Biochemistry
BSc in Biochemistry
Understanding the molecular basis of modern medicine and its future advances in a rapidly changing world.
Course Co-ordinator
Dr M R Parsons
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty of Biological Sciences
University of Leeds
Email: M.R.Parsons@leeds.ac.uk
Programme Secretary:
Maureen Cummings
Email: m.cummings@leeds.ac.uk
Objectives
The objectives of the Intercalated BSc in Biochemistry in Relation to Medicine course are to provide an extended and more detailed study of biochemistry and molecular biology in order to understand the molecular basis of modern day medicine and its future advances in a rapidly changing world. The course aims to introduce the students to 'molecular medicine', providing a sound training in research methods and appreciation of the scientific literature in a biochemical context.
Content of the Course
(a) Knowledge
The course relies on the knowledge base provided by the first two or three years of the MBChB course and involves a selected development of that understanding. Students work alongside the Biochemistry honours students in the Faculty of whom there are approximately 80, and take selected elements of their course as well as some additional topics. The emphasis of the course is on mammalian biochemistry and features medically-relevant topics such as:
- Techniques and applications of molecular biology
- Control of gene expression
- Combating viral diseases and drug resistance
- Diabetes and heart disease
- Genetic diseases
- Molecular oncology – oncogenes & tumour supressors
- Gene therapies
- Cell communication
- Biochemistry of the nervous system and neurodegeneration
- Gene regulation during mammalian development
Tutorials on a variety of medically relevant topics are held and students are encouraged to attend the weekly research seminars presented by members of the School or visiting speakers. Background reading on each of the selected topics is provided by the individual lecturers on the course.
(b) Skills
Students attend a broad-based introduction to techniques in Molecular Biology, before specialising in particular areas as part of their research topic. Students participate in small-group tutorials on experimental design, the interpretation and presentation of scientific data, and the use and appreciation of the scientific literature as an assessed component of their course.
(c) Research
A major component of the course is a medically-related research project carried out in Semester 1 and written up as a 30-page report during Semester 2. Students are offered a choice of project from a wide range of laboratory-, literature- and computer-based topics. Recent laboratory research projects include topics such as:
- Control of regulated protein secretion in human gut tumours
- Signal transduction pathways involved in the response of cells to stress
- The mechanism of antigen presentation in tumour cells
- The molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease
- Function and regulation of med family tumour suppressor genes
- Characterisation of a novel photosensitising drug and determination of its potential for the photodynamic treatment of cancer.
Literature projects have included reviews of:
- p53 in cancer therapy
- Gingivitis and cardiovascular diseases
- The roles of the vacuolar ATPase in disease states
- Trinucleotide expansions in neurodegenerative disease
- Development of an artificial kidney
Some of the techniques used in these projects include use of cloned DNA probes and synthetic oligonucleotides, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation, protein purification, chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques and electron microscopy. In the case of laboratory projects the student works in the research laboratory of the supervisor and advice and assistance are usually available from experienced research workers in the research groups as well as the supervisor. Projects of all formats involve weekly one-to-one supervision meetings with the project supervisor at which progress is reviewed and plans agreed.
Research scholarships are available for laboratory projects on cancer-related topics (Details from the School of Medicine).
Assessment
Assessment is based on assessed in-course work (approximately 20%), formal written examinations of the lecture courses (approximately 55%) and the research project (approximately 25%).
