Accessibility statement

Cell Biology - BIO00011I

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Nia Bryant
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

The cell is the fundmental unit of life. Knowledge of processes within cells and how they respond to extracellular signals is critical for understanding how organisms function. We will study topics such as the cytoskeleton, cell signalling, cell motility, cell adhesion, apoptosis and membrane trafficking. Throughout the module we will discuss how defects in the regulation of cell biological processes underpins a variety of disease states. The module assessment includes problem solving, data interpretation and experimental design, and developing these skills will be supported by workshop and practical sessions.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module aims to provide molecular understanding of core topics central to eukaryotic cell biology. Students will also receive training in problem solving skills, data analysis and experimental design.

Module learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this module will be able to:

Describe the basic architecture of eukaryotic cells, including structure and function of key components.

Describe regulatory mechanisms that allow cells to respond to changes in their environment.

Design experimental strategies to investigate cell biological processes

Solve problems relating to cell biological processes in health and disease

Analyse and interpret experimental data

Integrate concepts from across the module to explain higher order cell function

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Cell Biology		 6 hours 100

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled)
Cell Biology		 6 hours 100

Module feedback

Marks for all summative assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Feedback will be either individual or cohort-level, depending on the assessment format. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

For exam-style summative assessment, model answers will be provided for all questions along with cohort-level feedback indicating how students answered questions in general. Marks achieved per question will be added to your script.

For coursework assessments (eg. reports or essays) you will receive individual feedback on your work. This will usually be in the form of a feedback sheet that will include suggestions for further improvement.

During the teaching of the module you will receive formative feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Such feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.

Indicative reading

These are available through the VLE module site.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.