Biochemistry BSc

Core modules:

Experimental Skills for Bioscientists

This core module is designed to give you the essential practical skills you'll need for a successful career in scientific research. Throughout this module, you'll build a strong foundation in laboratory techniques, data handling, and scientific methodology.

In Semester 1 you'll learn fundamental lab skills, such as pipetting, microscopy, and performing basic mathematical calculations. You'll also learn to use analytical software to collect and process data.

In Semester 2 you'll work with your coursemates on group projects that allow you to develop your own hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, collect and analyse data, and present your findings in the form of clear and concise lab reports.

This module will train you in the core competencies you'll need to perform experiments and communicate scientific research effectively.

20 credits

Professional Skills for Bioscientists

This module is built around a team-based project focussing on identifying and communicating a real-world bioscience problem.

Your team will pick one issue from the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to focus on. You'll research this issue using articles, reports, and data to better understand it, before creating a digital project showing why the issue matters and needs action. Depending on your interests, you could choose to focus on environmental issues, health disparities, or agricultural challenges.

You'll then identify key populations that are affected, outlining the underlying causes that have led to such problems, and consider the career pathways that bioscientists could take to address this challenge.

20 credits

Building Blocks of Life

This core module will introduce you to the essential components that constitute all living organisms.

To understand the complexity of any biological system, we must understand it across scales from molecules through to cells, tissues, organisms, populations and ecosystems.

This module explores the key principles of molecular cell biology that form the foundation of life. You'll learn about the structure and function of cellular components, how genetic information is stored and transmitted, and how cells communicate through signalling pathways in microbes, fungi, animal and plant kingdoms. You'll then explore how single cells develop into multicellular organisms.

We'll also discuss the fundamentals of the immune system of animals, how other organisms such as plants respond to and clear infection, and how this knowledge can be exploited to develop therapeutics including vaccines.

20 credits

Genetics and Evolution

This core module explores the genetic and evolutionary mechanisms and processes that underpin all life on Earth which are the central unifying themes of modern biology. You'll examine sources and mechanisms of variation from genes to populations, and investigate evolutionary processes of selection, adaptation, and the origin of species.

We'll also introduce you to the approaches used to study genetics and evolution including classical population and quantitative genetics, phylogenetic trees, and the fossil record.

At the end of this module, you'll be able to recognise real-world applications of genetics and evolution spanning disciplines from medicine to conservation.

10 credits

Origins and Diversity of Life

This core module will introduce you to the staggering diversity of life on Earth, from extremophiles in hydrothermal vents, and the first plants on land, to animals exploiting niches on land, sea, and air.

You'll start by looking at the origins of life and examine the evidence for major transitions in Earth history, such as the colonisation of land and extinction events that have shaped life over geologic time.

We'll take an in-depth look into the great evolutionary success story of the microbial world. You'll learn about the physiological features and adaptations of microbes that have enabled them to colonise every available niche on the planet and extend this knowledge to give you an understanding of their importance for human health.

10 credits

Introduction to Biochemistry

This module will teach you how a cell works at the molecular level, giving you a solid foundation of knowledge to build on throughout your course.

Your lectures will describe molecular structures, interactions within and between molecules, factors affecting reaction rates, and the specific measurements needed to understand these processes. You'll also learn about the fundamental signalling mechanisms that enable cells to sense their environment, trigger appropriate responses, and regulate metabolic pathways. We'll describe key metabolic reactions like the Krebs Cycle and electron transport chain, which generate the energy necessary for cellular function.

During laboratory sessions, you'll measure biochemical reactions and develop your experimental design and data analysis skills.

20 credits

Optional modules
You'll choose 20 credits from the following list:

Introduction to Physiology

This module will give you an understanding of the fundamental physiological processes that enable the human body to function.

You'll learn about the major cell types, tissues and organ systems that make up the human anatomy, and be able to explain examples of how diseases and drugs affect them. We'll also introduce you to the experimental methods and techniques used to study physiology.

By the end of the module, you'll have a thorough knowledge of how the human body functions, from cellular level to whole-body systems.

20 credits

Introduction to Neuroscience

During this module, you'll explore the rapidly expanding field of neuroscience, gaining insights into the experimental methods and techniques that are used here.

You'll learn about the fundamental physiological principles that enable the nervous system to function, before exploring the anatomy and physiology of the sensory and motor systems. Alongside understanding the mechanisms of sensation and movement, you'll begin to explore the brain's role in behaviour, cognition, and memory.

By the end of this module, you'll have a solid foundation in neuroscience, preparing you for further study in this exciting field.

20 credits

Form and Function of Living Organisms

This module will introduce you to the scientific study of whole organisms.

You'll explore the physiology, reproduction, and development of animals and plants. You'll learn how both genetic and environmental factors determine animal behaviour, and how those same factors contribute to form, function and diversity across life. You'll also investigate how animals and plants acquire and process energy, nutrients, and water, before examining asexual and sexual reproduction in a range of contexts.

20 credits

Core modules:

Biostructures, Energetics and Synthesis

This module aims to refresh students' understanding of the structures and functions of proteins and how free energy is made available (transduced) from reduced organic carbon compounds (catabolism) to generate ATP and NADPH for biosynthetic metabolism (anabolism). We begin by taking another look at key catabolic pathways in the cell including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and mitochondrial electron transfer; before considering fatty acid β-oxidation and the pentose phosphate pathway.  We then explore how amino acids and nucleotides, the building blocks of life, are synthesised. This leads on to a study of the nature of biological membranes and the main functions of membranes in cells, including the transduction of energy, nerve transmission and signalling. We then focus on the structure and function of membrane proteins, highlighting their key role in transport of proteins, small molecules and ions across biological membranes. Finally, we come full circle highlighting how solar energy entering the biosphere is harvested by chlorophyll pigments and transferred to specialised reaction centres to initiate photosynthetic electron transfer. We show how photosynthesis converts solar energy into ATP and NADPH, utilising the same redox chemistry and chemiosmotic principles that underlie respiration, and then uses these metabolites to power the fixation of CO2 into reduced organic carbon compounds.

20 credits

Biochemistry 2

This module provides an advanced treatment of the biochemical topics introduced in earlier modules, to provide a deep understanding of the underlying chemical principles and molecular interactions governing life in cells. The module begins with a review of the chemical transformations and molecular interactions governing enzyme function. We then study a number of enzyme examples to illustrate common themes arising in enzyme specificity, types of reaction mechanisms and the relationship between protein structure and function. This leads on to study practical methods to experimentally measure enzyme activity. We then take a detailed look at the fundamentals of enzyme and ligand binding kinetics underlying unimolecular and bimolecular irreversible and reversible reactions. We then turn our focus to small molecule drug development, showing how the principles learned earlier in the module can be applied to develop protein or enzyme inhibitors for therapeutic use. The final part of the module develops an understanding of the ways in which kinetic parameters can be used to study reaction mechanisms and how inhibitors and mutants can modulate the activity of enzymes. We also study aspects of protein and enzyme function in practical classes. Overall, the module aims to give students the knowledge required to analyse and interpret biochemical data, plan appropriate experimental assays and to make pre

20 credits

Advanced Professional Skills for Bioscientists

During this module, you'll develop the advanced professional skills you'll need for a data-driven world. You'll then apply your new skills, working in a team to address a real-world problem.

We'll train you to use the statistical programming language, R, which is used to apply statistical methods to solve biological data problems.

In the second semester, you'll work in a team to address a 'Global Challenge' from the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Alongside your coursemates, you'll work to develop an innovative solution to this challenge by applying your creativity and your biological knowledge. This will give you insight into project management, finance, intellectual property and leadership, depending on your role in the team.

Throughout the year, you'll learn how to evidence your new professional skills for a digital world, and develop self-awareness of your own preferred working styles and how these can contribute to effective teamwork. We'll also teach you how to build a portfolio of evidence that showcases the skills you've developed, making you stand out from the crowd when you start applying for jobs.

20 credits

Experimental Skills in Molecular Biosciences

This core module will build on the laboratory techniques and associated scientific skills that you developed in your first year.

Throughout the year, you'll complete mini group research projects, developing your own hypotheses before applying robust experimental design principles to test them. You'll then apply data analysis techniques to visualise and interrogate the data. 

We'll teach you how to effectively communicate your research projects. You'll be shown how scientific posters can be used as a creative and succinct form of communication, and learn how to review your own research in line with relevant literature.

We'll then introduce you to the exciting fields of bioinformatics and pharmacology, equipping you with a solid foundation of skills, ready to analyse genomic and pharmacological datasets.

20 credits

Optional modules
You'll choose 20 credits from the following list:

Advanced Molecular Cell Biology

The aim of this module is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of some of the main concepts and problems in molecular cell biology. The module is also designed to emphasize the importance of this field to modern medicine. The module will explore  key areas in molecular cell biology including e.g. DNA repair, the cytoskeleton, cell communication, cell signalling and vesicular trafficking in cells. Sessions will incorporate aspects of primary experimental research, and introduce you to the research literature and how this informs our understanding. Topics will also be related to relevant diseases. Teaching will be provided through lectures and practicals. As well as traditional didactic lectures, active learning sessions will be employed to consolidate knowledge and understanding of principles.

20 credits

Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology

This module will give you a broad understanding of neuroscience, covering neurophysiology, molecular biology, neuropharmacology, model organisms, and simple behaviours.

Building on your knowledge from the first year, you'll learn about the concepts behind complex topics such as higher brain function, behaviour, biological psychiatry, and neurodegenerative disease.

20 credits

The Green Planet: Plants, food and global climate change

Plants produce the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat and the materials we use. Because plants are immobile, their growth, development and interactions with the environment are highly flexible, enabling them to respond to a wide range of environmental signals. How plants sense and respond to light, temperature, nutrients will be considered in natural and agricultural environments.  It will also consider plant interactions with beneficial microbes, pests and pathogens. This module will cover how plants integrate developmental and environmental signals to optimise growth, survival and reproduction. Human intervention has led to wild plants evolving into crops, from simple selection in pre-historic times through to current advanced gene editing techniques. The module explores how agriculture arose and the challenges we face in providing a secure food supply to a growing population in an ever-changing environment. You will also gain practical skills in studying how plants respond to their environment.

Teaching methods focus on lectures and interactive practical sessions. Assessment of lectures is via an exam consisting of an essay (to test depth of knowledge) and multiple choice questions (to test breadth of knowledge across the module). Practical assessment is via a laboratory write-up

20 credits

You'll choose 20 credits from the following list:

Molecular Genetics and Genomics

This module will introduce you to a range of concepts and topics in modern molecular genetics and genomics.

You'll discover how genomes are organised, packaged and maintained, and why these processes are so important. Together, we'll examine how state-of-the-art molecular and computational tools allow us to interrogate genomes to determine how they are inherited and expressed. 

After this, we'll examine how core mechanistic processes (transcription, splicing, mRNA transport and translation) shape how cells operate, and what happens when errors occur in these processes. You'll look at examples in humans and examine the nuclear and extranuclear genetic basis for disease, and how modern genomic tools can be utilised for diagnostics. 

Throughout the module, you'll learn about historic and modern techniques for genetic manipulation through interactive sessions. You'll discover what these tools can achieve; and ethical considerations for using them not just in humans but in all multicellular organisms.

20 credits

Microbiology 2

This module introduces key concepts in bacterial physiology, genetics, virulence and therapeutics, building on the microbiology topics covered in earlier modules. Topics to be covered in the first half of the module will include aspects of bacterial growth and gene regulation, microbial biodiversity and cellular differentiation, and biotechnology. The module will then move on in the second half to consider both sides of the bacterium-host interaction and the consequences for human health. Using a selection of important human pathogens as examples, the bacterial strategies and virulence factors that contribute to disease will be introduced. The human immune response and the potential of vaccination to protect against disease will then be examined. The targets, mode of action and potential resistance mechanisms of a range of current and potential antimicrobial agents will then be considered. The module will provide opportunities throughout to develop the ability to analyse and interpret microbiological data.

20 credits

Physiology of Cells and Systems

This module covers advanced physiological concepts of cells and systems, building on the physiology covered in the first year.  The module starts by reviewing the basic cellular physiology that is critical for the normal function of all cells.  These key aspects are then revisited, looking at a range of specific systems within the body.  Systems are reviewed from the molecular level up to whole body physiology, with an emphasis on the physiology and pathophysiology of ion channels and transport proteins.  Advanced physiology of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems is covered, along with a number of pathophysiological conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, hypertension, sudden cardiac death and acid base balance disturbances.  The module then reviews the advanced physiology of the nervous and muscular systems, looking at myotonia, ataxia, epilepsy and myasthenia gravis. You will also study the pharmacological approaches used to treat a range of different diseases.  Experimental evidence presented in lectures will show you how research approaches can be used to help inform our understanding of disease.  The module uses an active learning approach, with interactive classes aimed at consolidating your knowledge and understanding, and developing your skills in problem solving and critical analysis, together with lectures, and practical classes to provide key content and additional skills development in physiology. 

The module aims to: 1. Provide students with a knowledge of key aspects of cellular physiology.2. Examine advanced systems physiology and pathophysiology, showing the impact of molecular and cellular changes. 3. Review pharmacological treatments of disease. 4. Provide opportunities to develop skills in critical analysis, experimental design and problem solving.  

20 credits