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PA20344: Cell regulation and function: receptors to genes

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2018/9
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Further information on credits Credits: 9      [equivalent to 18 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 180
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Exam (EX 100%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To enable the student to gain knowledge of the pathways and mechanisms which regulate cellular activation and function and how changes in gene sequence or expression can lead to disease. To enable the student to appreciate how this knowledge can be utilised in the laboratory to establish disease models; in the clinic for disease diagnosis and for the potential development of novel therapeutics.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit, the student will be able to
* List a variety of receptor families and outline their mechanism of activation and links to intracellular pathways
* Describe the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation and aberrations in these mechanisms and processes which lead to disease
* Justify the use of recombinant DNA technology as a research tool and for the production of pharmaceutical products.
* Describe the properties and potential of stem cells
* Apply their knowledge to clinical cases through problem-based learning.

Skills:
Scientific and practical skills (T/F/A) Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F) Problem solving (T/F)

Content:

* Receptor families, second messenger systems, protein kinases and their phosphorylation targets.
* Impact of signalling pathways on nuclear events including regulation of gene expression through transcription factor binding.
* Genetic mutations, oncogenes, tumour suppressor genes and the control of cell growth.
* DNA cloning and the use of vectors, including plasmids and viral vectors.
* Manipulation of DNA including the use of restriction enzymes, DNA sequencing, hybridisation techniques, polymerase chain reaction.
* Stem cells and molecular techniques - RNAi and gene therapy.
* Problem based learning applied to relevant clinical case studies.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PA20344 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
  • USPA-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology (Year 2)
  • USPA-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Pharmacology with Year long work placement (Year 2)
  • USPA-AKM02 : MPharmacol(Hons) Pharmacology with Year long work placement (Year 2)

Notes: