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BIOL2421: IMMUNE SYSTEMS

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Type	Open
Level	2
Credits	20
Availability	Available in 2023/24
Module Cap
Location	Durham
Department	Biosciences

Prerequisites

Level 1 Introduction to Physiology (BIOL1151); Level 1 Molecules and Cells (BIOL1281).

Corequisites

At least one other Level 2 Biological Sciences Module.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

None.

Aims

To provide a thorough grounding in aspects of host defence in humans, animals, model organisms (including bacteria) and plants.
To explore immunity at the molecular, cellular, tissue and whole organism level.
To relate immunity to health and disease, caused by both endogenous and exogenous factors.

Content

Innate Immunity.
Adaptive immunity.
Nutritional immunity.
Host defence

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

Knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of adaptive and innate immunity.
Understanding aspects of immune protection and immunopathology related to the mucosa.
Knowledge of how host-defence operates in protecting plants and animals from pathogens.

Subject-specific Skills:

Understanding practical techniques used in antigen detection, antigen characterisation and diagnostics development.

Key Skills:

Numeracy, in data analysis, and calculations involved in data handling.
Communication skills, using the written word and graphics, involved in practical reports.
Team work.
Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
Workshops reinforce subject-specific knowledge and understanding gained from lectures and the development of key and subject-specific skills.
Practical Exercises allow students to utilise subject-specific knowledge gained from lectures, and support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
Tutorials give enhancement of the student learning experience, supporting attainment of all learning outcomes.
Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
Practical Exercises are based on subject-specific knowledge and demonstrate subject-specific skills in understanding experimental work and data analysis.
Problem Exercises (Data Handling) demonstrate subject-specific skills in data handling and key skills in numeracy.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total	Monitored
Lectures	24	Weekly	2 hours p / w	24
Practical Exercises	3	1-2 per term	4 hours	12	Yes
Workshops	4	2 per term	1 hour	4	Yes
Tutorials	2	1 per term	1 hour	2	Yes
Preparation & Reading				158
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Continuous Assessment		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Science communication exercise		50	Yes
Analytical exercise		50	Yes

Formative Assessment

Formative assessments will be provided to develop the skills for each summative assessment as appropriate.

More information

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