Biochemistry and Genetics MSci

This project aims to give students the ability to analyse a relevant biological problem in-depth in a modern research environment. There will be three different approaches available including the opportunity to research a laboratory-based project on a topic related to the interests of academic staff, a group-lab based project with outcomes to be decided by the student or an individual topic of interest with an in-depth literary survey of its background. There will be two days a week of project work.

In this module, you’ll use your existing biochemical knowledge to explain hormonal control of metabolism. We’ll explore how problems in the control of normal hormonal processes can lead to a broad spectrum of metabolic diseases.

As part of this, we will cover the following topics:

• Control of energy balance and satiety by hormonal and neuronal mechanisms
• Diabetes – its history, disease types, frequency and typical symptoms
• The molecular basis of insulin signalling and the effects of obesity on this pathway
• Effects of obesity and diabetes on lipid metabolism and inflammation
• The mechanisms by which inflammation and circulating blood lipids contribute to atherosclerosis and major blood vessel disease
• Current and future therapies for obesity and diabetes

To be confirmed

Consider the genetic effects of reduced population size, especially relating to the conservation of endangered species. You will study topics including genetic drift and inbreeding in depth, from theoretical and practical standpoints. You will spend around one and a half hours per week in lectures studying this module, plus a two and a half hour computer practical.

You will consider the molecular mechanisms underlying stem cell function during embryogenesis and adulthood. This will involve studies of regeneration and repair of tissues and pluripotency. You will have one two-hour lecture per week in this module. 

This module gives a detailed understanding of the genetics and biochemistry behind the properties of parasites and microorganisms that cause major human diseases in the present day. You will have a three-hour lecture once per week for this module.

Examine the molecular causes of the ageing and malignant transformations of somatic cells that are observed during a single lifespan, and gain an understanding of the necessity to maintain the genome intact from one generation to the next. Around three hours per week will be spent within lectures studying this module.

Examine a selection of acquired and inherited cancers, and develop an understanding of the role of the genes involved and how they can be analysed.

During this module you will examine the ways in which DNA and protein sequences are used to investigate evolutionary relationships among organisms. You will study topics including the techniques of sequence comparison and the construction of evolutionary trees.

This module covers the use of various biochemical and molecular biological analytical techniques employed in clinical diagnosis, as well as the development of new molecular therapies based on modern biochemical and molecular biological techniques. By the end of the module you will understand the scientific basis behind a variety of molecular medical diagnostics and the methods for the development of new molecular therapies. The module is assessed by a two-hour essay based exam. 

This module will introduce you to advanced ideas about aspects of cellular and molecular immunology. You will learn about innate and humoral immunity and how humans can mount defence against infections from agents such as the HIV and diseases such as asthma. In addition you will find out about the major proteins involved and the genes coding for some of the proteins will be discussed. There will be two hours of lectures a week.

This module focuses on the molecular biology that drives the fundamental principles behind the survival of microorganisms and their interaction with humans.

Lectures will discuss the interaction between the host and pathogens and how they drive the mechanisms of infection and immunity.

There will be two hours of lectures a week.

This course aims to explain the background and rationale for the development of bioinformatics and computational biology. It will reveal the scope and role of bioinformatics resources and how they underpin scientific research globally, and illustrate the expedience of bioinformatics tools in molecular and cellular biochemistry research. Students will gain direct experience of using bioinformatics tools to process and interpret biological data

This module focuses on the molecular mechanisms that produce force and movement in cellular systems. The material is approached from a molecular viewpoint and builds from individual molecules to explain how the cast of molecular characters interact to support movement at the molecular, cellular and tissue level.

Force and movement in cells is supported by the cytoskeleton, a complex network of proteinaceous filaments. Like the human bone skeleton, the cytoskeleton provides a scaffold to maintain cell shape and a platform from which force and movement is generated. Unlike the bone skeleton, the cytoskeleton is highly dynamic: filaments form, break down and reform within seconds to meet the requirements of the cell.

A cytoskeleton is present in all domains of life. This module will cover the 3 major classes of cytoskeletal filament: microtubules, actin and intermediate filaments. You will learn about the molecular components of these filaments, how they self-assemble, how their dynamics are regulated and how they support movement over length scales from the molecular to the tissue level.

The cytoskeleton is a major dug target particularly in cancer therapy. This module will cover drugs that modulate the cytoskeleton and how they are used both as therapeutics and as research tools. We will also cover pathogens that hijack the cytoskeleton to invade and proliferate in mammalian cells.

To develop an understanding of the components and function of cytoskeletal systems and how the cytoskeleton underpins movement of and within cells. To understand the molecular mechanisms driving cytoskeleton activity. To understand the role of the cytoskeleton in the context of health and disease and the role of cytoskeleton targeting drugs as therapeutics.

This module covers the life history of proteins from birth (synthesis) to death (degradation), and how this goes wrong in common diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.

On this journey, other major aspects of protein development, distribution and death will be discussed at a molecular level including:

• protein folding
  
• the cytoskeleton
• protein and vesicle trafficking including endocytosis, post-translational modification and protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy.

You will cover fundamental aspects of molecular cell biology that are essential for health and disease and will explain both normal protein life and what goes wrong in common diseases where defects in these processes are the root cause of pathology.

This module is taught by 6 lecturers and explores the need for new vaccines and therapeutics against infectious diseases and unpacks the fundamental biology of how infectious agents cause disease. The module begins with a lecture on Vaccinology followed by lectures in bacterial, protozoal, viral and fungal pathogens that cause major mortality and morbidity today. Specifically, students will learn about the features of micro-organisms and parasites that make them pathogenic, how the genes encoding these features are regulated, and how biological, genetic and chemical tools can be used to develop preventative and curative treatments. Model organisms to be studied include the agents of Escherichia coli and Shigella dysenteries (1 wk), tuberculosis (1 wk), malaria (1 wk), leishmania (1 wk), coronavirus infections (1 wk), HIV (1 wk), candidiasis (1 wk), aspergillosis (1 wk). Each lecture will be followed by group learning whereby a relevant research article will be critically evaluated and discussed in class. Students will develop skills in understanding experimental design, data presentation and interpretation and will learn to use a questioning approach.

This module explores the major themes in virology: replication, pathogenesis and interventions.

We’ll start with an introduction to virology before focusing on the replication of viruses including DNA viruses, RNA viruses and retroviruses. You will also learn about the molecular biology and pathogenesis behind a range of specific human viruses as well as animal and zoonotic viruses.

Throughout the module, you’ll consider the scientific response to new viruses, where you will present and justify ideas on how to respond to a new virus.