Course Catalogue

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Biology 1C introduces students to Biology at the unicellular and multicellular level. Students will carry out detailed investigations of the molecular make-up of biological systems and organisms and relate these to real-life examples of disease, treatments and current research.

There is normally 4 x 1 hour lectures and a 3 hour lab per week.

Normally, only available to first-year Life Sciences students from a visiting programme, Northeastern University, Boston. 

BIOL1001 Biology 1A

BIOL1002 Biology 1B

Level 1 Chemistry (new course developed for the same students)

The course will be assessed by a 90-minute examination (50%) plus in-course assessment, which counts as 50%.

In-course assessment includes:

■ 2x written assignments (5% and 15%)

■ 1x group project (15%)

■ 2x online quizzes (2x 5%)

■ 1x student-generated content assessment (PeerWise) (5%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The group project and the student-generated content assessment are non-replicable. These total 20% of the course assessment.

The aims of the course are:

■ to provide a broad-based understanding of modern biology at the molecular and cellular and organismal level; 

■ to provide the knowledge appropriate for continuing studies in Life Sciences; 

■ to develop general scientific skills and graduate attributes; 

■ to develop an awareness of current scientific research in Life Science;

■ to introduce core digital literacy skills.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ describe cellular respiration in relation to the structure and function of organelles within eukaryotic cells; 

■ describe the structure of proteins in relation to their function; 

■ describe the differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes; 

■ recognise how animal form and function reflect biology's overarching theme of evolution; 

■ describe members of the microbial world and appreciate the important contribution they make to man's survival;

■ describe how plants use solar energy to fix atmospheric CO2 into carbohydrates; 

■ explain the processes involved in DNA replication, transcription and translation, and the problems that can occur in these processes; 

■ describe how inheritance works, and the role of DNA in these processes; 

■ describe the genetic and cellular principles of reproduction and development and their evolutionary implications; 

■ describe the importance of the mechanisms of plant growth and the potential impact bioengineering can have.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.