Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
Due to Covid-19 students should refer to the module Blackboard pages for assessment details
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Exam | 3 Hours | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Workshop/practical report 1000 words maximum plus appropriate figures | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Funding application and peer review Preparation of a full grant application using rules and pro-formas of an actual funding body e.g. BBSRC. Meeting minutes and peer effort review sheet. | 20% |
| Supplementary Exam | 3 Hours Written exam. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Workshop/practical report 1,000 words maximum plus appropriate figures | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Pre-application funding proposal 1,000 and group working proforma (500) (e.g. Leverhulme type) and team working exercise (alternative to group work) | 20% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss mechanisms and the relationship between signaling and gene expression.
2. Discuss the regulation of gene expression in the context of its impact on specific developmental examples.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the experimental basis for our current knowledge of the molecular biology of development.
4. Analyse and present experimental results to a professional standard.
5. Supplement and integrate primary sources with the taught material.
Brief description
During development signals, and the regulation of differential gene expression, work together to build a complex organism from a single cell. The advent of molecular cell biology and genetics has enabled us to understand this process at the most fundamental of levels. In this module we will be examining some of the latest research on molecular development and revealing that the many of the mechanisms are used and re-used time and again in different systems and across taxa.
Content
We begin with a brief section that introduces (or re-introduces for some) the basic developmental of the organisms which will be used as exemplars. We will then go on in detail to examine the molecular biology of specific developmental processes and stages. In each case the signaling mechanisms employed, and the information they carry, will be discussed in the context of changes in cell fate as determined by the differential expression of key genes. The molecular biology of errors in development will also be examined.
The organisms used as models in the module will be chosen to represent models as well as those in which recent studies have made significant contributions to our understanding. Throughout the module there will be great emphasis on the use of recent primary literature to allow you to directly engage with the data underpinning the ideas.
As well as encountering a wealth of experimental data in the lectures, you will also have the opportunity of analyzing relevant data yourselves and developing skills in presenting and discussing the results to a professional level.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Processing, analysis and presentation of experimental or workshop data. |
| Communication | Preparation of professional laboratory/workshop report and research funding application. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | |
| Information Technology | |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Developing an understanding of the scientific funding process and collaborating with others to create a funding proposal. |
| Problem solving | Interpretation of developmental data. |
| Research skills | Use of online bibliographies and search engines to source literature for practical and funding application. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Analysis of developmental data. |
| Team work | Demonstration of pro-active team membership via production of professional minutes and/or reflection on team contribution. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6