Biochemistry BSc Honours

Course content

What will you study on the BSc Biochemistry?

This degree programme in biochemistry focuses on core themes from a wide range of science subjects including chemistry, molecular biology and immunology. After your first year, you will focus on cellular biochemistry and as you progress a wide choice of biochemistry module options is available.

Unique to this course are the two opportunities to gain relevant work experience - the one-year placement of 120 credits and a 30 credit work experience module. You can use the Placement Office to help secure relevant placements.

What will you gain?

As well as a deep understanding of the subject, you will also gain a wide range of knowledge and skills related to some of the biggest current issues in public health as well as first-hand experience in our cancer and microbiology research groups. You will have developed the techniques required in the microbiology, immunology and bioscience industries along with the knowledge and skills that employers want in medical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and public health education. You will also have the chance to become a member of the Middlesex Biochemical Society.

Modules

This module introduces the fundamental laboratory and research techniques that underpin the study of biological sciences. Skills introduced in this module include observations and note taking; data handling, analysis and presentation; safe working practises and the ability to communicate scientific ideas in a variety of formats. The module will enable you to develop these skills and facilitate recognition of these skills in relation to employability.

The main aim of this module is to introduce the key metabolic pathways of energy metabolism. This includes the study of photosynthesis, cellular respiration and bioenergetics and the structure and function of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and their derivatives.

This module explores the cell as the basic functional unit of life investigating the structure and function of cell components and introducing the cell cycle and the biology of disease. Concepts of evolution and the principles of inheritance are explained at the molecular level.

This module introduces the scope of microbiology, the nature and importance of micro-organisms and factors influencing their growth and survival. The module explores the field of microbiology, its applications and importance in biotechnological processes, the environment and in health and disease.

This module provides the skills and knowledge of chemistry that will underpin your future studies in biochemistry. Emphasis is placed on building a knowledge base around key academic concepts in chemistry and biochemistry using examples from health and the environment to reinforce ideas. You will acquire a range of laboratory practical skills and learn how to analyse and interpret experimental results and put these into context with theoretical concepts.

This module aims to provide you with knowledge of human anatomy and its hierarchical organisation from cell to organ system. An understanding of how the main body systems and mechanisms involved maintaining a "state of health" will be developed along with an introduction to how these systems can malfunction. Grounding in practical anatomy will be provided which includes “hands on” practical work in identification and recognition of the main anatomical features of organs and structures of the body.

This module provides you with the knowledge of biochemical molecules and their physiological functions. Emphasis is placed on the molecular structure and its relationship with the biological function. Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of biochemical reactions will be explored with a particular emphasis on enzyme kinetics.

This module will reinforce and expand on the Year 1 module, Cell Biology and Genetics. The overall aim is for you to obtain understanding of the molecular processes occurring in organisms. In addition, you will gain experience in the principles, practice, quality assurance and application of commonly employed molecular methods and genetic tools and techniques.

This module aims to introduce the concepts and language of immunology that are, or may be, applied clinically. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the different cellular and molecular communication processes. Laboratory skills will be developed in using immunological and endocrinological techniques and interpreting data.

This module builds upon the principles and concepts of inorganic and organic chemistry developed through the Year 1 module, Fundamentals of Chemistry. In this module you will develop a more complete appreciation of the chemical reactions relevant to biochemistry with emphasis on common reactions in metabolic processes, integrating mechanisms and arrow pushing.

This module provides the knowledge of important “state of the art” analytical methods in biological sciences. There is a focus on developing practical skills in analytical methods and the analysis and interpretation of results. Emphasis will be on proteins in the context of clinical diagnostics and environmental assessment.

The module aims to provide you with the skills necessary to plan, implement, analyse and report project-based work, with the focus on preparation for the final year project module. The module also develops core research skills fundamental to a scientific research design, irrespective of discipline. Specific research skills include analytical techniques appropriate to individual programme requirements.

The year-long placement is an opportunity for you to work in an industrial, field or laboratory based setting gaining important and relevant skills related to your programme. The module aims to enhance your employability skills, embed transferable and graduate skills and enable you to reflect on how the knowledge gained is relevant to your degree and the field of biology. Through the work placement, you will gain experience of working in a team, facilitate your understanding of the workplace and enhance your skills of self-reliance and communication. The placement experience provides the opportunity to also enhance your skills of self-reliance, communication, self-expression and co-operation.

The module will develop key concepts in specialist areas of biochemistry in relation to human diseases. Advanced topics on molecular basis of disease will be delivered, based primarily around the research specialisations of staff within the biochemistry teaching group.

This module aims to provide an understanding of processes involved in regulation of gene expression and current laboratory methods available for investigation. It also aims to provide an understanding of how gene expression may be modulated according to changes in the cellular environment, how environmental conditions can trigger changes in these processes and how aberrations in gene expression can lead to disease.

This module will introduce bioinformatics and aims to give an overview of the computational tools that are commonly used. The module will follow a hands-on approach. Genome and proteome data will be retrieved from public repositories and analysed for biological patterns using command line and graphical user interface tools.

This module provides you with the practical skills for laboratory techniques which are important for research and analysis in the field of biochemistry. You will build upon your learning from the Year 2 module in Analytical Techniques to plan, set-up and carry out experiments, analyse results and critically evaluate these and the methodology.

This module will build on the skills you have acquired when undertaking previous modules and from the knowledge and skills gained throughout the programme. Further development of research skills, analysis, critical thinking and scientific literary style will be promoted in completing a dissertation.

The module considers current approaches to genetic manipulation and the widening fields of their applications. Ethical issues and regulations of the field of gene technology will be explored.

The module gives you the opportunity to develop advanced knowledge of a current topic within a biological sciences subject area of interest to you. You will be guided towards independent research of an appropriate topic of your choosing and then present your findings orally and in writing.

The module enables you to recognise the current and future impact of green biotechnology. The module will explore the role of biotechnology in plant and animal biotechnology, in waste remediation, clean and dirty water management, and the production of renewable energy sources. The importance of these processes for society and health will be explored.

This module aims to provide you with an overview of reactions of particular utility in the synthetic organic laboratory. You will be trained in designing synthetic routes for complex organic molecules integrating mechanistic aspects and stereochemistry control. Examples from recent literature will be discussed.

This module enables you to gain credits for work experience related to your programme. It aims to link academic learning to a placement organization. The experience provides opportunities for you to work in a relevant organisation and enhance your skills of self-expression, communication, co-operation and self-reliance.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.