Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This subject is an introduction to the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, building on 1st year chemical principles relating molecular structure to biological function. The content includes a detailed introduction to the structure of biological building blocks (amino acids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids). The subject covers the structure and function of proteins, including the properties of enzymes, their regulation and kinetic behaviour. How nucleic acids replicate information, are maintained and repaired and serve as a template for the synthesis of RNAs and proteins (i.e. molecular biology) is addressed. The structure of lipids is examined to show their major biological roles, particularly as components of cell membranes. Metabolic pathways (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogen metabolism, TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation) will complete this core coverage of essential biochemistry. The subject is designed to stand alone, but it complements the laboratory experiences in the subject BCMB20005 “Techniques in Molecular Science”, Each of these level-2 subjects can be taken independently, concurrently or in either order.

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This is a subject suitable for students taking life science and biomedical subjects. It offers an introduction to the techniques used in many areas of molecular science.

Students taking the course will develop practical skills in the laboratory and an understanding of the techniques used in biochemistry and molecular biology to investigate biological problems.

Students will develop practical and research skills by exploiting the physico-chemical properties of molecules in a variety of experimental techniques, and interpreting the data they generate.

Students will apply these skills to the:

• separation and characterisation of proteins; and
• isolation, manipulation and characterisation of nucleic acids: and
• examination of cellular structures.

Students will develop key scientific communication skills required to report on their practical work; as well as learning to relate theoretical principles to practical observations.

Online lectures will cover the theory of these standard laboratory techniques central to biochemistry and molecular biology and new methods driving the fields of genomics and proteomics.

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To participate in the rapidly expanding fields of genome research and protein structure-function analysis, it is necessary to have an understanding of the techniques used in these areas.

This subject provides training in the use of molecular biology technologies of, protein analyses and cell biology. Students will learn how experiments are designed, performed and the resulting data analysed.

Experiments in the subject will explore (a) the use of recombinant DNA analyses, (b) bacterial expression systems to produce and characterise recombinant protein, (c) identification of proteins by mass spectrometry; and (d) mammalian cell culture.

Students will learn practical skills of how to record data and maintain experimental observations in laboratory notebooks, to search bioinformatic databases, and to construct and concisely write a scientific research paper based on their findings. Students will also further develop their skills in performing biochemical calculations and solving problems by applying knowledge attained from practicals.

View detailed information in the Handbook

In this subject, students will learn about the current advances in molecular science fields encompassed by the disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology. Students will critique cutting edge research in depth, delving into the experimental evidence underpinning our understanding of the molecular world. The topics to be examined include regulation of gene expression, gene function and genomic manipulation protein behaviour in cellular applications, the dynamics of the living cell, and metabolic adaptation.

Through written and oral tasks, students will become proficient in interpreting and synthesizing scientific knowledge and presenting conclusions, as well as writing critiques and recommendations for a range of audiences including, public organisations, industry and the general public.

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Each cell in our body and, indeed, in all multicellular organisms has a particular structure and many important functions. This subject explores the complex cellular structure and molecular functions of general and specialised human, animal and plant cells. It also explores the internal and external signals that can lead to changes in cell behaviour, gene expression, protein synthesis and cell replication in both healthy and disrupted or diseased states.

In this subject students will build on foundational knowledge and skills obtained in first year biology. Learning activities will prepare students for further study within cell and developmental biology and future study and career pathways in many other relevant areas of biological and biomedical sciences.

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This subject introduces the chemical logic of cellular processes, and the chemical methods used to probe and perturb them. Coverage includes: the major classes of biomolecules and their biosynthesis with a focus on molecular structure; biological catalysis (enzymes, enzyme kinetics and the roles of trace metals and co-factors); and chemical methods for studying interactions and deconvoluting biological systems.

Also covered are chemical techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis of cellular processes and biomolecular interactions; imaging techniques for non-invasive analysis; analytical techniques and equipment for biomolecular studies; and common molecular tools.

A key aspect of this subject will be the use of case studies to explore how chemical approaches can be applied to illuminate the molecular features of biological systems. This will be covered in a small-group learning mode and involve both a written report and oral presentation.

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Pharmacology is an exciting discipline that provides insight into the mechanisms of action and beneficial and unwanted effects of drugs in the body. This is achieved by integrating knowledge from a range of biosciences including how the body works in health and disease. This subject uses specific examples of instantly recognizable and newly developed drugs to demonstrate how pharmacologists identify drug targets, design new drugs and test their therapeutic effectiveness.

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This subject will describe the wide range of structures, functions and interactions of proteins and their importance in biological processes, biomedicine and biotechnology. Emphasis will be on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and their interactions with biological molecules. We will describe experimental and computational techniques and how they help in determining and predicting protein structure and function and aid in the development of new drugs. The subject matter addresses the general properties of protein structure; the major classes and topologies of proteins; evolution of sequence, structure and function; protein synthesis, folding, misfolding, targeting and trafficking; bioinformatics analysis of protein sequence and structure; binding of small molecules to proteins and drug design; protein-protein interactions; effects of mutations on tertiary structure, protein stability and biological functions; enzyme reaction kinetics and mechanisms; motor proteins; transporters.

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Knowledge of genome structures from various organisms and the rapid development of technologies that exploit such information are having a big impact in biology, medicine and biotechnology. This subject describes the structure and expression of genomes in higher organisms and provides an understanding of the technologies used to analyse and manipulate genes. Students will learn how the modification of genes in cells and whole organisms can be used to discover gene function or to modify phenotype. The structure of eukaryotic chromosomes is presented to demonstrate how genetic material is replicated and how transcription of RNA is controlled. We illustrate how pathways that regulate RNA and protein are integrated to control cell metabolism and cell fate. The content will cover the bioinformatic techniques used to interpret and extend genomic information. The approaches of functional genomics to the study of specific human diseases will be discussed to illustrate the application of molecular biology to the study of human biology and health.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject develops a student’s knowledge of cell biology, introduced in second year subjects. The subject describes the molecular mechanisms underpinning eukaryotic cell and tissue organisation, morphology and behaviour and their importance in biomedicine. We will explore the relationships between cellular organisation and the biological functions of normal and stressed cells, as well as experimental strategies for investigating the molecular basis of these relationships. The subject matter includes the compartmentalisation of eukaryotic cells; intracellular trafficking of biomolecules; the structure, function and biogenesis of subcellular organelles; protein folding and maturation; vesicle-mediated transport; structure and function of the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecules and their role in diseased states such as malignancies; cellular stress responses and linked signal transduction events; cytoskeletal structures and the signal transduction processes regulating the assembly and disassembly of actin-cytoskeleton; molecular processes determining cell movement and shape changes; imaging of processes within live cells. Students will also gain an appreciation of the major concepts involved in the development of a range of organisms. This multi-disciplinary subject is co-taught by staff in the School of Biomedical Sciences and School of BioSciences. A feature of this subject is the application of this knowledge in pure and applied research and thus will provide a platform for students in many Life Science majors.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Aberrations in the structure and expression of hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters and their receptors can give rise to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. To understand the molecular basis of these diseases, it is essential to know how hormones, growth factors and neurotransmitters are synthesised, and how their signals are recognised, amplified and transmitted by intracellular signalling pathways in the target cells.

Topics covered, to illustrate the importance of signalling in health and disease, include the structures of the major classes of signalling receptors, the mechanisms of intercellular and intracellular signal transduction, second messengers, examples of post-translational modifications such as protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, ubiquitination and S-nitrosylation and their impact on signalling, mechanisms of cell death and autophagy, and innate immune signalling.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The interpretation of nutritional information relies on an understanding of how nutrients are metabolised and what can go wrong in disease states. The subject material covers the regulation of blood glucose concentration and the causes of diabetes; the generation of free-radicals and the importance of antioxidants in protecting proteins, lipids and DNA from oxidative damage; metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, neurons and immune cells; metabolism in the gut: the role of the microbiota; metabolomics and other research methods for the study of metabolism.

View detailed information in the Handbook

To participate in the rapidly expanding fields of genome research and protein structure-function analysis, it is necessary to have an understanding of the techniques used in these areas.

This subject provides training in the use of molecular biology technologies of, protein analyses and cell biology. Students will learn how experiments are designed, performed and the resulting data analysed.

Experiments in the subject will explore (a) the use of recombinant DNA analyses, (b) bacterial expression systems to produce and characterise recombinant protein, (c) identification of proteins by mass spectrometry; and (d) mammalian cell culture.

Students will learn practical skills of how to record data and maintain experimental observations in laboratory notebooks, to search bioinformatic databases, and to construct and concisely write a scientific research paper based on their findings. Students will also further develop their skills in performing biochemical calculations and solving problems by applying knowledge attained from practicals.

View detailed information in the Handbook

In this subject, students will learn about the current advances in molecular science fields encompassed by the disciplines of biochemistry and molecular biology. Students will critique cutting edge research in depth, delving into the experimental evidence underpinning our understanding of the molecular world. The topics to be examined include regulation of gene expression, gene function and genomic manipulation protein behaviour in cellular applications, the dynamics of the living cell, and metabolic adaptation.

Through written and oral tasks, students will become proficient in interpreting and synthesizing scientific knowledge and presenting conclusions, as well as writing critiques and recommendations for a range of audiences including, public organisations, industry and the general public.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject will describe the wide range of structures, functions and interactions of proteins and their importance in biological processes, biomedicine and biotechnology. Emphasis will be on the three-dimensional structure of proteins and their interactions with biological molecules. We will describe experimental and computational techniques and how they help in determining and predicting protein structure and function and aid in the development of new drugs. The subject matter addresses the general properties of protein structure; the major classes and topologies of proteins; evolution of sequence, structure and function; protein synthesis, folding, misfolding, targeting and trafficking; bioinformatics analysis of protein sequence and structure; binding of small molecules to proteins and drug design; protein-protein interactions; effects of mutations on tertiary structure, protein stability and biological functions; enzyme reaction kinetics and mechanisms; motor proteins; transporters.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Knowledge of genome structures from various organisms and the rapid development of technologies that exploit such information are having a big impact in biology, medicine and biotechnology. This subject describes the structure and expression of genomes in higher organisms and provides an understanding of the technologies used to analyse and manipulate genes. Students will learn how the modification of genes in cells and whole organisms can be used to discover gene function or to modify phenotype. The structure of eukaryotic chromosomes is presented to demonstrate how genetic material is replicated and how transcription of RNA is controlled. We illustrate how pathways that regulate RNA and protein are integrated to control cell metabolism and cell fate. The content will cover the bioinformatic techniques used to interpret and extend genomic information. The approaches of functional genomics to the study of specific human diseases will be discussed to illustrate the application of molecular biology to the study of human biology and health.

View detailed information in the Handbook

This subject develops a student’s knowledge of cell biology, introduced in second year subjects. The subject describes the molecular mechanisms underpinning eukaryotic cell and tissue organisation, morphology and behaviour and their importance in biomedicine. We will explore the relationships between cellular organisation and the biological functions of normal and stressed cells, as well as experimental strategies for investigating the molecular basis of these relationships. The subject matter includes the compartmentalisation of eukaryotic cells; intracellular trafficking of biomolecules; the structure, function and biogenesis of subcellular organelles; protein folding and maturation; vesicle-mediated transport; structure and function of the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion molecules and their role in diseased states such as malignancies; cellular stress responses and linked signal transduction events; cytoskeletal structures and the signal transduction processes regulating the assembly and disassembly of actin-cytoskeleton; molecular processes determining cell movement and shape changes; imaging of processes within live cells. Students will also gain an appreciation of the major concepts involved in the development of a range of organisms. This multi-disciplinary subject is co-taught by staff in the School of Biomedical Sciences and School of BioSciences. A feature of this subject is the application of this knowledge in pure and applied research and thus will provide a platform for students in many Life Science majors.

View detailed information in the Handbook

Aberrations in the structure and expression of hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters and their receptors can give rise to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. To understand the molecular basis of these diseases, it is essential to know how hormones, growth factors and neurotransmitters are synthesised, and how their signals are recognised, amplified and transmitted by intracellular signalling pathways in the target cells.

Topics covered, to illustrate the importance of signalling in health and disease, include the structures of the major classes of signalling receptors, the mechanisms of intercellular and intracellular signal transduction, second messengers, examples of post-translational modifications such as protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, ubiquitination and S-nitrosylation and their impact on signalling, mechanisms of cell death and autophagy, and innate immune signalling.

View detailed information in the Handbook

The interpretation of nutritional information relies on an understanding of how nutrients are metabolised and what can go wrong in disease states. The subject material covers the regulation of blood glucose concentration and the causes of diabetes; the generation of free-radicals and the importance of antioxidants in protecting proteins, lipids and DNA from oxidative damage; metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, neurons and immune cells; metabolism in the gut: the role of the microbiota; metabolomics and other research methods for the study of metabolism.

View detailed information in the Handbook