CH5614 Chemical Biology

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

10

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 11

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.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

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

Module coordinator

Prof N J Westwood

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

Module Staff

Prof N J Westwood

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 will examine new methodologies for drug discovery. An overview of the processes of target discovery, lead discovery and lead optimisation will be given. The use of structural biology (protein crystallography, NMR), computational chemistry and combinatorial chemistry in 'rational drug design' will be described. The module will look at the technologies behind combinatorial library design, synthesis and high throughput screening. Broad and focused libraries will be discussed. Several examples will be explored, such as the development of drugs against AIDS and influenza.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST ( PASS 1 MODULE FROM {CH2601, CH2603} AND PASS AT LEAST 1 MODULE FROM {CH2501, CH2701} ) OR ( PASS 2 MODULES FROM {CH2501, CH2701} AND PASS CH1601 OR PASS CH1202 )

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Re-assessment

Oral Re-assessment = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 - 3 lectures per week over 9 - 10 weeks (within Weeks 1-11) and 2 - 3 tutorials in total.

Scheduled learning hours

20

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

Guided independent study hours

80

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Students able to discuss what is meant by the term chemical biology
  • Students able to discuss key components of chemical biology projects
  • Students able to provide literature examples of the use of synthetic chemistry in the context of chemical biology
  • Students able to provide literature examples of other aspects of chemical biology in addition to synthesis
  • Students develop skills in critically reading chemical biology research papers
  • Students able to identify interdisciplinarity in research