| Unit name | Diversity of Life Part B |
|---|---|
| Unit code | BIOL10007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| 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?
Diversity of Life Part B progresses from the foundational concepts of Diversity of Life Part A’s single cellular and multicellular invertebrate life to the fascinating world of vertebrates and plant life. This unit deepens your understanding of life's complexity, exploring the rich diversity of plants, their relationship with humans, and delving into the realms of vertebrates and sensory biology. Building on Part A, Part B offers, hands-on lab sessions designed to refine your skills, preparing you for future units and careers in biology. Here you will experience, not just learn, the marvels of biological diversity. By understanding the diversity of key organisms, you will gain valuable insights into ecological challenges, sustainable practices and the importance of biodiversity in maintaining the planet’s ecosystems. Part B is not just about learning biology, it is about preparing you to make meaningful impacts in understanding and preserving the complexity of life on our planet.
How does this fit into your programme of study?
This unit will expand upon the principles established in the unit Diversity of Life A. 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 topics covered typically include: Plants, their Evolution, Diversity and relationship to humans, Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, Other Vertebrates, Sensory Biology, and Neuroethology. 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 and field 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):
Formative tasks from units within Teaching Block 1 will support your understanding of expectations regarding written reports at university level and will prepare you for the summative assessment. Individual feedback and general feedback will be provided. You will receive the feedback from these formative tasks 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 2 Assessment Period. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. |
| 40% | Written work in the form of a Report. | 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. BIOL10007).
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.
