This module is designed to introduce cell biology particularly with reference to the human body and pathological micro-organisms affecting it. In conjunction with biological concepts, this module is designed to pick up concepts in organic and physical chemistry covered in the parallel module (PY4130, Foundation Chemistry for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences) and to go into them in more detail. On completing the module you will have the background biology and chemistry required to identify the intended target for disease and infection in relation to drug structure and functional groups.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Lectures are given to introduce topics and guide students in directed reading in preparation for feedback. The workshops supplement and illustrate the current lecture material in addition to providing the students with an opportunity to clarify any aspects of the topics being taught. The practical course is designed to develop students' laboratory skills in chemistry, biology and microbiology through organic synthesis and qualitative and quantitative analysis experiments and safe handling of microorganisms.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures, practicals, workshops, revision tutorials | 95 |
| Guided independent study | Consolidation of lecture notes, additional reading, experimental report writing, written assignments, preparation for tests/exams | 205 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Any relevant background material is provided through information given during lectures, workshops and/or practicals, as well as on Canvas. Learning will be also supported through tutorials and workshops. Formative practical assessments and preparation of practical proformas will feed forward to the summative practical assessments. Summative practical assessment will comprise of two practical reports each worth 10% and a practical proforma of 5% making the portfolio 25% of the module mark.
An oral presentation on a microbiological subject will require the student to search the literature, critically appraise their findings and prepare an oral presentation. In addition to developing their learning on a microbiological topic, this activity also assesses the student's ability to research and review the literature and their oral communication, skills which feed forward throughout the course as well as into BSc top up, MPharm and other integrated Masters programmes, irrespective of the route the student decides to pursue on graduation.
A 3 hour summative end of module exam enables students to demonstrate their knowledge and application of that knowledge using a combination of MCQ, SAQ and LAQ style questions.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Describe the major cell components of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, indicating differences between them | End of module exam |
| 2) Describe the variety of organisms studied in the discipline of microbiology, identifying the fundamental aspects of disease-causing microbial organisms | Formative and summative practical reports End of module exam Oral presentation |
| 3) Develop safe laboratory skills in chemistry and microbiology and apply safe techniques in handling microbial organisms in the laboratory | Formatively within practicals Formative and summative practical reports |
| 4) Recognise and describe zero-, first- and second- order kinetics and perform elementary calculations of rate constants, and then apply First, Second and Third Laws of thermodynamics and understand their application to simple reactions | End of module exam |
| 5) Describe the bonding, structure and chemistry of selected elements, including explaining the consequences of hydrogen bonding in alcohols and know the functional group interconversion reactions involving alcohols | End of module exam Practical reports |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam | End of module exam | 50% |
| Coursework | Portfolio of assessed practical reports (2 x 10% + 1 x 5%) | 25% |
| Practical exam | Oral presentation | 25% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module. All students are subject to Fitness to Practice regulations in addition to the University Students Disciplinary procedures. To progress onto level 5 MPharm, students must pass both the module and end of module exam component of each module.
Brock's Biology of Microorganisms. Madigan, Martinko, Stahl and Clark, 13th edition, Pearson (2011)
Chemistry3. Burrows, Holman, Parsons, Pilling and Price, 1st edition, Oxford, 2010
Life: The Science of Biology. Sadava, Heller and Hillis, 9th edition, WH Freeman and company (2009)
Hugo & Russell's Pharmaceutical Microbiology. 8th edition, Blackwell Publishing (2011)
Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Barber and Robinson, Oxford, 2013.
Inorganic Chemistry. Atkins, Overton, Rourke, Weller and Armstrong, 5th edition, Oxford, 2010.
General Chemistry. C. E. Housecroft and E. C. Constable, 4th edition, Prentice Hall, 2010.