department of life sciences - imperial college london · undergraduate courses at wye campus:...

Undergraduate Syllabuses_2005–06

Department of Life Sciences

This publication refers to the session 2005–06. The information given, including that relating to the availability of courses, is that current at the time of going to press, October 2005, and is subject to alteration.

© Imperial College London 2005

For details of ppoossttggrraadduuaattee opportunities go to www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus.

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Life Sciences

The Faculty of Life Sciences contains the Divisions of Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Cell and MolecularBiology, and Molecular Biosciences, and the Centre for Environmental Policy and has in total about 150academic staff, 350 research staff, 500 postgraduate students and 700 undergraduate students. In thelast Teaching Quality Assessment all teaching in the Faculty was rated as ‘excellent’ by the QualityAssurance Agency. The Faculty has an outstanding international reputation for research and in the last UKResearch Assessment Exercise the majority of research was graded 5*. The wide specialist experience ofthe academic and research staff is fully used in teaching, in the extensive tutorial system and in thesupervision of undergraduates and postgraduate projects. The presence within the Divisions of specialistCentres, including Structural Biology, Bioinformatics, Molecular Microbiology and Infection, andPopulation Biology strengthens our teaching as well as our research.

The biological sciences include many of the most exciting and important areas of research anddevelopment in the twenty-first century and present a stimulating and rewarding challenge in learningand teaching. The Faculty offers 3 and 4-year BSc programmes and 4 and 5-year integrated masters(MSci) degree programmes. The Biochemistry and Biology degree streams are organized in similar ways,which facilitates student choice across the wide range of specialist course options offered in the final BScyear and for research projects in the final BSc and MSci years. A new undergraduate degree stream, inBiomedical Sciences, will start in October 2006, run jointly by the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Facultyof Medicine.

The Faculty of Life Sciences also runs degree courses in Applied Business Management (pages 223-234) at the Wye campus in Kent. Entry to the Natural Sciences degrees at Wye stopped after the October2004 entry: current Second and Third Year courses are listed on pages 226-234.

Undergraduate coursesThe courses listed are grouped under the following headings:Undergraduate courses: Biochemistry

BiotechnologyBiochemistry and ManagementBiochemistry (or Biotechnology) with a Year in IndustryBiology

Undergraduate courses at Wye campus: Applied Business ManagementApplied Business Management with a year in industry

BiochemistryThe major attraction of studying biochemistry in the Faculty of Life Sciences at Imperial College is thecomprehensive range of courses provided in all the important aspects of modern biochemistry andbiotechnology. An additional advantage is that the first year curriculum is designed to accommodatestudents with diverse academic backgrounds (e.g. A level, International Baccalaureate, BTEC orequivalent).

A three-year BSc Honours degree course in Biochemistry or Biotechnology is offered. In the first twoyears a series of core courses is taken in general biochemistry and allied disciplines, including molecularbiology, molecular cell biology and immunology. In the third year courses are selected according tointerests from options which permit increasing specialisation in areas such as molecular cell biology,molecular biology, neurobiology, molecular pharmacology, protein engineering and biotechnology.

A three-year joint BSc Honours degree in Biochemistry and Management is offered, as well as four-year BSc Honours Biochemistry or Biotechnology degrees with a year working in industry.

Four and five-year MSci Honours degree courses are offered, to a limited number of students, whichprovide more experience and training in research work than the BSc degrees. They are expected to beespecially attractive to students who wish to compete for PhD posts throughout Europe where longerundergraduate courses are usual.

Tutorials and problem classesAll students are expected to participate in tutorials and problem classes as well as formal lectures andperiods of laboratory work. In addition, all students are assigned a personal tutor for timetabled tutorialsin the first year who they can consult for help with both academic and non-academic problems,throughout their undergraduate career.

Course units

FIRST YEAR Course unit valueBCH1.1 Biological chemistry 1BCH1.2 Proteins and enzymes 1BCH1.3 Molecular cell biology I 1BCH1.4 Molecular biology I 1

SECOND YEARBCH2.1 Molecular biology II 0.625BCH2.2 Physical biochemistry 0.625BCH2.3 Molecular cell biology I I 0.625BCH2.4 Immunology 0.625BCH2.5 Protein science 1BCH2.6 Supplementary options including languages 0.5

THIRD (FINAL BSc) YEARBCH3.1 Cell signalling and protein sorting 0.75BCH3.2 Damage and repair in biological systems 0.75BCH3.3 Macromolecules in three dimensions 0.75BCH3.4 Genetics and genomics 0.75BCH3.5 Cellular neuroscience 0.75BCH3.6 Mechanisms of gene expression 0.75BCH3.7 Medical glycobiology 0.75BCH3.8 Integrative systems biology 0.75BCH3.9 Molecular neurobiology 0.75BCH3.10 Molecular basis of disease 0.75BCH3.11 Molecular basis of development 0.75BCH3.12 Bioreactor and bioprocess technology 0.75BCH3.13 Biochemical pharmacology and drug action 0.75BCH3.14 Protein engineering and drug design 0.75BCH3.15 Molecular basis of bacterial infection 0.75BCH3.16 Research project or literature dissertation 1

FOURTH (FINAL MSci) YEARBCH4.1 Research project 2.5BCH4.2 Mastery in Biochemistry 0.75BCH4.3 Research Skills in Biochemistry 0.75

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Biochemistry syllabus

FIRST YEARAll students take the following four courses, which are run in parallel and which provide the fundamentalbuilding blocks of biochemistry and training in supplementary areas such as communication skills andmathematics.

BCH1.1 Biological chemistry

DR J. TIPPINS, PROF K. DRICKAMER, DR G. BALDWIN, DR S. CURRY, DR K. GOUNARIS, DR R. WOSCHOLSKIAND OTHERS50 lectures, 16 hours tutorials/problem classes and 33 hours’ practicals.

BCH1.2 Proteins and enzymes

PROFESSOR P.J. NIXON, DR G. BALDWIN, DR B. BYRNE AND OTHERS45 lectures, 10 hours tutorials/problem classes and 24 hours’ practicals.The above two courses provide the basic physical and organic chemistry essential for a modernbiochemistry or biotechnology degree. Topics include physical chemistry and thermodynamics; molecularstructure and stereochemistry; organic reaction mechanisms; chemical and biochemical energetics;photosynthesis and photorespiration; protein chemistry; enzyme catalysis; enzyme kinetics;spectroscopy; metabolism; bio-organic and co-enzyme chemistry; glycoprotein structure and function.

BCH1.3 Molecular cell biology I

DR N. FAIRWEATHER, DR J. SAFFELL, DR E. CARON AND OTHERS55 lectures, 18 hours practicals and two essays.Introduction to cell biology and physiology taught from a molecular viewpoint; structure and dynamics ofbiomembranes; membrane transport; protein synthesis; endo/exocytosis; the endocrine system; thenervous system; microbiology; cytoskeleton; developmental biology; cell communication;morphogenesis.

BCH1.4 Molecular biology I

DR D.A. HARTLEY, DR K.M. O’HARE AND OTHERS46 lectures, 15 hours tutorials and 39 hours practicals.Structure and function of DNA and RNA; DNA replication; transcription, translation and the genetic code;recombinant DNA and genetic engineering; vectors for gene cloning and expression; plasmids, viruses;genotype, phenotype and types of mutation; recombination and genetic mapping; regulation of geneexpression; human genetic disease.

SECOND YEARBiochemistry students take courses consecutively in: Molecular biology II and Physical biochemistry inthe autumn term; Molecular cell biology II and Immunology in the spring term and Protein science in thesummer term. All students take an additional half-unit course chosen from a range of options, includinglanguages, finance and communication skills, which run in parallel with the core biochemistry coursesduring the autumn and spring terms.

BCH2.1 Molecular biology II

DR M.P. DEONARAIN, DR R.O.J. WEINZIERL, DR N.F. FAIRWEATHER AND OTHERS31 lectures, 24 hours’ practicals, small group tutorials and coursework essay. The properties and functions of nucleic acids and the mechanisms and regulation of gene expression inprokaryotes and eukaryotes; gene structure and organisation; introduction to recombinant DNAtechnology and its applications; the mechanism and enzymology of the DNA replication process;transcription and post-translational processing in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms; the control oftranscription of bacterial operons and of bacteriophage lambda; the mechanism of translation, includingthe structure and function of mRNAs, tRNA and ribosomes; control mechanisms acting as translationallevel; informational suppression, conjugation and transduction in bacteria.

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BCH2.2 Physical biochemistry

PROFESSOR S.J. MATTHEWS, DR A. PATWARDHAN, PROFESSOR R. LEATHERBARROW (DEPARTMENT OFCHEMISTRY), AND OTHERS27 lectures, 28 hours practicals and tutorials.A course of lectures covering the theory, and emphasising the application, of modern biophysicaltechniques in the characterisation of biopolymers and biological systems. Topics include fast atombombardment mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, imaging, infrared, Raman,ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopies, light and electron microscopy and the use of radio-isotopesin biochemistry.

BCH2.3 Molecular cell biology II

DR R. WOSCHOLSKI, DR D.J. LEAK AND OTHERS28 lectures, 32 hours practicals and group tutorials.Regulation and control of prokaryotic cellular metabolism and intracellular signalling and trafficking.Topics include physiological responses of bacteria to their environment and underlying principles ofmetabolic control; tissue and sub-cellular location of enzymes and metabolites; compartmentation andhormonal control; intracellular signalling pathways and regulation; protein phosphorylation.

BCH2.4 Immunology

DR. T. CROMPTON, PROFESSOR M.E. SELKIRK, DR M.P. DEONARAIN AND OTHERS30 lectures, 18 hours practicals and three hours tutorials. An introduction to modern immunological theory and practice covering the biology and chemistry of theimmune response, including the chemistry, synthesis and biological properties of antibodies, structure ofantigens and the chemistry of antibody-antigen interactions; receptor interleukins and associatedmediators of immune cell function; antigen processing and presentation; the major histocompatibilitycomplex; organisation and rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily; immunologicaltolerance, suppression, auto-immunity and hypersensitivity reactions; the immune response to tumoursand infectious organisms, immunoprophylaxis of disease.

BCH2.5 Protein science

DR B. BYRNE, DR K. BROWN, DR G. BALDWIN, PROFESSOR S.J. MATTHEWS, DR G. GILARDI AND OTHERS45 lectures, 25 hours practicals and tutorials/poster presentations.Encompasses modern aspects of protein structure and function and shows how chemical and biologicalproperties can be related to both three-dimensional structure and post-translational modifications.Topics include purification and characterisation of proteins, X-ray crystallography and NMR methods,structural motifs and families, unfolding and folding; enzyme mechanisms; regulation of enzyme activity; enzyme technology; immobilised enzymes.

BCH2.6 Supplementary optionsOne subject is chosen from a range of courses, which include courses on communication skills in scienceand the biochemical literature taught by the Department and courses taught within the HumanitiesProgramme and Tanaka Business School.

THIRD (BSc FINAL) YEARIn the first two terms of the third year (the final year for the BSc), students can choose from a range ofoptions allowing specialisation in areas of greatest interest and relevance to future career plans.Students select four courses each comprising a half-term's work from among those given below. In thelast term of the final year, after all written examinations are completed, students carry out a researchproject in the departmental biochemistry laboratories under the supervision of a member of academicstaff. Students may choose a literature-based dissertation as an alternative to the research project.Students registered for the MSci degree must choose a literature dissertation at this point.

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BCH3.1 Cell signalling and protein sorting

PROFESSOR C.R. HOPKINS, DR E. CARON AND OTHERS30 lectures, 24 hours practicals and four hours’ seminar/tutorials.This option focuses on two of the most rapidly expanding areas of modern cell biology; signaltransduction and membrane trafficking. Covered in detail are G proteins, cytokine receptors, tyrosinekinases, and apoptosis for signalling, and vesicle targeting, protein sorting, exocytosis and endocytosis.The practical introduces cell culture and protein trafficking techniques.

BCH3.2 Damage and repair in biological systems

DR K. GOUNARIS, PROFESSOR M.E. SELKIRK, DR J.R. TIPPINS AND OTHERS30 lectures, 25 hours practicals and seminar/tutorials.Free radicals and human disease; nature of oxidative damage; antioxidant defence; lipid peroxidation incell pathology; nucleic acid/protein damage and physiological implications; mechanisms of adaptation tooxidant stress; endogenous oxidants in relation to ageing and cancer; mechanisms of directedcytotoxicity in the immune system; apoptosis; role of tumour suppressor genes; free radicals anddiabetes; free radicals and cardiovascular tissue injury; photocarcinogenesis; vision damage; photodynamic therapy.

BCH3.3 Macromolecules in three dimensions

PROFESSOR S.J. MATTHEWS, DR K. BROWN, PROFESSOR M. VAN HEEL, DR J. BAUM30 hours’ lectures, 42 hours practicals and tutorials.Advanced protein structure and function. State-of-the-art techniques used for the elucidation of proteinstructure, i.e. nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy andstructure prediction/comparison methods. Protein stability, dynamics and folding. Protein structuralmotifs and their functional roles. Macromolecular complexes.

BCH3.4 Genetics and genomics

DR K. O'HARE AND OTHERS30 lectures, 21 hours practicals, small group tutorial.Genetic manipulation of bacteria: transposons and plasmids. Gene cloning and expression in E. coliyeast, mouse and human cells. Large scale genome analysis: the human genome project. Geneticmapping and positional cloning in mouse and humans. Methods for the analysis of gene expression inmammalian development. Gene therapy: fact or fiction?

BCH3.5 Cellular Neuroscience

DR J. SAFFELL, DR. S. BRICKLEY, DR. A. MATHIE, PROFESSOR N. FRANKS AND OTHERS35 lectures, 8 hours'tutorials, 20 hours'practicals.Cellular organisation of the nervous system. Role of cytoskeleton and intracellular signalling in regulatingcell behaviour. Plasticity. Positive and negative cues – growth factors, cell and substrata – that regulateplasticity. Neural stem cells. Synaptic transmission. Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.

BCH3.6 Mechanisms of gene expression

DR R.O.J. WEINZIERL, DR K.M. O'HARE, DR. S.ONESTI, AND OTHERS30 lectures, 4 hours computer practicals, 40 hours' laboratory practicals and 2 tutorial presentations.The course will focus on the pro- and eukaryotic transcriptional control systems from a mechanistic pointof view. The structure and function of the components of the various transcriptional machineries will bepresented and analysed in terms of molecular interactions between general and promoter-specifictranscription factors. Molecular events governing initiation, elongation and termination of transcripts andthe effect of chromatin structure will be discussed to highlight the role of both basal and gene-specifictranscription factors in regulating gene expression during embryonic development, response toenvironmental factors and carcinogenesis.


BCH3.7 Medical glycobiology

PROF K. DRICKAMER, DR S. HASLAM AND OTHERS28 lectures, 30 hours practicals and five hours’ tutorials. The course will focus on recent developments in structure/function of glycopolymers with a specialemphasis on their role in development, cell-cell recognition, parasite-host interactions, cancer,inflammatory diseases, fertilisation and pituitary hormone action. Specific topics will include theselectins, collectins, galectins and other important mammalian lectins; nuclear and cytoplasmicglycosylation; parasite surface antigens; MUC gene products and their importance in breast cancer;immunosuppressive and contraceptive glycoproteins; glycosaminoglycans and growth factors; neural celladhesion molecules.

BCH3.8 Integrative systems biology

DR X. ZHANG, DR M. STUMPF AND OTHERS36 lectures, 18 hours practicals and 16 hours’ seminarsModern biology and medicine require an integrated approach to discover and probe at all levels: genes,proteins, cells, and whole organisms. Systems biology is a new field in biology which meets thisrequirement that aims at system-level understanding of biological systems. This course is designed toenable students: to have knowledge and understanding of systems biology; to be able to perform datamining and analysis of complex data; to appreciate the complexity and necessity for an integratedapproach in modern biology and medicine; to understand the principles and applications of differenttechniques, in particularly high throughput technologies; to understand the current development insystems biology and genomics initiatives; to be able to design strategies to dissect an complexbiological/medical problem.

BCH3.9 Molecular neurobiology

DR Y. USHKARYOV, DR J. SAFFELL AND OTHERS 32 lectures, 18 hours practicals, literature discussion and further tutorials as required by the students. With the aim of understanding the molecular basis of neural communication, this course focuses onstructure-function aspects of well characterised proteins from the nervous system. These include cationand anion channels responsible for controlling electrical excitability, as well as the mutated forms thatunderlie certain disease states, and components mediating synaptic transmission particularlypostsynaptic receptors and proteins concerned with regulated transmitter release. Consideration is alsogiven to the molecular definition of novel targets for the development of neuro-active drugs.

BCH3.10 Molecular basis of disease

DR D. MANN AND OTHERS 30 lectures, 25 hours practicals and small group tutorials. Various pathological conditions (such as cancer and autoimmune disease) will be analysed in detail fromthe perspective of the underlying molecular lesions. Cancer; general characteristics; cell cycle control;mitogenic signalling; oncogenes and tumour suppressors; viral infection and cancer; tumourimmunology; case studies on specific cancers describing our detailed knowledge of the alternations in cellular processes. Immunological diseases: defects in T and B cell function; autoimmunity and allergy.Other diseases, e.g. inherited disease.

BCH3.11 Molecular basis of developmentDR D.A. HARTLEY, DR J. SAFFELL AND GUEST LECTURERS33 lectures, 48 hours practicals and two hours’ group seminars.This course highlights recent advances in molecular genetics and cell biology which lead to molecularexplanations for the most complex cellular and biochemical process in nature—the ordered developmentof a multicellular organism from a single cell. It will focus on organisms such as mice and fruit flies toillustrate models of axis determination, cellular determination and differentiation. Emphasis will beplaced on the development of the nervous system, where cell type specification, wiring and growthregulation will be analysed. Practicals will analyse developing embryos by in situ hybridisation andantibody labelling techniques. In addition, differentiation of tissue culture cells will be examined.

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BCH3.12 Bioreactor and bioprocess technology

DR D.J. LEAK, PROFESSOR A.E.G. CASS AND OTHERS40 lectures, eight hours special topics (external speakers), 38 hours’ practicals, mini project andcomputer exercises.Biochemical, physicochemical and engineering principles underlying cell (microbial and animal) andproduct formation in bioreactors; quantitative aspects of cell growth and metabolism; cell physiology and metabolic flux control; strain improvement; bioreactor design and principles of scale up; instrumentationand control; downstream processing illustrated by selected examples from current practice.

BCH3.13 Biochemical pharmacology and drug actionDR J.R. TIPPINS, DR S. MITCHELL (FACULTY OF MEDICINE) AND OTHERS 30 course lectures, four guest lectures, 36 hours laboratory practicals, 5 hours’ computer practicals, andseminar/tutorials. This course covers the basic principles of pharmacology addressed from a biochemical perspective andfocuses on current research in vascular inflammation. The major areas covered are principles of drugaction, evaluation of drug action, skeletal muscle pharmacology, autonomic nervous system, ADME,molecular basis of drug action, pathophysiological responses of the vasculature, basic effectormechanisms of endothelial cells on vascular tone and the generation and action of chemoattractants thatact on the microcirculation.

BCH3.14 Protein engineering and drug design

DR G. GILARDI, DR J. BAUM, DR K. BROWN, PROFESSOR S.J. MATTHEWS, DR M.P. DEONARAIN ANDOTHERS 30 course lectures, two guest lectures, 10 hours computer practicals, 34 hours’ laboratory and computerpracticals and tutorials. Approaches in protein engineering, protein conformations, prediction from sequence data, mutationaleffects on folding, engineering stability. De novo protein design, engineering new functions: predictionand stability. Molecular basis of drug action, site-directed drug design. Bio-informatics and drugdiscovery, computer-aided drug design. Antibody engineering: catalytic antibodies, antibodies fordiagnosis and therapy, combinatorial antibody libraries. Engineering electron transfer: design of redoxproteins, deletion and insertion of metal binding sites. Bio-industrial aspects and bioelectronics.

BCH3.15 Molecular basis of bacterial infection

PROFESSOR G. FRANKEL, DR N. FAIRWEATHER, DR E. CARON AND OTHERS 30 lectures, 24 hours practical and tutorials. This course aims to develop an understanding, by undergraduate students, of some of the fundamentalprinciples of infectious diseases. They will learn the basic mechanisms that determine the outcome ofbacterial pathogen – host cell interactions. Bacterial infections and diseases result from a “dialogue”between the bacterial and eukaryotic cells rather than being a bacterial “monologue”. This phenomenonwill be at the heart of the course. The students will be exposed to biochemical, molecular and cellulartechnologies.

BCH3.17 Research project or literature dissertationIn the summer term, after all written examinations are completed, students carry out experimentalprojects in the Department’s research laboratories. For students who are not planning a career inresearch, the literature-based dissertation provides an attractive alternative to the research project.

FOURTH (MSci FINAL) YEARThe final year for MSci students is dominated by an extensive (two term) laboratory project working full timein a member of staffs research laboratory. In the summer term, there are a variety of small group teachingsessions focussing on providing breadth of studies in biochemistry / biotechnology and also in training non-laboratory research skills such as scientific presentations, writing proposals and laboratory safety.


BCH4.1 Research project

ALL BIOCHEMISTRY TEACHING STAFFThe vast majority of the autumn and spring terms is spent working in a research laboratory, normally on aspecific project. This provides a training in a wide variety of lab techniques, as well as in key skills suchas teamwork, independent study, time management and keeping good records.

BCH4.2 Mastery in Biochemistry

DR. D. HARTLEY AND ALL BIOCHEMISTRY TEACHING STAFF15 - 30 hours of tutorial sessions. Online testing with instant feedback. Training and assessment of corebiochemical principles with an emphasis on the experimental basis to biochemical knowledge.

BCH4.3 Research Skills in Biochemistry

DR. D. HARTLEY AND OTHERSAbout 40 hours of tutorial sessions, poster and conference presentations, research board deliberation. Poster presentation based on research project. Research conference organized by students. Safetyassessment. Grant proposal writing. Grant proposal reviewing and ranking in a research board.

Biotechnology

FIRST AND SECOND YEAR Students follow the same set of foundation courses as those registered for a Biochemistry degree.

BSc final year

In the first two terms students specialise in biotechnology units offered by the Faculty. These can include:genetics and genomics; integrative systems biology, bioreactor and bioprocess technology; molecularbasis of bacterial infection. A biotechnology-oriented research project or literature dissertation isundertaken in the final term.

MSci final year

The MSci degree courses follow the same route as the Biochemistry and Biotechnology BSc degreesexcept that the third year laboratory-based research project is replaced by an investigation of theresearch literature. In the final year, students are trained in research, technical and transferable skills andstudy a specialised area of biochemical research. These activities include a substantial laboratory-basedresearch project.

Biochemistry and ManagementA joint Honours course in Biochemistry and Management is offered jointly by the Faculty of Life Sciencesand Tanaka Business School. In the first two years students will follow the programme as for an Honoursdegree in Biochemistry or Biotechnology, while the third year will be devoted to management studies.

Biochemistry (or Biotechnology) with a Year in IndustryThis four-year BSc course is for Biochemistry or Biotechnology students wishing to gain an insight intothe work of an industrial research laboratory. The third year involves carrying out a research project inindustry while courses taught for the Biochemistry and Biotechnology degrees are to be taken in yearsone, two and four.The placement year in industry/research may also be taken as part of a five-year MSci degree courseafter the second year. Students opting for this then take the same final two years as theBiochemistry/Biotechnology four-year MSci degree courses.

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BiologyThe Faculty provides a wide range of course units leading to Honours degrees in Biology, Biology withManagement, Biology with Management and a Year in Industry/Research, Biology with Microbiology,Biology with a Year in Europe, Biology with a Year in Industry/Research, Ecology, Microbiology, andZoology. In the first year all students take courses covering the four major levels of biological organisation:molecules, cells, organisms and populations. Choice and specialisation increase over subsequent years.The first year curriculum is designed to accommodate students with diverse academic backgrounds (e.g. Alevel, International Baccalaureate, BTEC or equivalent).

Students on the three-year BSc Biology degree course have a very wide range of course choices onanimal, plant and microbial topics. By selecting courses from different areas, a broad biological training ispossible. The Biology degree also permits a high level of specialisation in particular disciplines, as may berequired for certain jobs or for research.

The three-year BSc Biology with Management degree course has a limited number of places. It involvestwo years in the Department following a choice of biology courses, and then the third year is spent inTanaka Business School doing management subjects.

There is also a four-year BSc course, Biology with Management and a Year in Industry/Research. Thiscombines the first three years of the Biology with a Year in Industry/Research degree (see below) with afinal year in Tanaka Business School.

The three-year BSc Biology with Microbiology degree course provides a wider range of knowledge andskills than in either single Honours degree course alone, with a broad choice of courses available in thethird year.

For the four-year BSc Biology with a Year in Europe course, the third year is spent at a partner universityin France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland. Courses at Imperial are as forthe other Biology degrees. Proficiency in an appropriate language to a minimum of GCSE, or AS level ifpossible, is normally required for admission. This requirement does not apply in the case of theNetherlands or Sweden. Tuition will be given in the chosen language and proven competence will berequired before the placement.

The four-year BSc Biology with a Year in Industry/Research degree course is for students who wish tointegrate their academic work with periods of practical experience and employment in industry or researchinstitutes. Because of the large range of approved courses offered in molecular, cellular, microbial, plantand animal subjects, students can choose either a specialised or a broader approach to their degree. Thecourse incorporates a 10-month work placement outside the College in the third year. These placementshave involved a wide range of topics, such as marine and freshwater biology, tropical parasitology,pharmaceutical industry, cancer research, food and forensic science, with in some cases the opportunity towork overseas.

The three-year BSc Ecology degree course takes advantage of the Faculty’s great strength in plant andanimal ecology, and population biology, to provide specialist training in this subject. Several field coursesare included.

The three-year BSc Microbiology degree course is concerned with the physiology, biochemistry,molecular biology, genetics, genetic engineering and uses of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Courses deal withthe fundamental science of different types of micro-organism and with important biotechnological,industrial, medical and agricultural applications. The medical microbiology module is run by the Faculty ofMedicine and some students take the intercollegiate module in marine microbiology at the MarineBiological Station, Millport, Scotland.

On the three-year BSc Zoology degree course, animals are studied at all levels of complexity, frommolecules and cells to species and populations, including morphological, physiological, evolutionary,ecological and behavioural aspects.

The four-year Biology MSci degree course follows the same route as the Biology BSc degrees, exceptthat the third year research project is replaced by a literature-based investigation written up in the form ofa research grant proposal. In the final year, students are trained in research, technical and transferableskills and study a specialised area of biological research, which includes a substantial, 20-week full-timeresearch project. This course is also available as a five-year degree, where students spend a year in


industry between their second and third academic years. The MSi degrees are particularly appropriate forstudents wishing to compete for PhD posts in the UK or overseas.

Transfers from one degree course to another within the biology stream are usually possible, subject tocertain restrictions. A decision to transfer to the Biology degree (C100) from the other biology streamcourses may be deferred until well into the final year.

Field courses offered to all Biology students include marine ecology, marine microbiology, andconservation and biodiversity.

Students who entered under a UCAS code other than C110 or C102 and who wish to transfer to theBiology with a Year in Industry/Research course or to the Biology with a Year in Europe course must applyto do so by the start of their second year. The number of such transfers is, however, limited.

Biology syllabus(Students take a total of four course units in each year).

FIRST YEAR Course unit valueStudents take the following four modules:B.1.1 Biological chemistry and cellular metabolism 1B.1.2 Cell biology 1B.1.3 Biology of organisms 1B.1.4 Ecology, behaviour and evolution 1

SECOND YEARStudents take a mixture of three core and five optional modules—see second year grid (page 217):B.2.1 Marine ecology field course 0.5B.2.2 Applied molecular biology (core) 0.55B.2.3 Computing and statistics in biology (core) 0.25B.2.4 Bacterial physiology or 0.55B.2.5 Animal and plant physiology 0.55B.2.6 Immunology or 0.55B.2.9 Ecology 0.55B.2.8 Virology 0.55B.2.12 Resource management 0.55B.2.10 Mycology and plant pathology or 0.55B.2.11 Parasitism and other life strategies or 0.55B.2.7 Genetics 0.55B.2.13 Tutored dissertation (instead of field course) 0.50B.2.14 Supplementary options including 0.50

languages (core)

THIRD YEARStudents take five modules from the Final Year grid (page 217), which must include the researchproject/dissertation. In their final year, the Biology with a Year in Industry/Research and Biology with aYear in Europe students follow the normal third year programme.B.3.1 Conservation and biodiversity field course 0.75B.3.2 Marine microbiology field course (intercollegiate) 0.75B.3.3 Medical microbiology 0.75B.3.4 Population and community ecology 0.75B.3.5 Pollution and plant environmental physiology 0.75B.3.6 Cellular signalling and neurobiology 0.75B.3.7 Molecular plant-microbe interactions 0.75B.3.8 Cellular and molecular parasitology 0.75B.3.9 Applied ecology 0.75B.3.10 Evolutionary biology 0.75

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THIRD YEAR CONTiNUED Course unit valueB.3.11 Environmental and industrial microbiology 0.75B.3.12 Plant and microbial technology 0.75B.3.13 Animal behaviour 0.75B.3.14 Development and evolution of animal form 0.75B.3.15 Applied genetics 0.75B.3.16 Advanced topics in molecular, cell

and immunobiology 0.75B.3.17 Biodiversity and conservation biology 0.75B3.18 Advanced topics in neuroscience research 0.75B3.19 Epidemiology 0.75B3.20 Research project 1B.3.21 Integrative systems biology 0.75

(The Department reserves the right to cancel a module if it is not sufficiently supported.)

FIRST YEARStudents take the following modules:

B.1.1 Biological chemistry and cellular metabolismDR P. BRICK, DR S. ONEST, DR H.D. WILLIAMS, DR S. COOK, DR M. TRISTEM, PROFESSOR D. DAVIS

About 50 lectures, 27 hours practical work and seven problems classes.

Fundamental aspects of organic and physical chemistry applicable to biology and modern methods ofbiochemical analysis. The properties of biological macromolecules in relation to their biological function.Basic enzymology and metabolic regulation. Central pathways of metabolism, including photosynthesis,respiration and synthesis of important macromolecules. Integration and regulation of anabolic andcatabolic processes in the cell.

B.1.2 Cell biology

DR S. COOK, DR B.C. LAMB, DR M. TRISTEM, PROFESSOR M.B.A. DJAMGOZ, DR R.H.A. COUTTS,PROFESSOR M. DALLMAN, DR T. CROMPTON, PROFESSOR D. DAVIS56 lectures, 36 hours practicals, six tutorials. The major concepts of genetics and molecular biology with particular emphasis on the mechanisms ofgene expression regulation in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, and the genetic basis of selectedhuman inherited disorders. The organisation and functions of organelles, cells and tissues. The control ofcell cycle, growth regulation and their relationship to cancer. Control of development of eukaryoticmetazoan organisms. The basis of cell-to-cell communication and the immune system. Viruses of plants,animals and humans.

B.1.3 Biology of organisms

PROFESSOR D.J. WRIGHT, DR J.W. BATES, DR S. COOK, DR D.J. DICKINSON, DR S.A. ARCHER, DR R.J MURPHY, DR H.D. WILLIAMS, PROFESSOR I. OWENS, DR B. FEYSAbout 55 lectures, 40 hours practical work and six tutorials. A course encompassing the diversity of living organisms, using selected groups within the bacterial,protistan, fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. Within a phylogenetic framework, the course covers themajor structural, physiological and ecological developments in each kingdom, and, where appropriate,their impact on man.


B.1.4. Ecology, behaviour and evolution

PROFESSOR M.J. CRAWLEY, DR T. COULSON, DR E.J. MILNER-GULLAND, PROFESSOR R.J. HARDIE, DR M. TRISTEM, DR A.M. LEROI, DR C. DE MAZANCOURT, DR M. CHARALAMBOUS, DR C.M. COLLINS 47 lectures, 12 hours practical, a one-week field course and six tutorials. Ecology and population biology, including a residential field course. Behaviour, including learning,foraging, host location and sociobiology. Evolution, including the modern synthesis of ideas, adaptiveradiation, life history strategies, mimicry, human evolution, and modern methods of taxonomy.

SECOND YEARIn the second year, students take a mixture of core and optional modules to a total value of four courseunits. See grid on page 217. Students take either the marine ecology field course or the tutoreddissertation.

B.2.1 Marine ecology field course

DR J.W. BATES, DR J. GHAZOUL AND OTHERS A two-week course held in Guernsey at the end of the summer vacation preceding the second year. The study of inter-tidal and maritime organisms through surveys of their distribution, growth and thecharacteristics of their habitats in exposed and sheltered conditions introduces the principles of marineecology in relation to the wide range of phyla represented on the shore; closely associated with this is aninvestigation of the environmental and interspecific factors causing physiological stress and limitingpopulations. Plankton and benthos are also studied. A short investigative project completes the courseand a written report of the work is required.

B.2.2 Applied molecular biology (core module)

DR M. TRISTEM, DR B. FEYS, DR P. SPANUAbout 25 lectures and tutorials and about 25 hours practicals. This module gives all biology students a basic understanding of modern molecular biology techniquesand their applications. In the first part, students learn the theory and practice of molecular and cellbiology. The second part examines the mechanisms by which cells control their proliferation and genomeexpression. The final part concentrates on the application of bioinformatics to molecular biology,including the extraction and manipulation of information from biological databases.

B.2.3 Computing and statistics in biology (core module)

DR C. DE MAZANCOURT, DR C.M. COLLINSAbout 22 lectures and 30 hours practical work. The computing part of the course is mainly devoted to programming in R, with practice in writingprograms. Emphasis is on an algorithmic approach and on biological data and applications. The statistics part introduces basic concepts from probability, statistics and experimental design. Studentsgain practical experience of these topics using computer analysis, and interpreting the results ofstatistical tests.

B.2.4 Bacterial physiology

DR H.D. WILLIAMS About 30 lectures and 30 hours of practical and tutorial work. The course examines structure and function in bacteria and related organisms, covering their energysources, nutrient use, morphological and metabolic diversity, physiology in relation to habitat, thegrowth of bacterial cells and populations, dormancy and death, and their activities of economicimportance. The principles of classification and the techniques of isolation, culture and identification arealso studied.

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B.2.5 Animal and plant physiology

DR P.D. SPANU, PROFESSOR M.B.A. DJAMGOZ, DR S. FRASER, PROFESSOR R.J. HARDIE, PROFESSOR R. SCHROTER AND OTHERS32 lectures and 30 hours practical work, tutorials, seminars and project work.The module introduces the functioning of plants and animals in relation to growth, development andinteractions with the environment. Selected themes are explored either comparatively (plants/animals),emphasising the similarities and differences in the solutions to individual problems, or as an in-depthanalysis of some specific aspects of the physiology of plants and animals: physiological problemsinherent in multicellularity and how these are solved by higher eukaryotes (e.g. vertebrates, insects andplants); experimental strategies used in physiology research; pharmacological approaches to studyingsignal transduction and hormonal control; structure and ultrastructure of plant cell walls; Dictyosteliumas a model organism for development of elementary multicellular structures.

B.2.6 Immunology

PROFESSOR D. DAVIS, PROFESSOR M. DALLMAN, DR T. CROMPTON AND OTHERSAbout 25 lectures, 12 hours laboratory work and tutorials.Introduction to defence mechanisms and the basic concepts of humoral and cellular immunity. Biology ofthe immune response including differentiation of cell subsets and the structure of antigens, antibodiesand T-cell receptors. T- and B-cell ontogeny and genetic organisations of antibody and T-cell receptorgenes. The structure and function of cytokines and chemokines in the immune response. Lymphocyteinteractions and antigen presentation, emphasising the role of major histocompatibility complex.Immunological tolerance, anergy and apoptosis. The immune response in infectious diseases andeffector mechanisms. Immunological aspects of transplantation, allergy, autoimmunity and tumours.Novel approaches to immunotherapy.Lab work with phage, bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi.

B.2.7 Genetics

DR B.C. LAMB, PROFESSOR A. PURVIS, DR M. CHARALAMBOUS, DR A.M. LEROI About 31 lectures and 32 hours practicals, simulations, problems and tutorials. Mutation and the uses of mutants. Genetical aspects of gene expression. Bacterial genetics. Populationgenetics. Inheritance of quantitative characters. Quantitative trait loci and polygenes. Types and uses ofselection. Heritabilities. Use of the parasexual cycle in fungi. Improving microbial strains. Plant andanimal breeding. Human and medical genetics. Genetic screening. Phylogenetics and testing evolutionaryhypotheses. Genes as molecular markers. Changes in gene sequences over time. Origin of new genes.Lab work with phage, bacteria, yeast and filamentous fungi.

B.2.8 Virology

DR R.H.A. COUTTS, DR S. CURRY, DR M. TRSITEM AND OTHERSAbout 28 lectures, 30 hours practical work and some tutorials. The biology and molecular biology of animal viruses. Polio virus, influenza virus, hepatitis B virus. DNAand RNA tumour viruses; oncogenes; viruses and cancer. Prions and the spongiform encephalopathies.Control of animal virus infections; modern approaches to vaccination; interferons—induction, mode ofactions and clinical applications. Genome organisations, expression and replication cycles of RNA andDNA bacteriophages. Plant viruses. Genome organisation and evolution. Replication cycles. Cell-to-celland systemic movement. Control of plant virus infections.

B.2.9 Ecology

DR J. COOK, DR J. BATES, DR S.R. LEATHER, DR S. POWER AND OTHERSAbout 25 lectures and 25 hours practicals, mini-project, and field excursion. The considers the approaches and topics of modern ecology. Students will learn: i) the roles of ecologicaland environmental processes in ecosystems; ii) the value of combining field and molecular data to testecological hypotheses; iii) the importance of the emerging field of microbial ecology.


Weeks

Medical Pollution and plant Cellular signalling Population and1-6 microbiology environmental and neurobiology community ecology

physiology

Molecular Evolutionary Cellular and molecular Applied Integrative7-11 plant-microbe biology parasitology ecology systems biology

interactions

Environmental Plant and microbial Mechanisms of Development and Epidemiology12-16 and industrial technology animal behaviour evolution of animal

microbiology form

Applied Advanced topics in Advanced topics in Biodiversity and18-22 genetics neuroscience research molecular, cell and conservation biology

immunobiology

23 THIRD YEAR EXAMINATIONS

24-30 RESEARCH PROJECT

31 Project interview and possible viva with an external examiner

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StatisticsSelect tutored dissertation topic

SU

MM

ER T

ERM

S

PRIN

G T

ERM

AU

TUM

N T

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Biology third year timetable 2004–05

SPR

ING

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MS

UM

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MBiology second year timetable 2004–05

Bacterial physiology

Mycology and plant pathology GeneticsParasitism and other

life strategies

Animal and plant physiology

9-10

Weeks

10-11

12

13

14-17

18-21

22

23-24

25-28

29-30

31

Immunology

Virology

HUMANITIES EXAMINATIONS

COMPLETE TUTORED DISSERTATION

Ecology

Resource management

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Applied molecular biology

Computing 1

EXAMINATIONS

Computing 2

REVISION

EXAMINATIONS

1-5

5-9

B.2.10 Mycology and plant pathology

DR S.A. ARCHER, DR R.J. MURPHY About 30 lectures, 35 hours practicals and tutorials. The course opens with a systematic and physiological survey of fungi, including yeasts, with an emphasison cellular structure, hyphal and colony growth, morphogenesis, mating systems, nuclear behaviour, andspore formation. Problems of phylogeny, classification and identification are then considered. Therelation of fungi to their environment, and their dispersal, survival and perennation, are examined.Fungal nutrition and pathogenesis in plants are studied and the major plant diseases reviewed, includingdisease aetiology, damage and economic importance. Biodeterioration and the industrial and medicalimportance of fungi are considered, together with their future role in biotechnology.

B.2.11 Parasitism and other life strategies

PROFESSOR D.J. WRIGHT, PROFESSOR R.E. SINDEN, DR S. LEATHER, DR C.M. COLLINS, DR J. COOKAbout 30 lectures, six hours practical work and a literature project/workshop. The module provides a broad overview of the various associations and life cycle strategies which haveevolved within the protistan, helminth and insect groups. The course assumes a basic knowledge of thebiology of the different protistan and animal phyla involved (topics covered in the first year ‘Organisms’,‘Populations’ and ‘Cells’ streams). The module provides a sound knowledge base for the third yearparasitology module.

B.2.12 Resource management

DR C.M. COLLINS, PROFESSOR J. MUMFORD, DR J.D. KNIGHT, DR S. LEATHER AND OTHERS About 30 lectures with visits, practicals and seminars. Human exploitation and manipulation of the environment are considered under a number of headings,e.g. demography, water management, land use, agriculture, and fisheries. In addition to the biologicaland ecological components of these subjects, the module introduces economic, legal and social aspectsthat play an important part in the management of biological resources in the real world.

B.2.13 Tutored dissertationAn individual dissertation (maximum 4,000 words), chosen from a wide range of topics provided by theacademic staff. The dissertation involves a comprehensive review of the relevant recent primaryliterature.

B.2.14 Supplementary options (core module)One subject is chosen from a range of humanities, language and Tanaka Business School courses.

THIRD YEARSee timetable grid on page 217. The main part of the summer term (seven weeks) is occupied with a full-time research project or dissertation, which is valued at one course unit: students take a total of fourcourse units, including the research project/dissertation. Students can take one field course instead ofone of the four taught options in the autumn/spring terms.

B.3.1 Conservation and biodiversity field course

DR S. LEATHER, DR C.M. COLLINS AND OTHERSA two-week course held at Silwood Park in the summer vacation immediately after the second year.Methods of measuring populations of animals and plants in several different habitats are emphasised.The field exercises include measurements of the architecture and species diversity of grassland plantcommunities under a range of managed and unmanaged grazing regimes and the consequent effects onthe insect fauna. The periodicity of insect activity in both grassland and woodland is examined, as well asthe spatial distribution of insects on trees. Methods of assessing insect herbivore damage on trees arealso explored. During the course, students undertake a short research exercise. A report is required onthe work undertaken. The course also includes an examination at the start of the following spring termand additional coursework (each component counts for one third of the total course marks).


B.3.2 Marine microbiology field courseIntercollegiate course held at the Millport Marine Laboratory in Scotland. The course includes anexamination at the start of the following spring term and additional coursework (each component countsfor one third of the total course marks).

B.3.3 Medical microbiology

DR M. THEMIS, DR B. ROBERTSON, PROFESSOR M. ALLDAY, PROFESSOR G. SMITH, PROFESSOR P.FARRELL, DR J. MAIN, DR R. WATSON, DR S. SRISKANDAN AND OTHERSAbout 25 lectures and 55 hours associated practical work. This module considers the biological nature of bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. Patterns of infectionin communities and in hospitals, the main clinical features of infections and the principles of diagnosisand treatment are discussed. Much of the practical work is devoted to diagnosis and preliminaryidentification of pathogenic micro-organisms. The module also explores how knowledge of the immuneresponse can be used to prevent infection by vaccination and to study the spread of infections incommunities. The course considers as examples in bacteriology: mycobacterial infections, anaerobicinfections, diarrhoeal diseases and sexually transmitted diseases; in mycology: superficial and systemicfungal infections and allergies; in virology: infections caused by HIV, influenza, polio, hepatitis andherpes viruses. Some teaching is by the Faculty of Medicine at St Mary’s campus.

B.3.4 Population and community ecology

DR T. COULSON, PROFESSOR M.J. CRAWLEY, DR C.M. COLLINS, DR S. LEATHER, DR C. DE MAZANCOURT,AND OTHERS About 35 lectures and associated practicals. The module provides an overview of the foundations of population and community ecology, coupled withdetailed case studies illustrating how fundamental properties of individuals, their patterns of birth, deathand movement, underpin the structures of natural systems. Equal weight is given to plant and animalsystems. Students learn the main theoretical ideas in population and community ecology, and theirrelation to natural phenomena. They are taught the components of different types of interaction (e.g.predator-prey, plant-herbivore, host-parasite) and how aspects of the biology of the constituent speciesaffect persistence and dynamics. Students learn about basic population models in terms of their main assumptions and properties (no mathematical analysis is expected).

B.3.5 Pollution and plant environmental physiology

DR J.W. BATES, PROFESSOR J.N.B. BELL, DR S.A. POWER About 30 lectures with associated seminars, tutorials and practical work in the laboratory and field. The module introduces the range of natural and man-induced stresses which affect the performance ofcrops and natural vegetation. The lectures and practicals concentrate on the harmful effects of pollutantsbut the influence of other environmental stresses on plant performance is also considered. Interactionsbetween natural environmental stresses and pollutants are covered. Individual topics include theimportance of extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, anaerobiosis and nutrient deficiencies, and plantadaptations to these stresses. The direct action on plants of gaseous pollutants including sulphurdioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone and ammonia is covered, together with effects of wet-depositedsubstances and heavy metals. Other topics include biomonitoring of pollutants, evolution of tolerance,pollution control and global climatic change.

B.3.6 Cellular signalling and neurobiology

PROFESSOR M.B.A. DJAMGOZ, DR S. FRASERAbout 30 lectures, 20 hours practical work. One tutorial and one extensive library-based literature project. The module deals mainly with membrane mechanisms employed by individual cells of the body togenerate signals (electrical or chemical) and to use these in different modes to interact with other cells.Principles and molecular bases of signalling (receptors, second messengers, G-proteins, ion channels,protein kinases/phosphatases, etc.) are covered by reference to a variety of cell types. Emphasis is placed

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upon neuronal signalling and generation of simple, but specific, behavioural patterns. Topics include:sensory transduction; synaptic transmission and plasticity; neuromodulation; neurohormonalcommunication; gap junctions; sensory coding; sensitivity control; adaptation; learning; neuro-gliainteractions; role of ion channels in disease; cell polarity; development.

B.3.7 Molecular plant-microbe interactions

DR R.H.A. COUTTS, DR B. FEYS, PROFESSOR M. BUCK, DR P. SPANUAbout 30 hours lectures, 40 hours practicals and six hours seminars/tutorials. This modole teaches the molecular biological aspects of interactions between micro-organisms andplants. Topics covered include interactions that are beneficial (symbiotic, mycorhizza, nitrogen fixation)and those that are detrimental (plant disease). The module covers molecular features of such plant-microbial interactions. Emphasis will be given to rhizobium/legume interactions, including nodulationand nitrogen fixation; agrobacterium/plant interactions, tumourigenisis and gene vector construction;and a number of virus/host interactions with specific reference to the genome organisation andexpression of the pathogen. Fungal and bacterial diseases of plants will be examined at the tissue, celland molecular levels with emphasis on mechanisms of pathogenicity and of host-parasite specificity andgene expression in plants. Biological control of micro-organisms will also be covered, including crossprotection, hypovirulence and the effects of microbial competition on plant surfaces.

B.3.8 Cellular and molecular parasitology

PROFESSOR A. CRISANTI, PROFESSOR R.E. SINDEN AND INVITED EXTERNAL SPEAKERSAbout 25 lectures with associated seminars and practical work. The module deals with a selected range of examples of parasites and their hosts (mostly man) andintroduces current research in the basic molecular biology and immunology of parasites. State-of-the-artinformation is provided on parasite-host and parasite-vector molecular interactions as well as onparasite-specific metabolic pathways to provide the rationale for the development of anti-parasitic drugs,vaccine, and anti-vector control strategies. The module consists of: i) lectures on selected topics ofgeneral interest; ii) seminars on the biology, epidemiology and vaccine development of some of themajor groups of parasites; iii) practicals to introduce some of the parasite life cycles and their vectors atthe laboratory bench; iv) a dissertation; v) a research project (state of the art, experimental design andmethodology) on a subject chosen among parasitology topics of biological and medical relevance.

B.3.9 Applied ecology

DR S. LEATHER, PROFESSOR D.J. WRIGHT, DR J.D. KNIGHT, DR C.M. COLLINS AND OTHERS About 30 lectures, 30 hours workshops, practicals, tutorials, a visit and a mini-conference. This module highlights the links between theoretical and applied ecology, using examples fromconservation, community ecology, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It emphasises About 25 lectureswith associated seminars and practical work. The module deals with the importance of managed ecosystems in maintaining biodiversity, andillustrates how proper pest management strategies can aid this process. Topics covered include:philosophy and concepts of applied ecology; conservation; history and philosophy of nature reserves;the legal aspects of SSSIs; ways of looking at communities; national vegetation classification; satelliteimagery; multivariate analysis techniques; agro-ecosystems; agricultural practice and objectives; crophistory and evolution; pest incidence; organic farming and its effects on pest incidence, including weeds;forestry and woodland management with particular reference to pest management strategies; habitatcreation and management with particular reference to moorland; pest management and the environmentincluding residues, niche replacement, biocontrol, social and economic effects, predictions andforecasting of pests; the effects of global change on insects; waterways and fisheries.

B.3.10 Evolutionary biology

DR M. CHARALAMBOUS AND OTHERS About 35 lectures plus five in-class problems sets. The module covers topics at the boundaries of current knowledge in some detail, and does not attempt abroad survey. Topics include natural selection and the relationship between population genetics and


evolutionary biology; phylogeny reconstruction and gene genealogies; the evolution of genetic systems(sex, recombination, outcrossing, etc.); selfish genes and intra-genomic conflict; kin selection, includingthe evolution of genomic imprinting; clade selection and cell-lineage selection; human evolution; host-parasite coevolution; speciation; and sex ratio evolution. Some facility with (and enjoyment of ) abstractconcepts will be an asset.

BCH3.21 Integrative Systems Biology

DR X. ZHANG, DR M. STUMPF AND OTHERS36 lectures, 18 hours practicals and 16 hours seminarsModern biology and medicine require an integrated approach to discover and probe at all levels: genes,proteins, cells, and whole organisms. Systems biology is a new field in biology which meets thisrequirement that aims at system-level understanding of biological systems. This course is designed toenable students: to have knowledge and understanding of systems biology; to be able to perform datamining and analysis of complex data; to appreciate the complexity and necessity for an integratedapproach in modern biology and medicine; to understand the principles and applications of differenttechniques, in particularly high throughput technologies; to understand the current development insystems biology and genomics initiatives; to be able to design strategies to dissect an complexbiological/medical problem.

B.3.11 Environmental and industrial microbiology

DR D.J. DICKINSON, DR R.J. MURPHY, DR H.D. WILLIAMS, DR S.A. ARCHER, DR S. COOK, DR B.C. LAMBAND OTHERSAbout 30 lectures and 30 hours practical, seminar and tutorial work. The lectures cover a range of applied microbiological and microbial ecological topics. An introduction tothe principles of microbial ecology, the interactions between micro-organisms both cooperative andcompetitive. Adaptation of micro-organisms to environmental stress, including secondary metabolitesleading to the commercial production of antibiotics. Biodeterioration of natural products by micro-organisms and specifically wood decay to include decay of trees, degradation of timber in man-made andnatural ecosystems. The micromorphology of decay of the wood cell wall and the physiology oflignocellulose-degrading organisms. Prevention of decay and development of wood preservatives. Foodmicrobiology: post-harvest deterioration of crops, food spoilage and its prevention. Use of micro-organisms in food and drink production. Micro-organisms in industrial ecosystems: production of biogas,ethanol; sewage treatment and composting. The use of micro-organisms as vectors for the geneticmanipulation of plants.

B.3.12 Plant and microbial technology

DR R.J. MURPHY, DR S.A. ARCHER, DR D.J. DICKINSON, DR S. COOK, DR B.C. LAMB AND OTHERS 39 lectures, 15 hours practical work and several seminars. This module provides a broad overview of the fields of applied plant science and plant and microbialbiotechnology, coupled with an in-depth study of selected areas where the Department has specialexpertise. The module covers a wide range of modern developments in biotechnology and agriculturalscience, including the use of plants and their tissue cultures in genetic engineering, micro-propagationand the production of pharmaceuticals. It also outlines the various ways in which biological science isbeing used to combat the world’s food and energy problems. These include means to increase primaryproduction, how to reduce losses by weeds and pests, the production of novel foods and how to reducethe unacceptably high energy costs of food production and preservation. There are also sections on themanufacture and use of bio-fuels such as ethanol, rapeseed methyl ester, fuel-wood and the potential forusing lignocellulose to make motor fuel. The commercial uses of timber form an important part of themodule and students learn about the biology of timber production, the mechanical properties of woodand wood-composites, their uses in the construction industry and the means available to prevent theirbiodeterioration.

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B.3.13 Animal behaviour

PROFESSOR R.J. HARDIE, DR J. COOK, PROFESSOR I. OWENS, PROFESSOR R. FOSTER AND OTHERS About 30 lectures, 25 hours practical work, a four and a half-day mini-project (including experimentation,written and oral presentations), with an essay-based tutorial. The module emphasises both the mechanisms involved in and the ecological implications of animalbehaviour. Objective approaches are taken to the measurement and analysis of behaviour with regard tothe changing internal and external environment. The interaction of hormones on behaviour and themechanisms of circadian rhythm are examined. Topics include measuring behaviour, semiochemicals andchemical ecology, how behaviour can be moulded by natural selection (behavioural ecology), learningand memory, circadian clock properties and mechanisms, hormonal effects, genes vs the environmentalbasis of behaviour, modelling behaviour.

B.3.14 Development and evolution of animal form

DR A.M. LEROIAbout 30 lectures and associated practicals, tutorials and seminars. The module considers the major features of animal evolution. Beginning with molecular phylogenies (‘thetree of life’) and bizarre early fossils (from the Ediacara and Burgess Shale), it continues with themolecular genetics of developmental, immune, counter-immune, and sensory systems. While detailedunderstanding of these systems comes from a few ‘model organisms’ (worm, fly, mouse, chick), thepurpose of this module is to examine the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie the diversityof animal form and life history.

B3.19 Epidemiology

DR Y. ZHANG, DR M-G. BASANEZ, PROFESSOR A. FENWICK,DR R.J. STOTHARD, PROFESSOR R.M.ANDERSON AND OTHERSAbout 25 lectures, 40 hours practicals, tutorials and fieldwork.The module provides a deeper insight into the population biology, transmission dynamics and molecularevolution of human parasites and pathogens. It highlights the roles that genetics, evolution, populationecology and parasitology play in understanding the epidemiology and control of the diseases theseagents cause in human (and animal) populations. The module builds from the basic essentials of thesubject to some of its more recent advances (from diagnostic methodologies to computer simulationmodels) to help students develop independent scientific thought and critical ability.

B.3.15 Applied genetics DR B.C. LAMB About 26 lectures, 50 hours practicals, problems, slide shows and tutorials, a plant-breeding video plus aseminar on human diversity. The main fields covered are: plant and animal breeding and genetics; human genetics; quantitativeinheritance; genetics of industrially important fungi. Details include: the types, methods andconsequences of natural, artificial and agricultural selection; inbreeding and outbreeding; hybrid vigour;pedigree breeding and progeny testing; disease-resistance transfer; karyotype analysis and chromosomalmanipulations; aneuploidy and polyploidy; special breeding methods; genetic engineering; reproductivephysiology and artificial insemination; agricultural economics and breeding programmes. Use oftransgenic plants and animals. Human chromosomal disorders, inherited diseases and susceptibility;genetic counselling and gene therapy; human mutations, population genetics and pedigree analysis.Polygenic inheritance; genetic regression and transgression; effects on allele frequencies of genetic drift,selection, mutation, migration and inbreeding; polymorphism; gene flow; heritability. Genetic analysis ofyeasts, penicilli, aspergilli; fungal strain improvement and selection for industry.

B.3.16 Advanced topics in molecular, cell and immunobiologyDR T. HUSSELL, DR XIAODONG ZANG, PROFESSOR M.A. DALLMAN, DR M. TRISTEMAbout 30 lectures and 40 hours practicals, seminars and tutorials. This module builds on the fundamentals covered in the second year molecular and cell biology course. It


focuses in depth on selected areas of topical interest so as to bring the students up to date with some ofthe most recent and exciting advances in our understanding of how cells and organisms function at themolecular level. The areas covered range from current research on the control of bacterial geneexpression to our understanding of the molecular basis for human disease and the prospects for genetherapy. The accompanying practicals provide students with hands-on experience of techniquesemployed in research.

B.3.17 Biodiversity and conservation biologyPROFESSOR A. PURVIS, DR T. COULSON AND OTHERS About 30 lectures, 30 hours workshops, practicals and tutorials, and a day at Kew Gardens. The module provides an overview of what biodiversity is, how it has evolved, and how biologicalknowledge and theory can be used to help conserve it in the fact of human activities. The overview iscoupled with a more detailed examination of several currently active research areas and with casestudies from a range of taxa and habitats, permitting assessment of the theory’s usefulness toconservation. Topics include speciation, radiation, escalation, rarity, extinction, current and past massextinctions, measurement of biodiversity, geographic and phylogenetic distribution of iodiversity,biogeography, island biogeography, over-exploitation, economics of conservation, units of conservation,conservation genetics, population viability analysis, assessing extinction risk, correlates of extinctionrisk, priority-setting, in situ vs ex situ conservation, restoration ecology, nature reserve design andlocation, biodiversity and ecosystem function, global change, and conservation and development. Thereare two pieces of assessed coursework, preparing an encyclopaedia article on the evolution of a clade oftheir choice, and working in pairs to produce a conservation action plan for a species of their choice.

B3.18 Advanced topics in neuroscience researchDR A. MATHIE, PROFESSOR N. FRANKS, DR S. BRICKLEYAbout 25 lectures and 20 hours practicals, tutorials, poster and discussion sessions.The module shows how some of the basic concepts and principles of biophysics are applied to themammalian nervous system to gain an understanding of how neurons function. It shows how thisinformation can be utilised to aid understanding of complex neuronal processing with relevance tohuman health, including pain, learning and memory.

B.3.20 Supervised research project An individual research project, in any approved field in the life sciences. The work will be supervised by amember of the academic staff with experience in the field or (if approved by the project coordinator) by ascientist of equivalent standing in an outside organisation.

Undergraduate courses at Wye campusApplied Business Management is a mainstream business management degree which covers key areas ofmanagement. This includes accounting, financial planning, marketing, corporate strategy, organisationalbehaviour, law and economics. The food industry is used as the main source of case materials to enablestudents to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the largest single industry in the UK.

To qualify for entry an intending student must have satisfied the general university entrancerequirements and the individual course requirements in terms of passes at A level in the GCE examination,or in the required combination of A level and AS level subjects, or Scottish Highers, International andEuropean Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications in appropriate subjects. Please refer to the section onConditions of Admission in the Undergraduate Prospectus online at www.imperial.ac.uk/P2729.htm#4.

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BSc/MSci in Applied Business Management, Applied Business Management with aYear in Industry

FIRST YEAR

AGS1.1 Economics

PROFESSOR R.W. FRASER30 lectures, 10 practicals.This module develops an understanding of the principles of economics and give students the confidenceto see how these principles can help them understand the current macro-economic policy debate and howthey may be applied to common micro-economic situations they will meet in life.

AGS1.2 Principles of marketing and management

DR J. HADDOCK44 lectures. This module covers marketing, its role in business and the environment in which it operates. It illustratesthe principles of segmentation, targeting and positioning and the components of the marketing mix. Itestablishes a framework for analysing business problems and identifying practical solutions. It examinesthe forces shaping the modern business organisation and illustrates the multidisciplinary nature ofmarketing and management tools and information. The course contextualises the functions of theorganisation and the role of planning and strategy from a corporate perspective.

AGS1.4 Humanities/languages

H01 PhilosophyMR G. ARTUSPhilosophy is the search for answers to fundamental questions such as: Who am I? How is my identitydefined: by my body or my mind? What is knowledge? How can we be certain of anything? Does God exist?What is the relation between mind and body? Are we free? What is the right thing for me to do? What isjustice? Can it ever be right to kill? This course will examine the answers given to these and relatedquestions by thinkers such as Descartes, Kant and Hume. As well as reading and interpreting texts, we willconstruct and deconstruct arguments and engage in philosophical discussions.

ML03 French level 3

MRS A. DEAKINThe module is for those who have passed French with at least grade C at GCSE or who can show a similarlevel of attainment. (Students who have studied French to AS or A level are ineligible for this class andshould enrol for a higher level.) The module revises and consolidates work done up to GCSE, and thenextends the ability of students to understand, speak and write idiomatic French.

ML04 French level 4See year 2.

ML41 Spanish level 1

MRS C. LYMA-YOUNGThis course is intended to give a firm grasp of the language to complete beginners. The culturalcomponent of this course concentrates on Spain itself. The four skills of reading, writing, speaking andlistening are developed equally. The cultural component focuses mainly on Spanish American studies.

ML42 Spanish level 2See year 2.


AGS1.10 Environmental management for business

DR J. HADDOCK50 lectures.This introduces the main concepts of environmental analysis relating to the business environment anddevelops an appreciation of the major factors influencing corporate decision-making on environmentalissues.

AGS1.12 Ecology and biogeographyDR J. MITCHLEY40 lectures, 15 hours fieldwork.This introduces fundamental and ecological concepts, the factors affecting the geographical distribution ofplant and animal species, and the factors determining population sizes, community composition andecosystem function.

AGS1.20 Current issues in business management and the environment

MR N. WILLIAMS50 lectures/seminars/practicals.Course introduction and approaches to learning skills, presentations and assessment.Staff lectures and seminars on current issues in business and the environmentUsing and reviewing academic literatureThe use of IT in the modelling of business decisionsDecision making under uncertainty – business gameIntroduction to law and the legal system

AGS1.21 Mathematics for Business ManagementMS A. DEDMAN25 lectures, 25 practicals.Basic mathematics and mathematical relationshipsFractions, decimals, percentages, powers of numbers.Co-ordinates and graphs. Solving equations graphically. The straight line – intercept and slope. Quadratic and cubic equations. Roots. Formula for the roots of a quadratic equation. Algebra,arithmetic and geometric progressions.Calculus – differentiation, integration, economic applications.MatricesMatrices and matrix manipulation.ModellingThe time value of money – interest, depreciation, present value, internal rate of return, incrementalpayments, Annual Percentage Rate.Linear programming.Networks – notation and construction, critical path analysis, Gantt charts, project time reduction.

AGS1.22 Statistics for Business ManagementMS A. DEDMAN25 lectures, 25 practicals.Descriptive statisticsMeasures of location – mean, median, mode,other measures of location.Measures of dispersion – standard deviation, other measures of dispersion, relative measures ofdispersion, variability in sample data.Index numbers – interpretation, construction, weighting, the Retail Price Index.

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Measuring uncertaintyProbability – basic concepts, probability trees, expected values, decision trees, Bayes'Theorem, Markovchains.Discrete probability distributions – uniform, Binomial, Poisson distributions, Poisson approximation tothe binomial, the normal distribution.Statistical inferenceConfidence intervals – for the population mean, for a population percentage, the difference betweenindependent sample, the t-distribution.Significance testing – using confidence intervals, hypothesis testing.Non-parametric tests.Relating variables and predicting outcomesTime series analysis.Correlation and regression.

SECOND YEAR

BSc in Animal Science, Animal Science (Equine), Environmental Biology, Plant BiologyBSc/MSci in Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural Science, BusinessManagement (Equine), Applied Business Management, Applied Business Managementwith a Year in Industry, Environmental Management, Environmental Science

AGS2.1 Accounting and finance

MS A. DEDMAN52 lecturesThis module presents the major forms of business organisation, and their impact on the presentation offinancial accounting information. It explains the structure and function of key financial accountingdocuments and provides a thorough understanding of the techniques available for the interpretation offinancial statements, principles of taxation and tax system.

AGS2.2 Business planning

MR N. WILLIAMS50 lecturesThis introduces and provides practice in a range of business planning techniques. It gives an insight intothe principles of micro-economic theory to assist business decision making. Topics covered includemanagement accounting (including costing systems, absorption and marginal costing, budgetary andvariance analysis) and investment appraisal.

AGS2.3 Applied economics

DR A. BAILEY37 lectures, 9 seminars/tutorials.This develops the principles of micro-economics introduced in the first year and applies them tomanagement problems. Students discuss the concepts of micro-economic theory and relate these tomanagement problems and the business environment as well as understand the assumptions and basictheories of choice, production, prices and markets.

AGS2.5 Business law

MRS J. BOUGH26 lectures, 26 seminars/tutorials.This module explains how the English legal system operates and how laws are made. It examines thelegal rules governing contracts generally and the specialised provisions relating to contracts for goodsand services. It considers some of the legal protections available to consumers. It identifies thesituations in which actions may be brought for negligence and nuisance.


AGS2.6 Humanities/languages

ML03 French level 3See year 1.

ML04 French level 4MRS D. DEAKINThis is for students who have already followed French level 3 and also for those who have taken AS levelFrench at school. The module develops the language work done in the previous year and also includessome study of modern French history and institutions.

ML41 Spanish level 1See year 1.

ML42 Spanish level 2MRS C. LYMA-YOUNGThis continues the work of Spanish level 1. It would also be suitable for students who have reachedapproximately the level of GCSE, at least Grade C. The cultural component focuses mainly on LatinAmerican studies.

AGS2.7 (H13) Humanities—Communicating science: the public and the media

MS A. BELLThere are two components to the module. One is to gain an insight into the cultural dimension of the wayin which science is communicated: what is the framework in which science operates? What is therelationship between the scientist, the media and the audience for science? The second component is theacquisition of skills. By improving the ways in which we present science, we can greatly enhance ourpersonal and professional competence as communicators. The course looks at how we define and cater fordifferent audiences and examines strategies for communicating more effectively. We engage with some ofthe key concepts in the sociology of science through reading and interrogating primary sources. There arealso a number of assignments that give students the opportunity to practise writing and speaking for anon-technical audience. Most classes include a mix of formal lectures, class exercises based on topicalissues, and informal discussion. Students are expected to be up to date with coverage of science in themedia, including the popular press and magazines such as New Scientist. It is essential that students havea good grasp of communicating in English—this is not a remedial writing or speaking course.

AGS2.7 (H06) Humanities—Politics and international relationsDR. E. KURTULUSThis course is an introduction not only to issues about government and political and administrativesystems but also to the main strands of political thought. Students will be introduced to the history ofpolitical thought, and the thinking and policies of political parties and movements in the twentieth century.The course will also look at the nature and workings of national and international political andgovernmental systems, in particular those of the USA, Britain, Japan, France and the United Nations, NATO,the European Union and the Warsaw Pact.

AGS2.8 Biology and control of pests and diseases

DR G. POWELL20 lectures, 40 hours practicals.This module introduces agricultural entomology and options for pest control. The general biology and lifecycles of beneficial insects and pests of extensive and intensive crop production. Damage assessment andthe control options for crop pests, using biological control, pesticides and integrated pest management.An introduction to the major pesticide groups and methods of application.

AGS2.9 Soils, plants and environment

DR H. COOK22 lectures, 28 hours laboratory work/fieldwork.An introduction to soils. Soil fertility and the mechanisms by which soils supply nutrients and water for

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plant growth, describe nutrient cycling at plot, (agro)ecosystem, landscape and global scales. Review ofbelow-ground food webs and the biodiversity of soil organisms, the concept of sustainability in relation toland degradation, the role of soils as sources and sinks of environmental pollution. Approaches to soilanalysis and the potential and limitations of computer-based soil-plant models to assess sustainability andenvironmental impact.

AGS2.11 Environmental politics, policy and law

MRS J. BOUGH44 lectures, 12 seminars/tutorials.This module introduces international legal and policy frameworks relating to the environment. Itinterrogates the concept of sustainable development and explore the history of its institutionaldevelopment. The range of values and ethical positions people hold in relation to the environment. Theprocesses of environmental policy formulation and implementation.

AGS2.13 Reproductive physiology

DR L. CLARK30 lectures, 10 seminars/tutorials, 10 hours laboratory work/fieldwork.Concepts of reproductive physiology of mammals and birds with particular reference to domestic animalsand horses. Comparative reproduction. Pregnancy, parturition, lactation and neonatal management. Howthe breeding cycle can be manipulated and managed. The commercial aspects of reproductionmanagement. New themes of current scientific interest.

AGS2.14 Digestive physiology and nutrition

DR P. DODDS30 lectures, 12 seminars.The physiological and biochemical bases of nutrition and digestion. The similarities and contrastsbetween non-ruminants, ruminants and equines. Control mechanisms that determine food consumptionand feeding behaviour.

AGS2.15 Hydrology and water resources/policy

DR H. COOK33 lectures, 16 hours fieldworkThe following topics are covered: the hydrological cycle and its operation on land; basic water chemistry;the structure, operation and regulation of the water industry in England and Wales; the importance ofwater conservation measures in land management; how organic material in waste waters may be treated;the role of the water cycle in the transmission of human and animal disease; key issues in global waterconsumption and quality.

AGS2.16 Animal production science I

DR L. CLARK30 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials.Growth and development: the growth of farm animals and its control by hormonal and nutritionalfactors; the development of the major body tissues and factors influencing it. Foetal programming.Environment: domestication. Reaction of farm animals to the physical envirobnment. Genetic andphysiological adaptation, acclimatisation. Adaptation to stress. Principles of animal housing.Genetics: Genetic principles. Variation and its importance. Definition of of genetic parameters.Selection in populations, response to selection.Nutrition: the importance of nutrition for the productivity and health of the animal. Evaluating fees.Assessing dietary requirements. Ruminant and non-ruminant diets.Animal products: composition of milk, eggs and meat, and how they can be manipulated. Value inhuman nutrition. Nutritional aspects of feed processing.


AGS2.17 Environmental monitoring

DR J. ROSSITER20 lectures, 34 hours laboratory work/fieldwork.An appreciation of the theory and limitations of environmental monitoring covering aspects of chemical,physical and biological monitoring methods. Methods of sampling and population monitoring. The use ofanimals, plants and microbial indicator species in pollution monitoring and control. Chemical speciationand its measurement and the recent development of biochemistry-based analytical methods (biosensors)applied to environmental monitoring. Environmental control methodology with reference to national andinternational legal requirements and industrial standards.

AGS2.18 Ecology

DR J. MITCHLEY34 lectures, 15 hours laboratory work/fieldwork.How populations grow in size, whether and when their numbers equilibrate, what factors causepopulations to grow and decline, and how this may be used to manage species abundance. Topicscovered include: intra- and inter-specific competition and population regulation, role of herbivores andpredation in regulating population sizes, life tables and key factor analysis, species diversity andecosystem function, impact of herbivores on plant community dynamics, applied issues: methods forcontrolling weed populations, harvesting theory applied to marine fisheries and grasslands,mathematical models for understanding population dynamics.

AGS2.19 Biochemistry II

DR P. DODDS66 lectures, 40 hours laboratory/fieldwork.This module completes the coverage of main-stream biochemistry, begun in the first year. It includes thebiochemistry of nucleic acids and protein synthesis, enzyme kinetics, lipid metabolism, membranestructure and function, electron transport in mitochondria and chloroplasts, several aspects ofbiochemical methodology and integration of metabolism. It provides opportunities for problem-solving ina practical laboratory. An introduction to experimental design and to a number of advanced experimentaltechniques through lecture, demonstration and hands-on practical work.

AGS2.20 Biology of disease

DR R. GEERING42 lectures, 7 seminars/tutorials.Introduction to the concept of disease; the range of agents infecting animals, particularly domesticanimals; the effects of disease producing agents in their host and the productivity of domestic animals,developing an understanding of the adaptations to disease.

AGS2.21 Molecular biology

DR C. AINSWORTH20 lectures, 33 hours laboratory work/fieldwork.Basic gene cloning, sequencing, restriction enzymes, ligation and plasmids as vectors. Cloning eukaryoticgenes, genomic libraries, cDNA libraries and screening. Genome organisation and complexity; types ofrepeated sequence. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene structure and expression. Transformation ofanimals and plants. PCR and applications. DNA fingerprinting.

AGS2.22 Environmental plant physiology

DR C. TURNBULL26 lectures, 24 hours laboratory/fieldwork.Intermediate level understanding of key themes in plant development and agricultural sciences includingmolecular, cellular and whole plant perspectives. Focus is on signal transduction processes, and thespecific molecular and physiological elements that contribute to hormones andenvironmental control ofplant form. Critical experimentation design is emphasised.

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AGS2.23 Literature review

DR I.J. LEAN50 hours project.Development of a topic relevant to each student’s degree pathway: students abstract, analyse andinterpret literature and combine all earlier experience with IT resources in the presentation of a formal report.

AGS2.24 Biology of crop plants

DR C. TURNBILL27 lectures, 30 hours practicals/fieldwork.Basics of plant structure and development from organs through tissues to cells. The physiology of plantdevelopment; role of light; plant hormones. Fundamental processes in crop plants: photosynthesis,water relations of cells, tissues and whole plant; transport of photoassimilates around plants, plantmineral nutrition. Integrating knowledge of plant physiology and function to the agronomy of temperatecrops.

AGS2.25 Marketing research techniques

DR M. GARCIA22 lectures, 22 practicals.The module provides students with a working knowledge of the concepts and methods of qualitative andquantitative market research. It introduces the core functions of the statistical package for the socialsciences (SPSS) in the context of univariate and bivariate analysis of metric and non-metric survey dataand provides practical experience in applying qualitative and quantitative marketing research techniquesto management problems.

THIRD AND FINAL YEAR

BSc in Animal Science, Animal Science (Equine), Environmental Biology, Plant Biology,Business Studies, International Business, Business and the Environment, FoodMarketingBSc/MSci in Agricultural Business Management, Agricultural Science, BusinessManagement (Equine), Applied Business Management, Applied Business Managementwith a Year in Industry, Environmental Management, Environmental Science

AGS3.1 Human resource management

MRS J. BOUGH25 lectures, 25 seminars/tutorials.The legal framework governing employment. The role of human resources management (HRM) withinorganisations. Theories regarding the roles of personnel specialists and line managers and criticalanalysis of theories relating to communication within organisations, as well as leadership andmanagement roles. Theories relating to methods of selection, motivation training, appraisal and paymentpolicies and ways to implement change. It enhances student understanding of academic methods ofenquiry and how theories can be related to practice.

AGS3.2 Financial management

MS A. DEDMAN25 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials, 5 practicals.The key issues in corporate financial management. The module introduces alternative financialinstruments for optimising investment returns. It provides an overview of financing alternatives forcorporate borrowing and an introduction to the financial markets and simple trading strategies as well asan awareness of current issues in financial markets.


AGS3.3 Business information systems

MR N. WILLIAMS30 lectures, 5 seminars, 15 hours workstation.A critical appraisal of the fundamental role of information in business decision-making. The importantcontribution decision support systems make to business performance. The key elements of design andconstruction of a decision support system, using Microsoft Excel. Data analysis, optimisation techniquesand decision theory.

AGS3.4 Business management in practice I (case studies)

MR N. WILLIAMS30 seminars, 20 hours workstation.The module integrates the elements of the various business functions to gain a thorough understandingof how general management should approach business issues; develops skills in problem identificationand definition; evaluates and critically analyses business situations and financial data; prepares andappraises business plans; improves skills in: structured information gathering, report writing, verbalpresentation, spreadsheet analysis and word processing.

AGS3.5 Business management in practice II (project)

DR A. BAILEY10 seminars/tutorials.Preparation of business plan/report. The plan/report must include a significant amount of primary datacollected and analysed by the student. Appropriate analytical techniques must be used.

AGS3.7 Business economics

DR N. POOLE40 lectures, 6 seminars/tutorials.The economics of the organisation and performance of market systems at the meso-economic level. Theapproach is based on industrial organisation theory, and explores the underlying basic conditions ofsupply and demand which affect market structure, conduct and performance, and the inter-relationshipbetween business and public policy, with a specific focus on competition policy.

AGS3.8 Biodiversity conservation

DR J. MITCHLEY20 lectures, 20 seminars, 10 hours fieldwork.Biodiversity in terms of genetic, species and ecosystem levels. The major patterns and trends indistribution of global biodiversity; the key threats to biodiversity and the roles in in situ, conservation andecological restoration for the conservation of biodiversity, The main legislation governing biodiversityconservation and the key strategies for planning action for conservation at global, regional and locallevels.

AGS3.9 Forestry resources and management

DR P. BUCKLEY28 lectures, 5 seminars, 17 hours fieldwork.Review of world forest types and resources and the impact of deforestation/afforestation. An overview ofcommercial forestry and sylvicultural practice. Ecosystem functioning in managed forests and naturalforests: global and local environmental interactions and non-forest production issues, integrated withthose of commercial production.

AGS3.10 Crop production

DR A. FERGUSON30 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials, 6 hours field trips.The physiology and agronomy of major forage, grain, root and tuber crops in temperate agriculture.The agronomy and uses of ‘minor’ and ‘alternative’ crops.

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The major management systems for arable crops.Regulation of crop production practices within the legal framework.

AGS3.11 Environmental physiology and ethology

DR L. CLARK25 lectures, 10 seminars/tutorials, 4 hours laboratory/fieldwork.The responses of farm animals to temperature and other factors in their environment.The anatomical basis of responses to environmental factors.The elements of farm animal behaviour and how it is studied.The anatomical basis of animal behaviour.The role of ethology in current issues such as animal welfare.The relevance and application of these topics to animal production.Critical review of a range of research published in relevant scientific journals.

AGS3.12 Animal breeding

DR L.CLARK30 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials.Genetic variation in domestic livestock. The relevance of molecular and cell genetics in animal systems.Genetic variation in populations and the effects of mutation, selection and genetic drift. Basic aspects ofpolygenic inheritance. The role of natural and artificial selection in causing genetic change. Change ofgene frequency in small populations; pedigree populations and close inbreeding. Concept of continuousvariation; population mean, average effect, breeding value, dominance and interaction deviations.Partition of phenotypic variance. Heritability and the resemblance between relatives. Selection methodsand expected responses. Inbreeding and crossbreeding – heterosis. Application of molecular genetics tolivestock breeding. Current objectives in farm livestock improvement.

AGS3.13 Critical issues

DR I.J. LEAN40 lectures/seminars.An in-depth awareness of some critical issues in agriculture, environment and bioscience.

AGS3.14 Research project

DR. I.J. LEAN20 lectures/seminarsAn opportunity for third year students to undertake a piece of academic research which theysubsequently present in both written and oral format.

AGS3.15 Environmental pollution and health

DR A. BECK24 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials.The occurrence of chemical pollutants in soils, air, water and food. Selected legislative procedures for thecontrol of environmental pollution. The behaviour of chemical contaminants in soils, water and air andthe impacts of environmental contaminants on wildlife and human health.

AGS3.16 Environmental and applied microbiologyPROFESSOR N. RUSSELL30 lectures, 18 hours laboratory work.The role of microorganisms in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and harnessing these cycles topollution control via waste treatment – anaerobic and aerobic treatment of solids and liquids. Theapplication of microorganisms for bioremediation of polluted environments – soil, water and air.Environmental public health measures preventing the spread of microbial contamination in food, waterand soil. Food-poisoning bacteria and food safety from the aspects of traditional and new methods orpreservation, food production and processing in relation to bacterial properties.


AGS3.17 Plant-microbe interactions

PROFESSOR J. MANSFIELD25 lectures, 5 seminars, 20 hours laboratory work.This module develops awareness of the latest research findings on the biochemical mechanisms ofdisease resistance (to bacteria, fungi and viruses), and introduces techniques of cell biology applied toplant-microbe interactions. Comparisons are drawn between symbiotic and parasitic relationships. Theapplication of molecular genetics to the subject and the practical application of genetically modifiedcrops are discussed.

AGS3.18 Plant-insect interactions

DR G. POWELL20 lectures, 3 seminars, 20 hours laboratory work.A research-led view on the inter-relationships of plants and insects (i) how phytophagous insects exploit and manipulate plants(ii) the sensory and behavioural mechanisms by which insects respond to plants(iii) the physiological mechanisms by which plants respond to insects(iv) the evolution of plant-insect relationships(v) the partnerships that exist between insects and flowers.The module also illustrates the role of plant secondary metabolites in plant-insect interactions and theimportance of plant signalling in tritrophic interactions.

AGS3.19 Physiological biochemistry

DR P. DODDS52 lectures/seminars.Selected aspects of the biochemistry of transmitters, receptors and signal transduction pathways; thetransport of lipids; the biochemistry of selected tissues (adipose, lactating mammary gland). Topics arecovered in depth, approaching ‘research level’ and students undertake an in-depth study of a singlerelevant topic of their own choosing.

AGS3.20 Animal production science II

PROFESSOR M. LOMAX30 lectures, 20 seminars/tutorials.A critical understanding of the scientific principles which form the basis for modern animal production.Expansion of topics covered elsewhere by providing the opportunity to discuss current methods andissues. Topics include management strategies for dairy cattle, sheep and pigs, grazing management andforage utilisation for ruminants, and methods of carcase assessment and factors affecting meat quality.Refinement of research and communications skills through a range of teaching methods, includingseminars, tutorials, essays and group work.

AGS3.21 Plant cell biology and development

DR A. GRABOV25 lectures, 25 hours laboratory work.Plant cell physiology and development on molecular and cellular level. Signalling events and othercellular processes underlying plant development. Molecular-genetic aspects of hormonal signalling andpattern formation in plants.

AGS3.22 Molecular technology for plants and animals

DR M. GRANT22 lectures, 40 hours laboratory work.This module expands upon the general molecular biology knowledge developed in AGS2.21 (MolecularBiology) to address key technologies relevant to plant and animal biology. It is applicable to studentsfrom both animal and plant disciplines, providing an introduction to the constantly evolving technologiesin molecular biology and functional genomics, including bioinformatics.

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AGS3.23 Equine exercise physiology

MR R. GEERING48 lectures,/seminars/tutorials.Muscular, skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular responses to exercise and training. Aspects ofphysiological stress and fatigue. Thermoregulation. Exercise testing and indicators of performance.Basic biomechanics. Feeding for performance.

AGS3.24 Current topics in equine science

MR R. GEERING40 lectures/seminars/practicals.The module develops an in-depth awareness of some current issues in equine science by literatureresearch, lectures and practical examination: the health and welfare problems facing the equine industrytoday and the problems it may face in the future; equine physiology and behaviour; horse locomotion.Students research the literature and provide an in-depth review of an area of equine research both as anoral presentation and written report.

AGS3.25 Year in industry (Applied Business Management only)

MRS J. BOUGH5 seminars/tutorials.The placement provides students with the opportunity to develop practical business management skillsin a working environment. Students’ research, analytical and reporting skills are also developed by thepreparation of an appropriate placement project.

AGS3.26 Statistics and econometrics

DR K. BALCOMBE40 lectures.Review of algebra including differentiation and unconstrained optimisation; constrained optimisation andintegration. Probability distributions; data summary; t-tests; non-parametrics and contingency tables.Regression. Introduction to econometrics; statistical review; the classical linear regression model;hypothesis testing; the multiple regression model; dummy variables; linear parameter restrictions;heteroscedasticity; serial correlation.

AGS3.27 International marketingDR J. HADDOCK50 lecturesAn Introduction to International Marketing: defining international marketing; the importance ofinternational marketing; different types of international marketingA Strategic International Marketing Plan: the strategic international marketing planning process;activities involved in strategic international marketing process; problems associated with internationalmarketing planningInternational Marketing Audit: how a systematic audit should be carried out; how to analyse the mainmacro dimensions of the environment: economic, socio and cultural, political and legal, technological.Researching International Markets: international marketing information systems (IMIS; the marketresearch process.International Target Market Selection: international marketing segmentation; targeting; positioning.Market Entry Strategy: indirect exporting; direct exporting; foreign production.International Product Management: basic concepts; product portfolio management; quality management;brand management.International Pricing Decisions: international pricing policy; factors influencing international pricing; pricestandardisation and adaptation.International Communication Decisions: international advertising and branding; sales promotion;sponsoring and direct market communication.International Logistical and Channel Decisions: channel objectives and constraints; selection of channelmembers; managing channel relationships.


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