| Unit name | Diversity of Life Part A |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL10010 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Dave Lawson |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | School of Biological Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
Dive into the Diversity of Life Part A unit, a pivotal exploration of Earth's biological spectrum, from microorganisms like viruses and bacteria to complex invertebrates and fungi. This unit is not just academic; it is a practical journey equipping you with skills for future units and careers in biology. You will engage practically, developing expertise in analysing and understanding the intricate details of life forms that are foundational to our planet's biodiversity. As we confront global challenges like climate change, understanding the diversity and roles of these organisms becomes crucial. You will learn about their structures, life cycles, adaptations, and ecological impacts, gaining insights essential for anyone passionate about biological sciences. By delving into the complexity of life ranging from microscopic entities to multifaceted invertebrates, you will emerge well-equipped and informed, ready to contribute meaningfully to our understanding of life and its preservation.
How does this fit into your programme of study?
The aims of this unit are to provide you with a clear understanding of the factors that mould living organisms, and knowledge of the diversity of the major groups of organisms. Importantly, the unit also serves for more general development of critical skills, communication skills and practical skills required by you as a biologist, which will provide you with a basis for future study and which are sought after by employers well beyond biology. Attendance at the practical sessions for this unit is required.
An overview of content
The unit will introduce evolution and diversity of life ranging from prokaryotic origins to simple eukaryotes and chordates. It will cover the evolution of organism form, structure, genetic variation, life cycle and adaptations, with a focus on prokaryotes, eukaryotes including fungi up to invertebrate Metazoa. The topics typically covered within this unit include: The origin of life, Evolution, Evolution and Diversity of Plant Viruses, Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, Invertebrate Metazoa, and Fungi. Through the unit organisms increase in complexity as new evolutionary innovations are introduced.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit.
You will understand the advantage of interdisciplinary research, learning from scientists who study and work in these environments, and gaining familiarity in a range of core laboratory and field methods. This unit will give you experience, knowledge and confidence to pursue careers in Biology and beyond. The exam will ensure that you have sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical skills to thrive in your future years of study. You will also see the personal value of developing scientific writing skills which will support you with future assessments as well as increase your employability.
Learning outcomes.
On completion of the unit, you should be able to:
You will learn through a combination of teaching activities including lectures, directed reading, supervised practical classes and independent study. Core knowledge, including explanations of underpinning theory, research approaches and supporting evidence will be largely delivered by lectures, supported with directed reading. Practical skills will be taught in weekly laboratory classes with additional support from a team of demonstrators. Each weekly topic has a separate area in the unit Blackboard, where you can find resources related to the week's content and information about directed reading, to support your independent learning.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
A formative marking task will be set to support your understanding of expectations regarding written work at university level and will prepare you for the summative assessment. Feedback will be provided in the form of peer feedback and/or general feedback. You will receive the feedback from this formative task in time to use for your summative assessment.
Formative tasks to prepare you for the exam are embedded in the practical components of the unit. For example, in the form of a practical handbook and activities within an online dynamic lab manual.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
| Weighting | Summative Assessment Information | Intended Learning Outcomes assessed |
| 60% | Exam including practical components, short answer question and multiple-choice questions. Will take place in Teaching Block 1 Assessment Period. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. |
| 40% | Written work in the form of an Essay. | 1, 2, 3, 4. |
When assessment does not go to plan:
Re-assessment of both the written work and exam will be conducted in the re-assessment period. Normally, if the written work is missed, the same assessment task will be set with an alternative question. If the exam is missed, an alternative paper will be set in the reassessment period such that the intended learning outcomes are met.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOL10010).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
