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 |
Pre-requisites |
None. |
Co-requisites |
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.
Seminars
The unit will be assessed through a 3-hour summative examination in May/June, which contributes 90% of the unit mark and consists of two sections. In Section A (50%), students will be expected to answer one essay question from a choice of 3, which will assess their knowledge and critical understanding of the field, and their 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. The remaining 10% of the unit mark will come from completing coursework, based on a Section B style of exam question, testing data handling/data interpretation and/or experimental design skills.
Reviews and key references from the current scientific literature