The School offers two courses in biology at the first year level:

• Introductory Life Sciences (ILS)
• Complementary Life Sciences (CLS).

The first year courses have been designed to cover the broad spectrum of modern biology in an integrated way and to provide students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes to understand the major issues in biology today.

The courses also provide the opportunity for students to learn about the diverse fields and career prospects within biology, before they make more specialised choices at the second year level.

These courses are taught and run by staff from the School of Molecular and Cell Biology and the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Note that all students who wish to proceed to second year within the School must complete a first year course in Chemistry.

Some subject areas within the School of Biology also require that you complete a first year course in Physics and/or Mathematics or Statistics (please check the specific requirements for the subjects in which you want to major).

Second year courses in the School of MCB build on the broad foundation set by the first year courses. The second year courses, in turn, set the foundation for third year courses.

With the selection of second year courses, students start specialising in one or more of the core fields or thrusts within the School of MCB. Due to the short course system within the School of Biology, a student may customise his/her second year course for personal preference and current market demand.

Summary of second year MCB courses and short courses

The composition of the second year courses offered in the School of MCB are summarised below. Each of the courses, as reflected by their names, is part of one of the core fields or thrusts in the School of MCB.

This course explores the theory and practical techniques behind the latest research within four broad topic areas. Molecular Basis of Disease investigates the molecular underpinnings and therapeutic approaches of diseases such as cancer and inherited disorders, and focuses on modes of inheritance, epigenetics and gene-environment interactions. Drug Discovery looks at the processes and principles behind identification of drug targets and drug discovery, mechanisms of action and side effects, trials and commercialisation. Current Topics in Microbiology considers the role of viruses, bacteria and fungi in the environment, human health and agricultural biotechnology. Genetic Innovations studies genetics and genomics in forensic science, disease diagnosis, pharmacogenomics and personalised medicine, and considers genetic manipulation for the improvement of human health and the environment. The course consists of four subject areas Genetic Innovations, Molecular Basis of Disease, Drug Discovery, and Current Topics in Microbiology, which focus on the latest developments, research and research methodology with respect to the content in each of the units. Thus each will enrich the co-requisite courses offered at second year level in the school and offer students a firm basis for entering third year.

This course consists of two components, Biological Chemistry & Macromolecules, and Genes & Genomes. The course provides a thorough overview of chemical structures and reactions of functional groups leading to the study of macromolecules from an organic chemistry perspective. The course introduces students to the interplay between DNA, RNA and proteins, as fundamentals to the study of molecular biology. The impact of genome architecture and epigenetics, on DNA transmission, inheritance of genetic traits, transcription and translation will be explored, including relevant statistical analysis such as for population genetics. Students will become acquainted with wet lab methods and bioinformatics tools for DNA analysis and manipulation and for investigating protein structure and function.

This course covers molecular and cell biology at the cellular and organisimal levels. Students will be introduced to key concepts in cell biology by looking at cell structure, signalling and interactions. Students will use thermodynamics and enzyme kinetics to describe the fundamental pathways of intermediary metabolism.  Students will further apply these concepts to learning how dysregulated cellular processes can cause disease, and how cells interact to produce immune responses in human immunology. The second section focuses on the diversity of micro-organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, their ecology and their interaction with their hosts. Both sections will equip students with fundamental laboratory skills in cell biology and microbiology.

The third year courses in the School of MCB build on the foundation set by the second year courses. For all third year courses, the second year courses within the same core fields or thrusts are a pre-requisite. A student must pass a course at the second and third year level to major in that area of study. For example, to obtain a degree in Molecular and Cell Biology in the field of Microbiology and Biotechnology a student must pass the second year courses Molecular and Cell Biology IIA: Molecular Processes MCBG2038A, Molecular and Cell Biology IIB: Cells and Organisms MCBG2039A, plus one other 48 credit course at 2nd year level, AND the third year major Microbiology and Biotechnology plus one other 72 credit course at third year level.  For all third year courses, the second year courses within the same core fields or thrusts are a pre-requisite.  A student must pass a course at the second and third year level to major in that area of study.  

Protein Biochemistry and Biotechnology III - Overview of properties and functions of amino acids, peptide and proteins. Working with proteins. Overview of molecular forces. Hierarchy of protein structure. Primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures. Protein families and superfamilies. Protein folding, dynamics and conformational stability. Protein structure-function relationships and motifs. Protein interactions and the regulation of protein function. Protein targeting and degradation. Drug and vaccine design. In vitro mutagenesis and protein engineering. Protein Biotechnology, the large-scale of production of native and recombinant proteins, and the utilisation of proteins in medicine and industry.

Advanced Cell Biology III - In this course we show how the contemporary field of cell biology has developed through an integration of structural, and biochemical studies that have most recently been revolutionized by the understanding at the molecular level of gene structure and function. The discussion includes how cells contain highly organized molecular and biochemical systems which ultimately lead to the formation of the fundamental structural and function units of all living organisms. The course explores the evolution of molecules central to the formation of cellular life and the detail of the signals and constraints responsible for the regulation of cell proliferation. The concepts underlying how cells care continually replaced from undifferentiated self-renewing stem cells serves to introduce an in-depth examination of how, cancer cells proliferate in defiance of normal controls and, differentiated cells maintain their specialised character.

Enzymology III - Introduction to enzymology; enzyme techniques; chemical kinetics; mechanisms of enzyme catalysis; enzyme regulation; enzyme biotechnology. The practical component deals with the molecular enzymology and structure of alkaline phosphatase.

Advanced Immunology III - This course explores advanced topics in Immunology.  It provides an overview of the function and regulation of innate and adaptive immunology in human and presents a selection of recent developments and advanced applications of immunology in various fields including infection and non-infectious diseases such as immunotherapy and other innovations.  It also introduces the fields of vaccinology, including vaccine design and evaluation, wet-lab methods and various techniques used to investigate the function, development and regulation of the immune response.  

The overall aim of the course is for students to understand the utility of bioinformatics in the scientific field. Students will learn to select, describe an use basic bioinformatics tools and how to interpret computational results. Students will also develop an appreciation of the breadth and shortcomings of available computational approaches. More specifically the course will include the history and application of bioinformatics; the major bioinformatics databases and portals; searching, local and global alignment; BLAST; multiple sequence alignment techniques and tools; an introduction and overview of phylogenetics techniques; visualisation techniques; pattern matching techniques and applications; gene expression; Microarray data analysis, protein analysis and proteomics, functional genomics and genome analysis. Students should develop the ability to identify the appropriate bioinformatics tool for the task at hand; explain the underlying theory behind these tools; demonstrate the utility of different computational approaches; compare and contrast databases and portals; assess the limitations of algorithms and tools; evaluate results of bioinformatics experiments.

Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes III - Participants will be exposed to some of the molecular intricacies of higher eukaryotes. In particular, the components (DNA promoter elements and transcription factors) responsible for switching on genes will be highlighted. Gene regulation at the level of chromatin, transcription initiation, and RNA processing will be taught. A background of signal transduction will be included to allow a better understanding of gene expression at this level. Finally, the cascade effect of gene activation and regulation will be taught in the cellular contexts of proliferation and development.

Population Genetics III - This course will be a general introduction to the field of population genetics, which has become an integral component of genomics, medical genetics, forensics, conservation biology and bioinformatics. Particular topics to be dealt with in detail include processes and factors that affect the frequencies of specific alleles, haplotypes and genotypes in a population. Quantitative genetic variation, heritability, polygenic traits and selection will be discussed. We will explore molecular genetic techniques to detect different kinds of genetic variation. Evolutionary genetics including human evolution and how the geographic distribution of genetic diversity leads to differences in genetic disease distribution and disease susceptibility in different populations.

Genomes and Genomics III  - This course focuses on the role of Genomes and Genomics in modern science.  It provides a thorough overview of genome architecture and function, from genome structure to central dogma, and examines the role of genomics in the analysis of genomes, with a focus on human and other mammalian genomes.  It explores the theory behind, and the impact of, new technologies, such as next generation sequencing and transcriptomics, and looks at how these are applied to analyse genomes, for example in disease, diagnosis and treatment, and introduces wet-lab methods and bioinformatics tools for genome analysis and the various genomic technologies used to investigate the structure and function of genomes.  

Advanced Developmental Biology III - In this course students will be introduced to the exciting field of modern Developmental Biology. We will find out how an animal’s body is formed from a single cell during embryogenesis, and how genetic mechanisms drive this complex process. We will explore how major vertebrate body systems (brain and the nervous system, the reproductive system, the limbs, the eye) are formed, and how genetic mutations can lead to birth defects. Additionally, students will get an overview of the exciting fields of aging and regenerative medicine. A short component of the course will be devoted to recent advances in Plant Developmental Biology. The material will include flower and leaf pattern formation and fruit development. The practical component of the course will introduce students to current techniques in vertebrate embryology and genetic manipulation of the embryo.

Advanced Virology III - This short course will cover principles of virus-host interactions and pathobiology with respect to human and animal viruses, with specific emphasis on the host immune response. Included in this will be the strategies employed by the different viruses to subvert the host immune response. We will also address virus evolution in some detail, and in that context, try and understand the emergence of new viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS and SARS.

Plant and Invertebrate Pathology III  - Since plant pathogens cause considerable crop losses world-wide and insect pathogens reduce crop losses caused by insect pests, the study of plant and insect pathogens is an important aspect of agricultural and plant biotechnology. Plant pathology topics include disease identification; molecular basis of pathogenesis and resistance; and disease control strategies of viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens. In the insect pathology component of this course, bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens of insects are also studied. In addition to reviewing insect defences to pathogens, the methods of infection, disease development and transmission of the different groups of insect pathogens are studied. The course also addresses the use of insect pathogens as environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical insecticides.

Biotechnology and Bioengineering III (18 points - compulsory) Plant genetic engineering involves the horizontal transfer of genes between different species. Genetic engineering and biotechnology involves the identification of useful proteins that will enhance the phenotypic attributes of crop plants such as: agronomic performance, food quality, invertebrate pest resistance, environmental stress resistance and microbial pathogen resistance. Plant biotechnology involves the isolation and cloning of genes encoding proteins that will have a beneficial impact on crop production or that will enhance the quality of crop products. The course will focus on the recent advances that have been made in plant genetic engineering and plant molecular biology. The theoretical background necessary for the understanding of genetic engineering procedures will be covered in detail. Included in the course will be lectures and practicals on in vitro plant propagation and regeneration. The laboratory component of the course will include practicals on the molecular biological techniques and procedures involved in the genetic transformation of plants.

Microbial Food Security III - Modern concepts in food preservation and food safety and quality management will be reviewed. The concept of hurdle technology and its application in food preservation will be illustrated. Modern approaches to achieving food safety and stability by applying hygiene management and the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system will be explained and illustrated. The concept of quantitative microbial risk assessment and its application to international food trade will be reviewed and explained.

Biotechnology of Fungi III - This course provides an overview of the use of fungi in the biotechnology of the food industry; the production of biochemicals; in medical biotechnology; agricultural biotechnology; environmental biotechnology; and bioremediation. Detailed aspects cover the use of yeasts and fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes in the food industry; the use of white-rot fungi in the pulp and paper industry; fungi and the biodegradation of industrial and mining wastes.

Advanced Bacteriology III - This course builds on the foundations set by the Bacteriology II course. Since the ubiquity and success of bacteria partly resides in their metabolic flexibility and diversity, bacterial metabolism and growth is studied in detail. The ability of bacteria to adhere to surfaces and to form biofilms is reviewed, as are the metabolic implications of biofilm formation. Since there are marked differences between bacteria in laboratory culture and bacteria in their natural environments, the physiology of bacteria in their natural environments is addressed. The importance of bacteria in medicine is covered in topics on bacterial pathogenicity and virulence. The exciting and new area of inter-bacterial communication is the final component of this course. Various topics addressed in lectures are evaluated in the practical component of this course.