Module Information

Module Identifier
BR24610
Module Title
Advances in Human Biosciences
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Dr Paul Kenton
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 30 x 1 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Unit 1 assessment.  20%
Semester Assessment Unit 2 assessment.  20%
Semester Assessment Unit 3 assessment.  20%
Semester Assessment Unit 4 assessment.  20%
Semester Assessment Unit 5 assessment.  20%
Supplementary Assessment Students must take elements of assessment equivalent to those that led to failure of the module.  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Discuss a range of biological principles and mechanisms

2. Discuss biological techniques as applied to a variety of disciplines in human biology

3. Discuss the application and impact of molecular biology in medicine and allied disciplines

4. Discuss new developments and challenges in the biomedical field

5. Discuss the history and future of humans in the environment

Brief description

This is a module consisting of a number of discrete units covering a wide range of topics in human biosciences including human disease and resistance, treatment and diagnostics, the impact of new biotechnologies on human biosciences, human evolution, human populations and their impact on and interaction with the environment, and ethics in biosciences. The aim of the module is to present recent advances in human biology in the context of their impact on our knowledge of our origins, our lives today and the future for our species.

Content

Each year a range of topics (arranged as units) will be offered to students from which they will pick five as the basis for their module. Each unit will be assessed separately and contribute 2 credits worth of marks to the module as a whole. Methods of delivery and assessment will be varied. Each unit will consist of three classes which may be lectures, seminars, practicals or workshops as appropriate.

The module will focus on a number of key areas and each unit will engage with one or more of these subjects:

  • The biology of human disease (e.g. human-pathogen interactions, parasitology, cellular and genetic basis of disease, epidemiology)
  • Molecular techniques (e.g. techniques used for diagnosis and screening, 'omics technologies)
  • Advances in treatments (e.g. new drugs, stem cells, relationship between scientific discoveries and new treatments)
  • Applications (e.g. other applications new technologies as they impact on humans and human biology for example pest control, crop protection, forensic and evolutionary biology).
  • Humans and the environment (e.g. crop improvement, human impacts, future challenges)
  • Ethics and biosciences
Students will be notified of the range of topics available in the forthcoming session in good time for registration.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Interpretation of model data and of results obtained in practicals and workshops.
Communication Use of a variety of media to communicate complex ideas in an understandable and engaging fashion.
Improving own Learning and Performance
Information Technology Self-directed acquisition of skills in the production of Wikis and podcasts.
Personal Development and Career planning
Problem solving Interpretation of model data and of results obtained in practicals and workshops.
Research skills Conduct of research in practicals and the preparation of reasearch reports or proposals.
Subject Specific Skills
Team work In group work the ability to keep accurate records and resolve issues.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5