| Unit name | Synaptic Cell Biology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHPH30022 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Molnar |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
This Unit will concentrate on molecular and cell biological research approaches to neuroscience, and how this has contributed to important advances in the field. The topics covered will focus on cell signalling mechanisms in the central nervous system (CNS). These processes will be studied in the contexts of synaptic plasticity and neurological disorders. The unit aims to develop an understanding of molecular and cellular events involved in dynamic regulation of information transfer in the CNS:
• classification, structure, function and regulation of neurotransmitter receptors
• glutamate receptor trafficking, with a focus on receptor subunit assembly, phosphorylation/de-phosphorylation and interacting regulatory proteins
• structural plasticity of synapses
• genetic aspects of synaptic function.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:
Seminars
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will have the opportunity to do one essay (Section A) and one data handling/data interpretation/experimental design (Section B) assessment during the year. The assessments will be offered from different units depending which programme you are on. This assessment is formative and you will receive feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The unit will be assessed through a timed assessment in May/June, which contributes 100% of the unit mark and consists of two sections. In Section A (50%), you will be expected to answer one essay question from a choice of three, which will assess your knowledge and critical understanding of the field, and your ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature. In Section B (50%), you will be expected to answer one multi-part compulsory question assessing data handling/data interpretation and experimental design skills.
When assessment does not go to plan:
The re-assessment task for the timed assessment will be in the same format as the initial timed assessment. In Section A (50%), students will be expected to answer one essay question from a choice of three, which will assess your knowledge and critical understanding of the field, and your ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature. In Section B (50%), students will be expected to answer one multi-part compulsory question assessing data handling/data interpretation and experimental design skills.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHPH30022).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
