BL3315 Genes, Cells and Development

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Lectures: 11.00 am Mon, Tue and Wed; Practicals: to be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof D E K Ferrier

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Team taught

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module deals with the fascinating and rapidly changing field of developmental biology from a genetic and cellular perspective. It examines how an organism develops from an egg to an adult, how the cell types and organs are specified, and how lost or damaged body parts can be regenerated or replaced. There will be a focus on some of the typical model species used in cell and developmental biology, including fruit flies, nematodes, mice and frogs, but this will be expanded to include other valuable comparative models, such as chickens, sea squirts, annelids, cnidarians and flatworms. The course will encompass multiple biological levels, from genes, through cells and embryos, to the organism's evolutionary history. As such this module is of wide relevance to a range of other biological disciplines, particularly biomedicine.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS 2 MODULES FROM {BL2301, BL2302, BL2304, BL2308}

Assessment pattern

Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x 1-hour lectures ( x11 weeks) and 2 x 15-hour practicals, split over several days, during the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

63

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

137

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.