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2005-2006 Option OutlinesA Options: Term 1, weeks 2-6Cells into Organs Organiser: Dr JR Downie, EEB, ext. 5157, email J.R.Downie@bio.gla.ac.uk Assisted by: Dr S Mackay, NBS; and Dr RA Smith, NBS Content: This course should be of most interest to anatomists and cell and molecular biologists, but is not restricted to these groups. Any student with an interest in the processes underlying Animal Development should find the course interesting. It should be a valuable complement to the second term Option Genes and Development. The course is primarily concerned with the means by which embryonic cells set up the complex patterns and forms of organ systems. This involves a study of cell motility, cell-cell interactions, cell shape and polarity determination, cell death etc. The course focuses on development in mammals including abnormalities of development, but also uses the comparative approach, in particular to examine the embryo-like repair and regenerative capacities of adult organs, and to compare developmental processes across the animal kingdom. The course relates knowledge of cell behaviour derived from in vitro studies to the more complex embryonic situation, and stresses modern experimental techniques. The course is taught by means of tutorial, paper presentations and paper analyses and critiques. Topics will include:
Entry requirements: None, but any student who has not taken the Level 3 course in Anatomy (or L2 courses in Development; Reproduction and the Embryo) will be asked to undertake some preliminary reading. Restriction on numbers: 45 Organiser: Dr R Ormond, email Rupert.Ormond@millport.gla.ac.uk This course reviews the communities and ecological processes of several marine ecosystems as a basis for the development of conservation and management strategies. The following topics will be included: Temperate Estuarine Systems: Estuarine environments; estuarine organisms; human impact. Coral Reefs: Reef structures and fauna; coral biology - physiology, reproduction, mortality, productivity, and trophic structure; reef fish and fisheries; management and conservation of reefs. Mangroves: Form and occurrence; ecology of associated fauna; productivity; ecological and conservation value. Polar Ecosystems: Key Oceanographic factors, Artic/Antarctic comparisons, ecological processes. Conservation and Management: Shorelines; habitat assessment; crisis management; oil pollution. The course will be taught in collaboration with members of the University Marine Biological Station, Millport, and the Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory. Entry requirements: None Restriction on numbers: None Organiser: Dr R Ormond, email Rupert.Ormond@millport.gla.ac.uk Content: This course reviews the relationship between the coral reef, mangrove and seagrass ecosystems, and considers the threats to these from coastal zone developments. A major part of the course is a two-week fieldcourse on the island of Tobago in the Caribbean; This is held in vacation time just before the start of session. The fieldwork leads to a group project, such as an environmental risk assessment, and this is formally presented as a joint report or poster during the following term. During the first half of the following term, there is lecture based work on coral reefs and mangroves, respectively. These are joint with the 'Marine Ecosystems' option and include: Coral Reefs: Reef structures and fauna; coral biology - physiology, reproduction, mortality, productivity, and trophic structure; reef fish and fisheries; management and conservation of reefs. Mangroves: Form and occurrence; ecology of associated fauna; productivity; ecological and conservation value. Entry requirements: Preference will be given to students reading for the Aquatic Bioscience degree. Other requirements: Students participating in this option are required to contribute approximately £400 towards the cost of the fieldcourse and have to undertake training in snorkelling. Restriction on numbers: 24 Central Approaches in Biochemistry Organiser: G.W.Gould, BMB, extension 5263, e-mail G.Gould@bio.gla.ac.uk Students taking Biochemistry/Medical Biochemistry and Strongly encouraged to take this course. Content: This course seeks to equip you with the basic core knowledge required for understanding biological problems and systems. The material will cover a range of ideas in enzyme kinetics, thermodynamics, catalysis, ligand binding, structure and function, with emphasis on quantitative approaches to understanding your science. The central theme of this course will be quantitative biology. The course will cover such issues within the context of modern cellular and biochemical approaches and will include:
The course will begin with three revision sessions which aim to re-introduce you to fundamental aspects of chemistry, mathematics and mathematical biology, and will include set tutorial sessions in Semester 1. Entry requirement: 3H Biochemistry, Medical Biochemistry, Genetics or Molecular and Cellular Biology. Restriction on numbers: 60 Organiser: Dr. C.T. Brett, DBMB, ext. 5082, e-mail C.Brett@bio.gla.ac.uk Assisted by: Drs D Walters (SAC, Auchincruive); C Leggate (SAC, Auchincruive); PJ Dominy; Prof M. Blatt. Content: This course is compulsory for Plant Science students but may be of interest to others who wish to understand the physiological processes that underlie the ways in which plant growth is modulated by the environment. The areas listed below, which are all critical determinants of plant growth, will be considered:
Entry requirements: students must normally have passed the L2 module "Plant Science: Food & Famine". Additional reading from the course text (Taiz & Zeiger: Plant Physiology) will be recommended for students who have not taken L3 Plant Science. Restriction on numbers: 25 Organiser: Dr Olwyn Byron, ext. 3752, e-mail o.byron@bio.gla.ac.uk Deputy Organiser: Dr Gill Douce, ext. 2842, e-mail g.douce@bio.gla.ac.uk In this option concepts underlying not only Microbiology but many other molecular and organismal life sciences will be revised and new technologies, methods and systems will be introduced so that the student is equipped to better understand and utilise the subject matter that will be covered in subsequent options. The option comprises 9 sessions, each lasting 3 or 4 hours the structure of which will depend on the teacher and the subject material but may include lectures, computer-based exercises, data handling exercises and group discussions/debates. Content: The 9 sessions are
Entry requirements: Any Honours Biological Sciences course Restriction on numbers: 36 Organiser: Dr RH Wilson, MG, ext. 5117, email R.Wilson@bio.gla.ac.uk Deputy: Dr MES Bailey, MG, email m.bailey@bio.gla.ac.uk Staff: Drs Mark Bailey, Joe Gray, Stephen Goodwin, Peggy Shelbourne, Roger Sutcliffe, Richard Wilson Content: The first part of the course will present a geneticists view of genes, chromosomes and model organisms, updated with reference to the new availability of genomic data, microarray and other data analysed by bioinformatics approaches. Evolutionary perspectives will include haplotypes and linkage disequilbrium, and the relevance of molecular phylogeny. The second part of the course will cover genetical and molecular methods used in the study of eukaryote gene expression, concentrating on model organisms introduced in L3. Interpretation and implications of key findings will be discussed, with special emphasis on how modern technology is providing answers to questions originally posed by classical genetics. The third part of the course will be application of classical and molecular genetics to analysis of the genetic basis of human inheritance, and will cover linkage mapping in humans, causes of dominance, and genomics. Teaching hours will average two 3-hour sessions per week. The majority of sessions will include a plenary lecture, followed by a PBL session where groups of 8 - 10 students will identify key questions posed by a scenario, or will attempt to solve a problem based on contemporary research in genetics. Entry requirements: Normally Genetics taught in L2 and L3 courses (Basic Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics-3H), or the equivalent. Restriction on numbers: 35 Organiser: Dr L Ranford-Cartwright, I&I, ext. 2639, email L.C.Ranford-Cartwright@bio.gla.ac.uk Content: Parasites are responsible for some of the most important diseases of humans, animals and plants, and therefore present a major burden on the health and economies of both developing and developed countries. This burden does not fall equally on all communities, or indeed on all individuals within a given community. An understanding of how and why parasites are distributed as they are and how they interact with their hosts and cause disease should provide valuable information which can be used to develop control strategies to combat these infections. In this option we focus on some of the world's most important parasitic infections to provide an insight into the way parasites are distributed, how parasite populations are regulated and the nature of the diseases that they cause. The way this affects disease distribution is also described, and more specific interactions between parasites and their hosts are examined. The teaching will be in the form of seminars, student presentations and workshops, with teams tackling specific problems and relevant issues. Entry requirements: none, but students with no background in parasitology or basic immunology will be expected to do some background reading and should consult the option organiser by the end of June. Entry requirements: none, but students with no background in parasitology or immunology will be expected to do some background reading and should consult the option organiser by the end of June. Restriction on numbers: 30 Organiser: Dr J. McCarron, NBS, ext. 5143, email J.McCarron@bio.gla.ac.uk Staff involved: Drs J McCarron and K Bradley Content: The aims of the course are to develop appreciation of the basis for the activity of transmitters at the somatic neuromuscular junction and in the autonomic nervous system. The electrical basis for drug and transmitter action at the skeletal neuromuscular junction will be emphasised, especially the role of ion channels and coupling mechanisms. This will provide an appreciation of the pharmacology of the skeletal neuromuscular junction. However, the objective of the unit is to familiarise students, not only with the effects of electrical events at peripheral synapses and neuroeffector junctions, but also with modern concepts and techniques; particularly patch clamp recording. The topics covered during the course will include:
Entry requirements: 3H Pharmacology, Physiology or Neuroscience Restriction on numbers: 40 Organiser: Dr JD Morrison, NBS, ext. 4073, email jbm1u@udcf.gla.ac.uk Content: This course covers the processes underlying the different aspects of human vision. The central core is based on the results of primate studies of the past two decades, together with the foundation of knowledge from earlier mammalian studies, and more recent studies of functional imaging of the human brain. The visual pathway consisting of the optical media, retina, lateral geniculate nucleus, superior colliculus, striate cortex, visual areas of the prestriate cortex, inferotemporal cortex, and parietal cortex are studied in the context of understanding the processes of contrast discrimination, orientation and size detection, stereoscopic vision and colour vision. The consequences of abnormal neonatal visual experience in the form of visual occlusion, defocus and squint are described. The course consists of 27 lectures, 3 video demonstrations, brain dissection laboratory and electrophysiological demonstrations. Entry requirements: Level 3H Anatomy, Neuroscience, Physiology or Physiology & Sports Science Restriction on numbers: 30 (including Vision 1 & 2) Integrating Neurobiology & Behaviour Organisers: Prof. FA Huntingford, EEB, ext. 6643, email F.Huntingford@bio.gla.ac.uk Staff involved: Prof. Huntingford, Drs Barnes, Hansell, Neil and O'Dell Content: The aim of this option is to examine recent interdisciplinary research linking the adaptive behaviour of whole animals to the hormonal and neurobiological mechanisms that control such behaviour. Behavioural, endocrinological and neurobiological principles will be examined in the context of key issues including: behavioural and physiological approaches to animal welfare; the neuro-endocrinology of aggression; sexual behaviour and mating systems; the development and control of behaviour, the function and physiology of learning and animal welfare. The course will be taught by lectures and discussions, with emphasis on working in small groups to examine the recently-published literature Entry requirements: We assume that students will have taken the L2 Neurobiology of Behaviour course, but preparatory background reading will be provided where this is not the case (details available from Prof. Huntingford). Restriction on numbers: None Organisers: Dr Ravi Singhal, Physics & Astronomy, ext. 5118, email: r.singhal@physics.gla.ac.uk Content: This option provides an introduction to the basic physical principles of operation of the major, commonly used biomedical imaging techniques - ultrasound, x-ray, gamma-ray and nuclear magnetic resonance (MRI). Basic concepts of energy, wave and radiation will be covered along with the use and effects on biological systems of ionising radiation. This is followed by a description of the main imaging techniques. The course includes some practical work involving measurement and detection of ionising radiation, (gamma and X-rays), absorption of radiation by different materials, and computerised data analysis. The course aims to develop an appreciation of how the principles of operation determine the imaging capabilities of each technique and thus the type of imaging application for which they are used. A further aim is to give a general idea of the form and scale of the different types of practical imaging systems, and significant hazards or limitations associated with their biomedical application. Entry requirements: none. Restriction on numbers: 36 Organisers: Dr CJ Daly, NBS, ext. 3920, email: c.daly@bio.gla.ac.uk Deputy:Professor JC McGrath, NBS, ext. 4483, email: I.McGrath@bio.gla.ac.uk Additional Teaching Staff: Drs John Pediani and Karen Bradley Content: The autonomic nervous system is a vital part of the body's regulatory mechanisms, whose continuous action beneath the level of consciousness keeps the body's component parts in constant condition to function. It is relatively easy to study because of its position outside of the central nervous system. This led to an early understanding of its influence over many bodily functions particularly since these could be mimicked or blocked by the targeted application of simple chemical compounds. In turn this led to the first identification within it of many biological mechanisms and principles that are now known to be of general importance. This Option will illustrate how classical and current techniques are used to understand the operation of the ANS and to uncover important general principles in pharmacology, physiology and neuroscience. Structure of Sessions: First session each week, lecture followed by demonstration and discussion of methodology and setting reading tasks for the following week. Second session, lecture followed by presentations of outcome of reading tasks by groups of students. Topics: Components of the autonomic nervous system; Concepts in neurotransmission; In vivo techniques; Classical in vitro techniques; Recombinant approaches; Parasympathetic System; Synthesis, degradation and uptake processes for neurotransmitters; Prejunctional receptors; Postjunctional receptors; Signalling processes. Entry requirements: Level-3 in a Cluster C subject (Neuroscience/Pharmacology/Physiology/Physiology & Sports Science), Biochemistry (and variants), Molecular & Cellular Biology. Restriction on numbers: 35 Organiser: Dr P MacIntyre, Sports Medicine, tel 211 2897 email Paul.MacIntyre@clinmed.gla.ac.uk Content: To examine all aspects of exercise in relation to Cardiac Disease, to demonstrate the importance of physical inactivity as a risk factor for Ischaemic Heart Disease, the use of exercise testing in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders and the use of exercise training in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, to show that the mechanisms of exercise intolerance seen in Cardiac Disease are important for targeting therapeutic strategies to improve symptomatic status By the end of the course the student should be able to:
Entry requirements: Restriction on numbers: 30 Organiser: Dr SV Graham, ext. 6256, email: Sheila.Graham@bio.gla.ac.uk Content: This module offers hands-on experience of the techniques at the cutting edge of molecular virology - many of these methods are also used in a wide variety of other biomedical sciences. This reflects the fact that viruses are obligate parasites that can only replicate within living host cells and thus they allow exploration of fundamental cellular processes. The module complements and takes you beyond the practicals in virology and molecular techniques which you experienced in your third year. It is run within the Division of Virology and draws on expertise from the MRC Virology Unit. Often you will be using or having demonstrated highly sophisticated equipment in confined spaces which requires that the class be split in two. It also requires some flexibility in the timing. * Please note that some sessions will be held on Tuesdays (2) and Fridays (1) and these will clash with time allotted for Honours Projects in some courses. The topics covered are:
The teaching comprises introductory talks, a mixture of demonstration and hands-on experiments and student presentations. Space limitations mean that the maximum number of students is 12. Entry requirements: Since there are a limited number of places, preference will be given to Virology students. Restriction on numbers: 12 Organiser: Dr NG MacFarlane, NBS, ext.5965, email N.MacFarlane@bio.gla.ac.uk Staff principally involved: Dr NG MacFarlane. Dr David Miller and Dr YP Pitsiladis. Current principal topics are:
The option is taught mainly by lecture-tutorials, but these are supplemented by class lead debates, short class presentations and by a coursework essay. Lectures: Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri mornings, 9-00am until 10.00am. The class debates and presentations occupy 2-00pm until 4-00pm on Friday afternoons. Entry requirements: The option builds upon parts of three L2 modules: the muscle component of 7a, the exercise physiology in 3a, and the basics of energy metabolism in 6b. It also assumes knowledge of the Skeletal Muscle & Biomechanics module in Physiology & Sports Science-3H. Prospective students who have not taken these modules should contact Dr MacFarlane well before the start of the option for recommended reading. Restriction on numbers: 80 |
