Unit information: Energy and Motion in Cells in 2014/15

Unit name	Energy and Motion in Cells
Unit code	BIOC20202
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Jo Adams
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	BIOC20201
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Biochemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The unit will develop material introduced in the Level C/4 unit, Biochemistry 1G, and cover how cells extract energy from their surroundings, how they utilise cellular energy to power molecular motors and the movement of molecules around the cell and how molecular motors are used in cell movement and reorganisation. The teaching in the unit is delivered through lectures and is supported by practical sessions, problems workshops, and directed-self education.

The unit aims to develop an understanding the following areas:

Element 1. Powering Biological Systems

• Energy in Biology and the concepts of Gibbs free energy and redox potentials

• Photosynthesis in plants and bacteria

• Mitochondria and the production of ATP

• The generation and detoxification of reactive oxygen species

Element 2. Molecules in Motion

• Movement of molecules across membranes via transporter proteins

• Movement of ions through channels

• The ATPase and other molecular motors

Element 3. Cellular Organisation II

• Cytoskeletal dynamics

• The extracellular matrix

• Cell division and migration

The units aims to develop the following skills:

• Competency in a number of biochemical techniques in the practical laboratory

• Numeracy and the ability to complete calculations based on bioenergetics and redox potentials

• The ability to research and present a particular area of Biochemistry in written form.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Knowledge and understanding how cells extract energy from their surroundings to form ATP.
2. Knowledge and understanding of how ATP is used to power molecular motors and the movement of molecules across membranes and within the cell.
3. Knowledge and understanding of the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton and how it is involved in cell shape and cell movement.
4. The ability to perform biochemical calculations based on bioenergetics and redox potentials.
5. Knowledge and understanding of the techniques used in the practical sessions.
6. The ability to research a specific biochemical topic using textbooks and the scientific literature and to present their findings in a written format.

Teaching Information

Lectures

Problems workshops

Practicals

Assessment Information

The overall mark for the unit will be determined as follows:

• Assessed essay (1500 word limit) (10%)

• Practicals (written laboratory reports) (10%)

• 3 hour summative end of unit examination consisting MCQs, calculation questions and essays (80%)

Opportunities for formative feedback will be available on the practical reports, assessed essays and workshop material.

Learning outcomes 1-3 will primarily assessed through the 3 hour summative assessment.

Learning outcome 4 will be assessed in the summative examination, written laboratory reports and workshop homework.

Learning outcome 5 will be assessed through the written laboratory reports.

Learning outcome 6 will be assessed through the assessed essay.

Students achieving an overall mark for the unit between 30 and 39% will be awarded credit points if they satisfy both of the following criteria:

The student must have a satisfactory attendance record for the practicals and workshops and have completed all course work associated with these sessions.

The student must have satisfactorily completed the assessed essay and submitted it by the appropriate deadline.

Reading and References

Recommended reading includes the most recent editions of:

• Alberts et al, Molecular Biology of the Cell, Garland Science

• Voet & Voet, Biochemistry, Wiley

• Alberts et al, Essential Cell Biology, Garland Science

• Berg et al, Biochemistry, Freeman

• Nicholls and Ferguson, Bioenergetics 3, Academic Press

Students will also be expected to read a number of relevant review articles in the scientific literature.