- UCAS course code
- B940
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
BSc Biomedical Sciences
- 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:
Cell Adhesion
Unit code | BIOL31771 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Cell adhesion is critical for all aspects of cell functioning in multicellular organisms. It is essential for building patterned tissues, maintaining their architecture and regulating their differentiation and behaviour. Many of the major diseases affecting mankind progress through disrupted cellular adhesion. This unit will explore established concepts and the latest advances in controlling basic cellular functions, examine what happens when adhesion systems become defective, and will assess the molecular details of how different classes of adhesion receptors work.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
The Dynamic Cell | BIOL21121 | Pre-Requisite | Recommended |
Aims
Cell adhesion is critical for all aspects of cell function in multicellular organisms. Cell interactions with the extracellular matrix and with each other are required for building patterned tissues, maintaining their architecture, and regulating their differentiation and behaviour. Alterations in normal adhesion mechanisms are also central in the progression of many of the major diseases affecting mankind. The aim of this unit is to consider the molecular details of how different classes of adhesion receptors work, to explore established concepts and the latest advances of how they control basic cellular functions, and to examine what happens when adhesion systems become defective.
Learning outcomes
A detailed understanding of the central role of cell adhesion in animal biology; the molecular biology of cell adhesion systems; how adhesion links to cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and to development; how these controls break down in human diseases.
Syllabus
An introduction to the concepts of adhesion and its importance in biology will be followed by specialist topics, each covering the relevant areas of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, signalling, development, animal models and human diseases, delivered using a range of lectures, podcasts and workshop based discussions; 4 class presentations on self-directed learning. The topics covered will include:
• Adhesion and a multicellular existence.
• Structural dynamics of adhesion systems.
• Principles of adhesion signalling.
• Cell migration guidance.
• Cell polarity and tissue morphogenesis.
• Sensing and responding to biomechanical forces.
• Coordination of multicellularity and morphogenesis
• Cell adhesion in organ function
• Class presentations.
Employability skills
- Oral communication
- Students will do one journal club presentation. 7 to 10 students per presentation, x 4 lecture slots.
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 30% |
Written exam | 60% |
Oral assessment/presentation | 10% |
Feedback methods
a) Written feedback on essay; b) verbal feedback on class presentation; c) feedback on exam scripts after the January exams.
Recommended reading
Compulsory
Alberts B. et al (2015) Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th edition). Garland Science
Chapter 19 Cell Junctions and the Extracellular Matrix
“Cell-cell junctions”
“The extracellular matrix of animals”
“Cell-matrix junctions”
Chapter 15 Cell Signaling
“Principles of Cell Signaling”
Chapter 16 The Cytoskeleton
Journal articles and reviews as directed by each lecturer
Recommended
Alberts B. et al (2015) Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th edition). Garland Science
Lewin, B. et al (2014) Cells (3rd edition). Jones & Bartlett
Lodish, H. et al. (2016) Molecular Cell Biology (8th edition). Palgrave Macmillan Higher ed
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.8 |
Lectures | 18 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 80.2 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Patrick Caswell | Unit coordinator |