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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Biology

Undergraduate Course: Immunology 3 (BILG09007)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryImmunology 3 is a course on the cellular and molecular biology of the immune system, including how it has evolved, how it develops, how it is regulated, and how it responds to infection. It will take you on an exciting journey through cellular function, physiology, experimental systems and key techniques to study immunology and diagnose infections and immunological diseases.
Course description This course cannot be combined with Clinical Immunology and Haematology 3A but can be combined with Clinical Immunology and Haematology 3B]

This is a course on the biology of the immune system, building on the background acquired in Micro-organisms, Infection and Immunity 2. Lectures, supported by tutorials and practical classes, which reinforce the key concepts from the lectures, give a sound introduction to modern cellular and molecular immunology, with an emphasis on the experimental systems used to study the immune system.

Immunology 3 is a course on the cellular and molecular biology of the immune system, including how it has evolved, how it develops, how it is regulated, and how it responds to infection. It will take you on an exciting journey through cellular function, physiology, experimental systems and key techniques to study immunology and diagnose infections and immunological diseases.

The first half of the lecture course describes basic concepts in immunology, including description of the innate and adaptive immune systems, the anatomy of the immune system and an overview of the recognition mechanisms by which foreign antigens are detected. There is an emphasis here on the genetic mechanisms that contribute to the generation of antigen receptor diversity, and the ways in which antigens are handled by antigen-presenting cells. The lectures then move on to look at lymphocyte development and activation, as well as the specific effector functions of the cellular and humoral arms of the adaptive immune system. The regulation of responses by 'helper' T cells and cytokines, and the principles of immunological memory are discussed in some depth. Understanding how the immune system tolerates self-antigens and harmless foreign antigen is discussed, providing a basis for understanding autoimmune diseases. Finally, the immune system will be discussed in the context of evolutionary biology.
Both theoretical and practical aspects of the course will be assessed. The course provides useful background recommended for students with interests in Honours in a number of other subject areas (e.g. Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences).
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Microorganisms, Infection and Immunity 2 (BIME08012)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Biological Sciences students are automatically eligible to take this course by having completed the compulsory Year 2 courses [Biology 2A (BILG08024), Biology 2B (BILG08025) and Biology 2C (BILG08026)].
Biomedical Sciences students are welcome to enrol for the course if they have completed Microorganisms, Infection and Immunity 2 (BIME08012).
Students from other Schools are advised to enquire with the Course Organiser if you are not sure whether this course is suitable for you.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesEquivalent of the courses listed above
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 23, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 23, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Formative Assessment Hours 3, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 138 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 40 %, Coursework 60 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Three items of in-course assessment [60% total] comprising:
Mid-semester Quiz [20%]
Group Project [40%]

Degree examination in December [40%]
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Immunology 3 examination2:120
Resit Exam Diet (August)Immunology 3 examination2:120
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand the cellular and molecular components and mechanisms of the immune system and the interplay between these different components in the generation of immune responses.
  2. Understand the role of different components from the immune system in various immunological conditions.
  3. Analyse, interpret and present experimental results, showing understanding of the techniques employed.
  4. The ability to research and review an Immunological topic in the current scientific literature and, efficiently communicate the results clearly, concisely, and in a well-structured manner.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information To facilitate practicals, the School of Biology has been given permission to vary the timetable of class sessions: note that most lectures start at 13.30. Laboratory practicals and/or tutorials normally follow the lectures.
KeywordsImm3
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jenny Regan
Tel: (0131 6)51 3630
Email: jregan@exseed.ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Tim MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 7296
Email: Tim.MacDonald@ed.ac.uk
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