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LSC-20077 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

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

LSC-20077 - Neurodevelopment
Coordinator: Christopher F Adams Room: N/A Tel: +44 1782 7 33943
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
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

In this module you will learn how the body builds its nervous system on an anatomical, physiological and molecular level. We will try to answer
questions about how neurones grow, migrate and change, how synapses are made and pruned and how wiring develops with particular reference to vertebrate nervous systems. The module includes a discussion of postnatal development and the ways in which the nervous system continues to change during childhood, adulthood and old age.

Aims
To provide knowledge and understanding of the development of nervous systems, specifically: 1) how the different parts of the nervous system form over time from fertilisation; 2) where different components of the nervous system arise in the embryo; and 3) how migration of neurones is achieved in forming specific pathways.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and explain how nervous system tissue becomes organized in the vertebrate embryo and develops to produce the final structures of the adult nervous system: 1,2,3
discuss specific examples of pre- and post-natal plasticity, and development in the nervous system: 3
prepare a practical report discussing the development of the nervous system in the chick: 2
describe and explain how the lineage of individual cells of the nervous system and their ultimate fates are determined: 1,2,3

Study hours

10x 1 hour live lectures
8x 1 hour tutorials
18x 3 hour engagement with asynchronous content
8x 1 hour reflection from tutorials
14 hours completion of essay
20 hours completion of lab report, supplemented by labs delivered in LSC-20107
2 hours completion of examination
34 hours independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 20%
Essay
Students will be provided with a title and asked to write a 1000 word essay on early neurodevelopment.

2: Laboratory Report weighted 20%
Lab report
The laboratory report is based on one of the practicals delivered in LSC-20107. The length is a maximum of 1000 words.

3: Open Book Examination weighted 60%
Online, open book exam
The paper will be released on KLE as a Word document at 9am on the morning of the exam. End of module two hour examination consisting of two sets of three essay questions, students must select and answer one essay question from each set. Students should answer each question using Word, clearly labelling each question as they provide their answers. Work will be submitted to Turnitin no later than 5pm on the day of release. International students will be asked to notify the School if they need an extension due to different time zones. For essay-based questions, typical answers would be in the range of 500-750 words per question. We recommend that students do not exceed 750 words per essay-based question as we will be assessing the quality of your answer, not the quantity.

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