- UCAS course code
- C500
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Early clearing information
This course is available through clearing for home and international applicants
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Microbiology
Study the biology of bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi, with a focus on those that cause disease in humans.
- Typical A-level offer: AAA-AAB including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: AAB-ABC including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: ABB-ABC including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36-35 points overall with 6, 6, 6 to 6, 6, 5 at HL, including specific requirements
Course unit details:
Introduction to Virology
Unit code | BIOL21381 |
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Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Aims
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will have an appreciation of:
• Viral structure
• The interaction of virus and host
• The mechanisms of viral replication in host cells
• Viral pathogenesis
• Immune response to viral infections
• Acute, chronic and latent viral infections
• Viral vaccines and anti-viral drugs
• Viral epidemiology
Syllabus
• What is a virus?
• Viral structure
• Viral genomes and replication
• Viral interactions with the host
• Acute viral infections
• Latent and persistent viral infections
• Viruses and immunodeficiency
• Viral vaccines
• Anti-viral therapy
• Viral evolution
• Emerging viral infections
• Zoonotic viral diseases
Teaching and learning methods
e-Learning Activity
This assessment will involve outlining the steps of the intracellular life cycle of a selected virus ranging from adhesion to the host cell to the release of mature virions into the extracellular environment.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- The students have to think about Duesberg's comments and analyse what they mean to select the correct facts from the literature to demonstrate that Duesberg's comments about HIV are wrong.
- Research
- The student has to use text books and journals to respond to the points raised in the assignment.
- Written communication
- 1000 word assignment in which the students have to respond to the nine assertions by Duesberg in which he claims that HIV does not cause HIV.
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
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Other | 30% |
Written exam | 70% |
1.5 hour (closed book), on campus, written examination at the end of the unit.
Exam format – 1 essay from a choice of 5 (70%)
Duesberg E-learning assessment (30%)
Feedback methods
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.3 |
Lectures | 22 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 76.7 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Nicola High | Unit coordinator |