Biochemistry BSc Honours

The analysis and communication of scientific knowledge is an integral component of biochemistry and this module aims to provide you with a number of key skills used widely by biochemists. These include: i) mathematics, ii) communication skills and iii) employability skills.

The mathematics component of the module provides you with applied mathematical techniques needed to support your studies in biochemistry. In addition to providing the necessary tools to solving quantitative problems it also helps you present data effectively and interpret the meaning of analyses.

The communication and employability skills component of the module aims to develop you communicational, organisational and writing skills and promote career awareness and opportunities for personal and professional development within and outside your course.

This module teaches key concepts in prokaryote, eukaryote and virus genetics. It will provide you with a detailed understanding of the genetic processes that are operating at molecular, organism, population and species levels, processes that ultimately underlie adaptive change.

This module aims to provide you with a knowledge of human anatomy and its hierarchical organisation from cell to organ system. An understanding of how the main body systems and mechanisms involved maintaining a "state of health" will be developed along with an introduction to how these systems can malfunction. Grounding in practical anatomy will be provided which includes “hands on” and laboratory exercises to support identification and recognition of the main anatomical features of organs and structures of the body.

This module provides you with the skills and knowledge of chemistry that will underpin your future studies. You will build your knowledge around key academic concepts in chemistry using examples from health and the environment to reinforce ideas. You will acquire a range of laboratory practical skills and learn how to analyse and interpret experimental results and put these into context with theoretical concepts.

This module explores the structure and physiology of eukaryote, prokaryote, and archael cells, function and methods of replication of these cells as well as acellular units (viruses). You will also be introduced to core theory and experimental techniques used to investigate physiology, growth and death of cells.

The main aim of this module is to introduce and familiarise you with the key metabolic pathways of energy metabolism. You will acquire the skills and underpinning knowledge to pursue further studies in biochemistry.

The module aims to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, implement, analyse and report project-based work with focus on preparation for the final year project module. The module also develops core research skills fundamental to a scientific research design, irrespective of discipline. Specific research skills will be explored to meet individual programme requirements.

This module aims to extend your knowledge and appreciation of the molecular basis of life, the structure and function of genomes and the processes that drive evolutionary change at the molecular level.

In addition, you will gain experience in the principles, quality assurance and application of commonly employed molecular (genetic) tools and techniques.

This module provides you with the knowledge of important “state of the art” analytical methods in biological sciences. There is a focus on developing your practical skills in analytical methods and the analysis and interpretation of results. Particular emphasis will be on proteins in the context of biochemical research and analysis.

This module builds upon the principles and concepts of inorganic and organic chemistry developed through the year 1 module Fundamentals of Chemistry. In this module you will develop a more complete appreciation of some of the chemical reactions relevant to biochemical processes and drug synthesis with emphasis on carbonyl chemistry and pericyclic reactions, integrating mechanisms and arrow pushing.

This module aims to introduce the concepts and language of immunology that are, or may be, applied clinically. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the different cellular and molecular mechanisms underpinning the development of a range of different immunopathologies.  Regulation of the human endocrine system will also be introduced and explored by developing an understanding of what happens when regulation is lost leading to the onset of common endocrine pathologies. Knowledge of laboratory skills and analysis of data will be developed using immunological and endocrinological techniques.

This module provides you with the knowledge of biochemical molecules and their physiological functions. Particular emphasis is placed on the molecular structure and its relationship with the biological function. Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of biochemical reactions will be explored with a particular emphasis on enzyme kinetics.

The year-long placement is an opportunity for you to work in an industrial, field or laboratory based setting gaining important and relevant skills related to their biology degree programme. The module aims to enhance your employability skills, embed transferable and graduate skills and enable you to reflect on how the knowledge gained is relevant to your degree and the field of biology. Through the work placement you will gain experience of working in a team, facilitate your understanding of the workplace and enhance their skills of self-reliance and communication. The placement experience provides you with the opportunity to enhance your skills of self-reliance, communication, self-expression and co-operation.

This module will provide an introduction to bioinformatics and aims to give you an overview of the computational tools that are commonly used. The module will follow a hands-on approach. Data will be retrieved from public repositories and analysed for biological patterns using command line and graphical user interface tools.

This module provides you with practical skills on laboratory techniques important for research and analysis in the field of biochemistry. You will build on your learning from year 2 module in Analytical Techniques to plan, set-up and carry out experiments and analyse results and critically evaluate these and the methodology.

This module fosters academic curiosity; an inquiry based approach, the employment and application of research skills thus facilitating the development of a higher level of theorising. You will select a topic of personal interest that you wish to study in-depth and will manage your own learning with the support of an academic supervisor.

This module aims to provide an understanding of processes involved in regulation of gene expression and current methods available for investigation. It also aims to provide an understanding of how gene expression may be modulated according to changes in the cellular environment, how environmental conditions can trigger changes in these processes and how aberrations in gene expression can lead to disease.

The module will develop key concepts in specialist areas of biochemistry in relation to human diseases. Advanced topics on molecular basis of disease will be delivered, based primarily around the research specialisations of staff within the biochemistry teaching group.

The module considers current approaches to genetic manipulation and the widening fields of application. You will learn how to use vectors and tools for DNA/RNA manipulation for modification of prokaryotes and eukaryotes organisms for biotechnology, research and detection. Ethical issues and regulation of the field of gene technology will be explored.

This module aims to introduce you to the fundamental theory that underpins computational chemistry. It is designed to help you understand what molecular modelling programmes do and how to interpret results from such experiments with an eye for providing insight to discovery chemistry. This is a practical module comprising weekly workshops where you can learn and practice various methods of energy calculations along with workshops devoted to drug discovery tools.

This module aims to provide you with an overview of reactions of particular utility in the synthetic organic laboratory. You will be trained in designing synthetic routes for complex organic molecules integrating mechanistic aspects and stereochemistry control. Examples from recent literature will be discussed.

This module enables you to formalise and integrate professional experience into your degree. It aims to link academic learning to professional work-based skills. The module provides you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience from the process of applying for work in relevant organisations and enhance your skills of self-expression, communication and self-reliance.