Course Co-ordinator: Dr A M Jack and Dr S Tucker

Pre-requisite(s): BI 20B2, BI 25B2

Note(s): (i) This core course is required by students in the Physiology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Biomedical Sciences programmes. It is not normally required for students taking the Sports Science programme. (ii) The practical work required in this course may pose difficulties to students with some disabilities. If this arises alternative arrangements will be made. Any student wishing to discuss this further should contact the School Disability Co-ordinator.

The course will cover basic principles of cell physiology, pharmacology and molecular and cell biology. To include receptors, agonists and antagonists, signalling and transduction mechanisms, voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels, synaptic transmission, and action potential physiology. It covers membrane biophysics and the properties of ion channels and gap junctions in addition to ion and non-electrolyte transport pathways. Molecular biology relating to DNA and protein synthesis will also be covered.

12 week course, Thread I. 3 one-hour lectures per week. In course assessment includes a problem solving exercise, mock examination essays and one all day laboratory session. Students will also be required to show competence using spreadsheets (instruction will be provided where necessary). 6 hours of career information/advice over 12 weeks.

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%) (problem solving exercise (10%), practical and report (10%), mock exam essay (5%) and computer simulation exercise (5%)).

Resit: 1 three-hour written examination paper (70%) and continuous assessment (30%) (problem solving exercise (10%), practical and report (10%), mock exam essay (5%) and computer simulation exercise (5%)).