BSc Pharmacology with a Modern Language / Course details

Drugs: Models and Mechanisms explores; the fundamental relationships between drug binding and functional responses, the use of organ and animal models in pharmacology and the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of animals in experiments.

BIOL21412 Pre- & Co-requisites are BIOL10822 and BIOL20932

BIOL21412 Pre- & Co-requisites are BIOL10822 and BIOL20932

 

The unit aims to:

• explore fundamental relationships between drug binding and functional responses
• explore the use of organ and animal models in pharmacology
• explain the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of animals in experiments
• allow students to sit the Home Office In Vivo Course, modules 1-4.

Students will be able to:

• understand why animals are used in pharmacology and physiology
• discuss the ethics of animal research
• describe specific experimental methods used with rats and mice
• describe a variety of animal models of human disease and animal tissue preparations used experimentally.
• describe how mathematical models of drug action can be applied to analyse data
• independently research animal models and organ preparations used in the drug discovery process and evaluate which provide the best models of human disease/physiology.
• safely and humanely handle rats and mice
• under close supervision, perform anaesthesia and minor surgery (non-recovery) on rats and mice (this unit provides only a very basic underpinning to these skills; they will be further developed in the final year practical unit)
• apply specialized analytical methods to pharmacological data
• develop skills in team working, problem-solving, data interpretation and oral and written communication skills, at an interpersonal level and group level.
• engage in independent learning.

• Ligand binding assays
• Functional studies (Schild analysis)
• Allostery and cooperativity
• Expression systems
• Animal models and their alternatives
• Legal framework for animal experimentation in the UK

Workbook (40%); Presentation (10%); Group-based Quiz(10%); Home Office Exam (40%)

Annotations on data analysis workbook; drop in sessions on data analysis; peer feedback on oral and poster presentations.

The theoretical material (other than that in the Home Office Course) is taught via a series of 10 online lectures (vLectures) that can be accessed via the online unit handbook (last page):

https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/4ZnMy5qVGecIWg

Links to recommended/supplementary reading are embedded in each vLecture.