Undergraduate Course: Chemical Pharmacology 2 (BIME08014)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an understanding of how drugs produce their effects, with emphasis on the relationship between chemical structure and biological activity at selected sites in the body. This course is only available to students on a Chemistry degree programme. |
| Course description |
Pharmacology is the study of the actions of drugs in the body (pharmacodynamics), and of the quantitative aspects of drug action (pharmacokinetics). The course will provide insight into how drugs produce their effects in the body when treating diseases and alleviating suffering. Most drugs are organic chemicals which interact with the body's physiological and biochemical processes. Consequently, it is necessary to learn a sufficient amount about these processes during the course in order to understand the actions of drugs and how their potencies are quantified. The course will provide opportunities to explore how drugs produce their effects at the systems, cellular and molecular levels. In the course we will consider the targets for the actions of drugs in the body and how the structure and function of receptors and ion channels relates to drug action. We will also investigate intracellular processes within cells and their modification by drugs.
Many drugs have chemical structures which are related to the structures of natural substances, found in the body and in other parts of the natural world. Modifications made to these structures can make more specific drugs and/or drugs with longer duration of actions. Some examples of such
changes in chemical structure will be discussed. Also, the biosynthesis of several natural substances including neurotransmitters and hormones will be outlined. In order to assess the relative potencies of different drugs, it is necessary to have a quantitative measure of drug activity. Opportunities will be provided to gain experience in performing pharmacological-type experiments, gaining familiarity with, and respect for, the use of animal tissues in vitro to analyse drug action, and how quantitative data can be processed into meaningful results and appropriate conclusions.
We will evaluate the physical properties of drugs that are important for their effects and develop understanding of the quantification of drug action alongside understanding of the factors controlling the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs by the body. This knowledge will be applied to the clinical usefulness of drugs and the unwanted effects associated with drug usage.
|
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 23,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 9,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
152 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
To pass the course, students must achieve an overall course mark of 40% and achieve a mark of at least 40% in the Degree exam and the two elements of ICA combined.
Formative Assessments
Lab Report - Formative report for Expt 1
Summative Assessment
ICA1 Lab Report - Summative report for Expt 3. 20% Course mark
ICA2 - Assessed Problem ¿ class test. 20% Course Mark
Degree exam - 2h, MCQ / SAQ (3 from a choice of six). 60% Course Mark |
| Feedback |
Specific Feedback will be delivered on the following.
1. Expt 1 Laboratory Reports. Report 1 is a formative assessment. Students will receive (electronically) feedback in sufficient time to reflect on and re-evaluate their approach to the report for experiment 3 (summative). Feedback will be provided for the summative report to Experiment 3.
2. Assessed Problem: will receive written feedback on their assessed problem together with general guidance on overall strengths and weaknesses.
3. Degree Examination Answers: Feedback will be provided by the Course Organiser on request.
Students will be provided with opportunities to return anonymous feedback in a mid-course feedback survey and also in an electronic end of course survey. Student reps will be appointed and they will meet with the course team towards the end of the course (SSLC). |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- An understanding of how drugs produce their effects at the systems, cellular and molecular levels; knowledge of the uses and unwanted effects of drugs; understanding of the factors controlling the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs by the body.
- Practical skills relevant to a pharmacological laboratory in relation to, the safe handling of drugs and of animal tissue in vitro, and obtaining accurate results that can be analysed and interpreted in a meaningful manner.
- Through tutorials, laboratory practical write-ups and written assignments, appropriate competency in oral and written scientific communication.
- Understanding of the applicability of the self-learning process through a series of problem-solving, interactive sessions.
- Skills in personal organisation and group interactions, through laboratory work and data analysis activities.
|
Reading List
The recommended textbook is Rang and Dale's Pharmacology (7th Edition) by H.P. Rang, M.M. Dale, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower & G. Henderson, published by Elsevier-Churchill Livingston (2012).
lternative textbooks worth considering are:
Pharmacology Condensed (2nd Edition) by M.M. Dale & D.G Haylett, published by Churchill Livingston (2009). Short chapters and useful for getting started on a subject or for revision before going on to the main textbook.
Elseviers Integrated Review Pharmacology (2nd.Edition) by M. Kester, K.D. Karpa & K.E. Vrana, published by Saunders-Elsevier (2012). Well illustrated short chapters. Again, good for getting started and for revision.
Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (4th Edition) by D.G. Waller & A.P. Sampson, published by Saunders-Elsevier (2013). Good all round, good on therapeutics.
Brody's Human Pharmacology - Molecular to Clinical (5th Edition) by L. Wecker, L.M. Crespo, G. Dunaway, C. Faingold and S. Watts, published by Mosby-Elsevier (2010). Good all round. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
tudents will engage in developing skills in research and enquiry using a range of information sources and by embarking on group and individual work that requires investigation of the scientific literature and acquisition of practical skills and methodologies. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning and developing skills including the use of feedback. Provide opportunities to develop a range of different communication skills [report writing, discussion, debate]. Work individually or as a team member, and respect the views of colleagues. Develop effective time management skills. |
| Keywords | Receptors,ion channels,molecular pharmacology,pharmacokinetics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Philip Larkman
Tel: (0131 6)50 3517
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Christopher French
Tel:
Email: |
|
|
University Homepage