Undergraduate Course: Integrative Physiology (BIME10018)

Course Outline
School	Deanery of Biomedical Sciences	College	College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	What has dietary salt got to do with hypertension? How can an ion channel coded by a single gene have distinct properties and physiological roles? Why is controlling cell volume so important for normal physiology? How may oxygen and thus energy (ATP) supply be regulated at the cellular and whole body level? Questions such as these will be addressed in a course that examines how fundamental cellular and transport processes are regulated and co-ordinated to control whole organism physiology. Key concepts will be illustrated with examples drawn from the following topics: 1: Ion transporter control and the regulation of blood pressure 2: Regulation of potassium channels: molecules to maladies 3: Calcium signaling and metabolic control: from cell to system 4: Cell volume control: a key regulator of cell life and death The roles of pumps, ion channels and cotransporters will be examined, and we will consider how the diversity and activity of these regulatory elements are affected by posttranscriptional and posttranslational modifications. The elective is designed to convey the stimulating atmosphere of cutting edge science with an emphasis on experimental approaches and evidence - from single molecules, through their interactions and functional roles in intact organisms, to the insight this provides into diseases and their treatment. Participants will develop skills in critical evaluation and précis of scientific studies and experimental design, and will make scientific presentations to a critical audience. During the module you will: become acquainted with key topics through a series of seminars, readings and practical problems. become familiar with the major experimental methods through a series of seminars and demonstrations. critically review, summarise and present original research.
Course description	Not entered

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites	Students MUST have passed: Biomedical Sciences 3 (BIME09008) AND Physiology 3 (BIME09004) OR Pharmacology 3 (BIME09003)	Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	Students who are either enrolled on the BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences, or who spent their third year abroad, or who are taking an intercalated year, are exempt from the requirement to have taken and passed Biomedical Sciences 3

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Semester 1
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	In course assessment: Scientific synopsis (20%) Degree examination: (80%)
Feedback	Students will receive feedback on the summative in course assessment in semester 1 and exam feedback in semester 2.
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Understand the experimental approaches and tools available to study integrative physiology: from single molecules to whole organisms Appreciate how historical and evolutionary perspectives inform development of physiological knowledge Define the cell as the functional unit of Integrative Physiology Discuss how membranes and regulation of ion transport processes are key gateways to controlling physiological homeostasis Understand the mechanisms that create physiological diversity.