- Academic Registry
Course & Unit Catalogues


SL12002: Cell biology

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: EXOB 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • MCQ exam (EXOB 35%)
  • Open-book written examination (EXOB 65%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After taking this unit, the student should be able to:
  • Describe cellular and extracellular structures in terms of composition, dynamics and function.
  • Explain cellular processes and identify relevant examples of these processes.
  • Identify techniques that are used to study cells.
  • Describe the organisation of various tissues in animals and plants.
  • Explain how cells sense and respond to environmental cues.
  • Describe the processes that lead to the development of complex multicellular organisms from single cells.



Synopsis: You will be introduced to fundamental aspects of how eukaryotic cells function; you will explore comparisonswith other domains of life.The diversity, structure, organisation, communication, regulation and energy acquisition of cells will be explained, and you will gain an appreciation of how cells acquire specialist functions, organise into tissues and develop into multicellular organisms. You will become familiar with methodologies commonly used to study cells and their functions.

Content: History and context of Cell Biology. Cells as the basic unit of life. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes (similarities and differences). Cellular organisation: membranes, cell wall, organelles, cytoskeleton. Protein targeting and trafficking. Cellular energy acquisition: Photosynthesis (in plants) and oxidative phosphorylation. Cell interactions with the environment: 1) Unicellular/prokaryotic (communication, chemotaxis); 2) Multicellular (cell signalling, cell junctions, extracellular matrix) Multicellular tissues, including neural and plant tissues. Introduction to animal and plant developmental biology. Techniques for studying cells: including microscopy and cell culture.

Course availability:

SL12002 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Chemistry) (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Chemistry) with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Chemistry) with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSC-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Chemistry) (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Chemistry) with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSC-AFM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry and Pharmacology) with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSC-AKM10 : MSci(Hons) Natural Sciences (Biochemistry with Chemistry stream) with Study year abroad (Year 1)
Department of Life Sciences
  • USSL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Biology (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Biology with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AFB12 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKB12 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AFM10 : MBiochem(Hons) Biochemistry (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKM10 : MBiochem(Hons) Biochemistry with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AFM11 : MBiol(Hons) Biology (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKM11 : MBiol(Hons) Biology with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USSL-AFM12 : MBiomed(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 1)
  • USSL-AKM12 : MBiomed(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with professional placement (Year 1)

SL12002 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Psychology

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.