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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Deanery of Biomedical Sciences : Integrative Biomedical Sciences (Zhejiang)

Undergraduate Course: Building an Organism 2 (IBMS08008)

Course Outline
SchoolDeanery of Biomedical Sciences CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryBuilding an Organism 2 provides an introduction to developmental biology. There will be 3 major themes: principles of animal development, the molecular and genetics processes underlying those principles and investigation of how these processes come together to form the varied components of animal bodies. This final theme will also be explored in the context of developmental disorders. The course will consist of lectures, tutorials, and problem-based learning sessions. There will be a strong emphasis on problem solving, encouraging students to learn how experimental approaches can be used to answer biological questions, and how the outcomes of such experiments can be interpreted.
Course description This course provides an introduction to developmental biology. There will be 3 major themes: principles of animal development, the molecular and genetics processes underlying those principles and investigation of how these processes come together to form the varied components of animal bodies. This final theme will also be explored in the context of developmental disorders.

The main aim of the course is to provide foundational knowledge in the principles of developmental biology. The overarching theme will be the molecular processes which drive development. The roles of these processes will, where appropriate, also be explored in adulthood. Animal development relies on the coordination of multiple process and understanding the implications of defects in individual elements of this complex interplay will be a major focus of the course. Problem-based learning will be used to enable students to develop group-directed team-work skills.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Course delivered in China at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute. Only open to students on BSc Integrative Biomedical Sciences.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Full Year
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 136 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 40 %, Coursework 60 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Exam: 40%
ICA: 60%, including essay and report on group presentation.
Feedback Discussion and consolidation sessions each week provide opportunities to provide feedback on learning and skill development and all formats of assessed work. Written formative feedback will be provided as key academic skills are developed particularly in essay writing and presentational skills. Feedback will be given following the summative evaluation of in-course assessments.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand of the common principles of animal development
  2. Have knowledge of molecular pathways underlying developmental processes
  3. Apply knowledge in autonomous group-work scenarios
  4. Speculate how disruption of one element of a complex process may affect the developmental end-point
  5. Have awareness of experimental approaches and model systems for developmental biology
Reading List
Principles of Development, Wolpert and Tickle (authors), Oxford University Press
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Tutorials and small group work based around developing keynote themes will promote skill development in: how to research a subject; academic writing; effective reading; understanding expectations in addition to allowing development of an understanding of how skills that promote learning in a group format can facilitate the development as an independent learner in a learning community. Place clear emphasis on formative feedback

Team working and self-directed learning and study will be developed through the problem-based learning aspects of the course. This element will also strengthen skills in effective reading, understanding expectations, information gathering and reflective practice.

Understanding of different experimental models and how to assess their applicability will form a core theme throughout the course. Practical and data skills will primarily be addressed in the accompanying, compulsory Applied Biomedical Sciences Course.
KeywordsBiological Sciences,Biomedical Sciences,Development,Cell biology
Contacts
Course organiserDr John Menzies
Tel: (0131 6)51 1711
Email: John.Menzies@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Natasha Goldie
Tel:
Email: natasha.goldie@ed.ac.uk
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