Dental School

One-year intercalated BSc(DentSci) Degrees

Introduction

Selected candidates may be admitted after the third year of the BDS course, at the discretion of the Faculty of Medicine, to study for a one-year intercalated BSc(DentSci) degree and to re-enter the dental course the following year. These degrees are awarded by the Faculty of Medicine.

At present the subjects available for study are:

Brief summaries of the available courses are given below.

1-year intercalating degrees are offered by the Faculty of Biomedical & Life Sciences.

Any of these subjects will be of value to the future dentist in whatever field he/she may practise. An important aspect of the BSc (DentSci) degrees is that the student makes contact with research workers, develops an understanding of research methods and indeed participates in a research project.

Applications

Students who are interested in applying should contact the Dental School Administrative Officer by the 30th April. 

Anatomy

Co-ordinator: Professor A.P. Payne, Tel: 0141 330 5871

The course in Anatomical Sciences involves a mixture of taught material and original scholarship. The course aims to address the anatomical underpinning of important clinical problems, to develop a spirit of scientific enquiry and an ability to carry out practical work and evaluate data. Taught courses focus on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, embryology and development, microanatomy and clinically applied anatomy, as well as generic skills such as statistics and literature review.

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Biochemistry

Co-ordinator: Professor N.C Price, Tel: 0141 330 2889

Biochemistry plays a central role in modern medicine both in its clinical practice and in the fundamental molecular understanding of the operation of the body. The course allows students to study areas of Biochemistry and Medical Biochemistry from a scientific standpoint. It does this by a combination of lectures and tutorials and selected laboratory classes from L-3H and two options from the Life Science Honours Options. In addition, students carry out a research project under the supervision of members of staff.

Lecture topics may include some of the following: proteins and enzymes; cell membranes and signal transduction; metabolic regulation; gene structure and expression; the cell cycle and cancer; genetic manipulation and biotechnology; molecular aspects of the immune and endocrine systems. Laboratory classes could include work on molecular techniques, metabolic pathways and protein biochemistry and may include bioinformatics and molecular graphics.

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Genetics

Co-ordinator: Dr Peggy Shelbourne, Tel: 0141 330 6200

The application of molecular genetics in the fields of medicine and healthcare has been one of the major growth areas of the last decade. It provides new insights into the most fundamental aspects of growth, development, disease and ageing. Already we are seeing tangible rewards through the development of improved diagnostic techniques and novel therapies. Despite the achievements, the advances to date represent only the tip of the iceberg. Not only should medical students be aware of the revolution that is taking place, in the future some are likely to play a significant personal role through research and clinical practice. The intercalated degree course in Genetics provides you with a firm grounding and a critical understanding of likely future developments.

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Microbiology

Co-ordinator: Dr T.H. Birkbeck, Tel: 0141 330 5843

Microbiology is the study of the microscopic forms of life and their diverse impacts on man and on the biosphere. Bacteria, fungi and viruses have featured in many of the most fundamental advances in basic biology and biochemistry as well as being highly important as agents of communicable diseases, in biotechnology and in environmental biology.

Students who elect Microbiology for their one year intercalated degree study four Option courses at Level-4H in Microbiology. In addition, each student is given five topics to study in depth and it is anticipated that they will make use of computer and library facilities to search the literature. The student is encouraged to assemble an individualised programme of study which is slanted towards the medical or immunological aspects of microbiology. The Focal Topics enable the student to develop not only specific knowledge of selected topics in microbiology, but also a liberal appreciation of how science operates and how a biological scientist gains an understanding of nature through thinking, reading, discussion, literature searching, data analysis and personal investigations in the library. An important component of the course is the Research Project which commences in Week 5 of term 1 and proceeds until the end of term 2. The Project report, handed in at the start of Term 3, accounts for 300 marks in the final examination. The student will also participate in Tutorials and present oral papers at the Option meetings.

The Final examination consists of six papers, plus a mark for the Project report. Students have an oral with the External Examiner.

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Cellular & Molecular Biology

Co-ordinator: Dr J.G. Edwards, Tel: 0141 330 4757

The techniques and concepts of Molecular & Cellular Biology are leading a dramatic acceleration in our understanding of fundamental cellular processes. Including the fruits of the human and other genome projects, the new knowledge gained will revolutionise prevention, diagnosis and therapy in many areas of medicine during the careers of today's students. Central to hese spectacular developments are methods of isolating, sequencing and manipulating genes, which in the test-tube provide fast routes to synthesis of proteins and determination of their structures. Expression of the genes, subject to precisely-controlled variation, in animal cells in culture, and in transgenic animals, allows detailed investigation of the roles of specific proteins in normal processes and diseases.

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Parasitology

Co-ordinator: Professor GH Coombs, Tel: 0141 330 4777

Parasitic infections impair the health, food production and economy of communities throughout the world. Some programmes aimed at improving the standard of living and increasing food production to match population growth have unintentionally facilitated the spread of parasitic disease. Despite modern human and veterinary medicine, parasitic disease is increasing in many areas, and represents both an intellectual and practical challenge to scientists and clinicians.

The aims of the degree course are: (a) to introduce students to the main protozoan and helminth parasites of importance to human and animal health; (b) to study in depth the biology and biochemistry of the parasites, and the characteristic immunological response to the infections and the associated immunopathologies; and, (c) to gain experience of conducting an original research project in an active research environment.

Students will study three five-week Honours Options: Parasitism and Disease; Biochemical Parasitology; and Immunology of Parasitic Infections. There will also be a Research Project lasting 60 days.

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Pharmacology

Co-ordinator: Dr Paul Skett, Tel: 0141 330 5926

A new degree for 2002 designed to introduce the principles of Pharmacology through in-depth investigation of specific areas of pharmacological interest and a research project within an active research group. The degree will build on the expertise in pharmacology gained within the first years of the M.B.Ch.B. course and extend knowledge in specific areas of pharmacology to the forefront of research thinking.  The degree will be based largely on the current Honours course in Pharmacology in the Faculty of Biomedical & Life Sciences and can involve 5-week Options in Peripheral Neurotransmission, The Autonomic Nervous System, CNS Neurotransmission & Drug Development and Drug Metabolism & Pharmacokinetics as well as Options in Physiology, Neuroscience and Anatomy.  These Options take up 2 days/ week and the remaining time will be devoted to a research project which can be either laboratory- or non-laboratory-based (current non-laboratory-based projects include analysis/interpretation of data, library projects, computer-based and commercial projects).  Assessment is by examination (5 papers making up and project (oral presentations, thesis and self-/peer-assesssment making up 30 percent of the final assessment).

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Physiology

Co-ordinator: Dr Des Gilmour, Tel: 0141 330 5961

Physiology is concerned with how living Physiology is concerned with how living organisms work. Its aim is to understand the underlying processes and mechanisms that operate in structures from single cells to the whole animal.

The emphasis in the physiology course is on mammalian and human physiology. The course provides a systematic coverage of selected major organ systems of the body: cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine and other topics such as cellular physiology, mechanisms regulating the internal environment of the body, statistics, molecular techniques and immunology.

Students are introduced to a wide range of experimental techniques, as well as methods for analysing and presenting experimental results. "Several topics in physiology, selected from level 4 IBLS Honours option scheme are covered in depth." An important component of the degree course is a project carried out under the personal supervision of a member of staff.

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