| CODE | BIO1010 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Cellular and Biochemical Basis of Life | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | 1. Microscopy and other experimental methods in cell biology: including light and electron and other forms of microscopy, use of isotopes as tracers, centrifugation and cell fractionation, X Ray diffraction and other methods in investigating macromolecular structures, introduction to cell culture techniques. 2. Basic biochemicals: including the unique properties of water and carbon compounds relevant to life processes; structure and biological role of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins (including enzymes) and nucleic acids. 3. The cellular basis of life: classical cell theory, viruses, the prokaryotic and the eukaryotic cell. Cell-division and cell-cycle. 4. Biological membranes: models, biogenesis, their role in controlling transport across the cell, interaction with hormones and other chemical or physical factors, membrane proteins associated with ATP production in mitochondria and chloroplasts, cell to cell communication. 5. The nucleus: major components as seen under the EM, chromosomal structure, DNA replication, transcription and translation, the cell cycle. 6. Other cell organelles: structure and function. 7. Cell senescence, cell death including apoptosis and necrosis and cell malignancy. Important note: Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical reports is a minimum of 45%. Furthermore, students are informed that regular lecture attendance is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student's attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims at introducing the basic concepts of the cellular and biochemical basis of life functions and to the practical aspects of cell biology. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Describe the structure of a generalised eukaryotic cell and acquire a deeper understanding of the features of structural importance. (2) Appreciate and describe the various techniques used in the study of cell ultrastructure and the biochemically processes within the cell including use of cell culture. (3) Describe the structure of the major biochemicals of life and explain their relation to different structural units and processes within the cell. (4) Appreciate and describe the structure and function of the cell membrane and its role in controlling fundamental processes within the cell. (5) Appreciate and describe the role of the nucleus as a major organelle and its role in DNA replication, transcription and translation. (6) Describe the processes involved in the cell cycle, malignancy, senescence natural cell death by apoptosis and necrosis. (7) Appreciate various views on the possible origin of life and other non eukaryotic life forms. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Critically appraise the complexity of structural and biochemical processes that are fundamental to life. (2) Explain complex biochemical processes and how these interact and affect life at various levels. (3) Acquire reading skills that go beyond the published textbook to keep abreast of the most recent discoveries related to cell biology. (4) Learn to interpret and evaluate data in the published literature that has helped to establish the basis of cellular processes. (5) Acquire theoretical and firsthand experience in the relevant experimental techniques in cell biology with particular reference to microscopy, histological and biochemical techniques. (6) Learn to plan and perform basic histological and biochemical experiments and in the process acquire observational and manipulative skills. (7) Acquire critical skills for collecting, evaluating and presenting biological data, the interpretation of such data, and reporting of such findings when writing regular practical reports. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: ALBERTS, B., JOHNSON, A., LEWIS, J., RAFF, M., ROBERTS, K., WALTER, P. (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell. 5th Edition. Garland Science Publishing. COOPER, G. M and HAUSMAN, R. E. (2009) The Cell: A Molecular Approach, 5th Edition, Sinauer Associates Inc. BERG, J. M. (2006) Biochemistry. 6th Edition. W. H. Freeman. Additional Reading DARNELL, J., LODISH, H. and BALTIMORE, D. (2000). Molecular Cell Biology 4th Edition, Scientific American Books, W. H. Freeman. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Offered to B.Sc. (Hons) Biology and Chemistry. Pre-Requisite A-Level Biology or equivalent. Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Buhagiar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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