Biochemistry in Relation to Medicine

The Intercalated BSc in Biochemistry in Relation to Medicine course provides 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 you to 'molecular medicine', providing a sound training in research methods and appreciation of the scientific literature in a biochemical context.

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.

Research Project

A major component of the course is a medically-related research project. You'll be offered a choice of project from a wide range of laboratory, literature and computer-based topics. Recent laboratory research projects have included:

• 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, you'll work in the research laboratory of your supervisor. Advice and assistance are usually available from experienced research workers in the research groups as well as your supervisor. Projects of all formats involve weekly one-to-one supervision meetings with the project supervisor at which progress is reviewed and plans agreed.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Advanced Topics in Medical Biochemistry I 20 credits
• Laboratory/Literature/Computing Research Project 40 credits
• Advanced Topics in Medical Biochemistry 2 20 credits
• Advanced Topics in Medical Biochemistry 3 20 credits
• Advanced Biochemistry: Skills 20 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Biochemistry in Relation to Medicine BSc in the course catalogue

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%).