University of Essex

BS225-5-SP-CO:
Cell Biology

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Life Sciences (School of)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Spring

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Monday 13 January 2025

End date: Friday 21 March 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 15 February 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): BS349

Key module for

BSC C700 Biochemistry,
BSC C701 Biochemistry (Including Placement Year),
BSC C703 Biochemistry (Including Year Abroad),
BSC CR00 Biochemistry (Including Foundation Year),
BSC C400 Genetics,
BSC C402 Genetics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC C403 Genetics (Including Placement Year),
BSC CK00 Genetics (Including Foundation 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

Module description

The study of cells is at the centre of modern biology. This module will review the roles of the major types of filament structures of the cytoskeleton involved in cellular and subcellular movements and in the determination of cell shape.

An important topic in this course will be how cells communicate, i.e. by direct cell-cell interaction and by cell-cell signalling via small molecules and via peptides and proteins. The cytoplasmic signal transduction pathways in animal cells will be discussed.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

To integrate the molecular aspects of the control of cellular and biochemical processes with the structural and dynamic aspects of cell organisation.

To provide a core of knowledge central to an understanding of modern cell biology and related aspects of biochemistry.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Explain how structure and function are interrelated in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm and in cell membranes.

Describe the molecular composition of the cytoskeleton and cell junctions and show how they influence cell shape, cell movement and cell-cell interactions.

Describe how cells integrate endogenous controls and signals from the environment to regulate cell growth and proliferation and cell death in normal and pathological conditions.

Explain metabolic pathways and their integration into cellular physiology.

Demonstrate competence in (a) the analysis and interpretation of data and (b) written and verbal communication of experimental results.

Module information

The regulation of cell reproduction and cell death is critical for the normal development of multicellular organisms and for tissue maintenance in the adult. Deregulation of these processes ultimately leads to cancer. This module will talk about these cellular processes in the context of normal physiology and disease. In addition, it will cover the role of biochemical metabolism in cells.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

One 1-hour lecture per week.
One revision class before the summer exam.
Two 3-hour practicals or equivalent.

Bibliography

Lodish, H. et al. (2021k) Molecular Cell Biology. 9th ed. 2021. Macmillan Learning. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/926392.
Nelson, D.L. and Cox, M.M. (2021) Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. 8th ed. W. H. Freeman. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/930342.
Voet, D., Pratt, C.W. and Voet, J.G. (2017) Voet’s principles of biochemistry. Global edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/384641.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Moodle Quiz	20%
Coursework	Launchpad Quiz (x 3)	10%
Coursework	SPF	70%
Exam	Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
Exam	Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 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

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
50%	50%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Greg Brooke, email: gbrooke@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Philippe Laissue

Contact details: School Undergraduate Office, email: bsugoffice (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Prof Richard Bowater

Institution: University of East Anglia

Academic role: Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 13 hours, 13 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

Further information

Department website: Life Sciences (School of)

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

BS225-5-SP-CO:Cell Biology