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LSC-10085 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2021/22 Last Updated: 16 February 2022

LSC-10085 - Fundamentals of Biology
Coordinator: Nawroz Kareem Room: 304 Tel: +44 1782 7 33671
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

This module will provide you with the foundation knowledge you will need as you start your biological degree.
You will learn essentials of cell and molecular biology, genetics and evolution, and how evolutionary processes have generated the world¿s biodiversity.
This module will supplement the labs that you are doing as part of LSC 10087 Core Practical Skills and help you to develop the ability to communicate experimental findings to a scientific audience.

Aims
This module aims to provide the student with a broad overview of the fundamental knowledge of biology, from the cellular and molecular level to the evolution of complex living organisms.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Discuss the fundamentals of cell biology: 1,3
Describe gene structure, expression and regulation: 1,3
Discuss the pivotal role of genes in inheritance: 2,3
Discuss population genetics within the context of evolution and speciation: 2,3
Identify the fundamentals of microbiology: 3

Study hours

21x 1hr: In-situ tutorials, workshops and seminars;
4x 2 hrs: preparation and reflection from 4 labs delivered as part of LSC 10087 Core Practical Skills, but linked with this module;
21x 5 hrs: engagement with asynchronously delivered sessions;
21x 2 hrs: reflection from tutorials, workshops and seminars;
10 hrs: completion of assessment 1;
20 hrs: completion of assessment 2;
40 hrs: preparation for timed, end-of-semester Blackboard test;
3 hrs: completion of timed, end-of-semester Blackboard test;
51 hrs: independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 20%
Abstract assessment
Students will write an abstract of 500 words on a scientific topic that will be delivered in semester one labs as part of LSC 10087 Core Practical Skills, but linked with this module. This assessment will be submitted online (Turnitin Submission).

2: Short Paper weighted 30%
Individual Report
tudents will prepare an individual scientific paper (1500 words) based on experiments that will be delivered in semester two labs as part of LSC 10087 Core Practical Skills but linked with this module. This assessment will be submitted online (Turnitin Submission).

3: Online Tasks weighted 50%
Online Test
This paper will be released as a timed test in Blackboard. Students will find a link to this test on KLE on the day of the assessment. Once started, students will be given 3 hrs to complete. This is 1 hour more than we expect most students will actually need. International students will be asked to notify the School if they need an extension due to different time zones. This test will comprise a number of multiple choice and short answer questions that will be used to test knowledge and understanding of the taught material across the module. All questions are compulsory. Students should pay careful attention to the number of points that each question is worth. In general, we would expect only one or two sentences for each point. Adjustments: We have added an additional 1 hour to this test than is ordinarily needed to complete. By doing this, we do not expect that any student will require additional time due to dyslexia or disability.

Please note that for the 2021/22 Academic Year all programmes will be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there will be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 16 February 2022