BS101-4-AU-CO:
Molecular Cell Biology
2025/26
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
14 October 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CR00 Biochemistry (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C100 Biological Sciences,
BSC C101 Biological Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C102 Biological Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BSC CD00 Biological Sciences (Including Foundation Year),
BSC B990 Biomedical Science,
BSC B991 Applied Biomedical Science (NHS placement),
BSC B995 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC B999 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC BD00 Biomedical Science (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIB091 Applied Biomedical Science (NHS placement),
MSCIB099 Biomedical Science,
MSCIBA99 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB99 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C520 Ecology and Environmental Biology,
BSC C521 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C522 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C523 Ecology and Environmental Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C110 Biotechnology,
BSC C111 Biotechnology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C112 Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C113 Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C200 Human Biology,
BSC C201 Human Biology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C202 Human Biology (Including Placement Year),
BSC C220 Human Biology (Including Foundation Year),
MSCIC098 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC099 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
MSCICZ99 Biochemistry and Biotechnology,
BSC C555 Microbiology,
BSC C556 Microbiology (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C557 Microbiology (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C558 Microbiology (Including Placement Year),
BSC B101 Biomedical Studies,
BSC B102 Biomedical Studies (Including Placement Year),
BSC B103 Biomedical Studies (Including Year Abroad)
Cells are the basic functional units of living organisms. All of the activities of multi-cellular animals and plants depend ultimately on the actions of individual cells. Cells have very different structures in different animals, plants and micro-organisms, but all cells are complex systems of molecules capable of carrying out the interactions necessary for life, including energy transductions, synthesis of molecules, growth and duplication.
Cellular biologists aim to understand these functions of cells in structural and molecular terms. We focus on the elementary principles of cell structure and function. We examine the eukaryotic cell cycle and its' regulation. The basic biochemical characteristics of the small molecules and large macromolecules that make up all cells are described. How the cell utilises energy is critical to its survival, we will examine the way cells use and store energy. Finally the biochemical properties and metabolic reactions that are common to most eukaryotic cells are described and discussed in the context of different areas of biology
The aim of this module is:
- To provide an introduction to the study of cell biology.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Describe the structure, evolution, structure and organisation of simple molecules, macromolecules, cells and organelles;
- Describe the basic principles and regulation of energy transformations in the cell and how cell structure, function and metabolism are integrated and modulated;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the cell cycle;
- Demonstrate competence in microscopy and spectrophotometry and present and analyse data from simple experiments.
No additional information available.
This module will be delivered via:
- 24 x 1 hour lectures
- 1 revision class before MCQ
- 1 revision class before summer exam; 3 x 3 hour practicals or equivalent
- Online assessment throughout lecture period guided by lecturer
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Practical 1 (Moodle) |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
Practical 2 (Moodle) |
|
50% |
| Exam |
MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during January
|
| Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 60 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment MCQ exam: In-Person, Closed Book, 50 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Philippe Laissue, email: plaissue@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Philippe Laissue, Dr Brandon Reeder
School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
Yes
No
No
Prof Victor Alan Gault
Ulster University
Associate Dean Research and Innovation
Available via Moodle
Of 44 hours, 8 (18.2%) hours available to students:
36 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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