Unit information: Advanced Cell Biology in 2023/24

Unit name	Advanced Cell Biology
Unit code	BIOC30601
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Cory
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	MOLG22100 and BIOC20001
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Biochemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

The unit aims to develop an understanding of key concepts in current cell biology, and the methods used to study them, including:

• The imaging techniques underpinning advances in cell biology.
• Cell migration mechanisms in vivo.
• Mechanisms underlying neuronal morphogenesis and plasticity.
• Intracellular trafficking, cytoskeletal motors, and organelle function
• Cellular homeostasis through autophagy.

Your learning on this unit

Following successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

• an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the advanced Cell Biology topics covered in the unit and an ability to keep abreast with recent developments in the field.
• the ability to gather information from primary scientific literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories.
• an understanding of the importance of the study of Cell Biology.
• the ability to interpret and explain data from studies investigating the topics covered in the unit.
• the ability to propose and critique experimental strategies to address specific questions in the field of Cell Biology.

How you will learn

Lectures, workshops, asynchronous material, reading suggested research and review papers.

How you will be assessed

Assessment for learning (formative)

Students will undertake a formative assessment exercise.

Assessment of learning (summative)

The unit will be assessed as follows:

• 50% a timed assessment
• 50% an examination

Resources

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. BIOC30601).

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.