation. The primary aim of this module is to give students hands-on laboratory experience in a research setting but will focus on mastery of research techniques rather than aquisition of experimental data.

Students will join an ongoing project in an active research laboratory with the goal of developing or optimising a series of techniques that can then be used to address an experimental question. The emphasis of this module is in developing robust techniques rather than obtaining research data. Research themes may include inflammatory cell biology, endothelial cell biology, epithelial cell biology, fibroblast biology, and platelet biology. Each student experience will be unique and the content of the module will be developed with a research-active supervisor. Most projects will involve linking and developing several basic techniques such as cell culture, QPCR, and Western blotting. Studies will include assessing functions such as:
Intracellular signalling (Eg. reporter assay and/or Western Blot analyses)
Regulation of gene expression (Eg. via QPCR or gene promoter cloning and reporter assay)
Micro RNA expression and function (QPCR, reporter assay)

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Design an experiment to test a research hypothesis.
2. Select appropriate techniques in order to study relevant aspects of cellular physiology.
3. Demonstrate a high level of competency in the techniques used.
4. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the limitations of the techniques selected.
5. Complete a written report that includes a detailed description of the techniques used and an interpretation of the data obtained.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Tutorial

6
Laboratories

200
Specified Learning Activities

200
Total

406
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module involves approximately ten weeks of laboratory-based practical activity.
Students will work closely with a research active supervisor.
Teaching will involve laboratory work; active/task-based learning; critical writing; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Laboratory Report Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded Yes

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Individual feedback will be provided after the laboratory reports have been graded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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