Course Catalogue

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The aim of the course is to provide students with the fundamental concepts of biomolecular engineering.  The course will provide the students with an understanding of the structure and function of key molecules in the biological processes of information storage and energy metabolism. The course will introduce the students to how these molecules can be integrated into biomedical engineering applications and tools.

2 x 1 hour lectures per week

1 laboratory session

6 x1 hour tutorial sessions

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

40% continuous assessments delivered as 1 class test (10%) and 3 Moodle quizzes using a range of question formats (10% each)

30% Report: Laboratory report

10% group presentation based on journal club.

20% essay.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

A reassessment for the group presentation cannot be offered.

The aims of this course are to:

■ describe the structure and function of key molecules of biology: enzymes, DNA and ATP;

■ introduce students to how these molecules interact to give rise to fundamental processes of biology: information storage and metabolism;

■ provide students with the basic methodology to study enzymatic reactions;

■ introduce students to the possibilities of integrating knowledge on different molecules to construct bioengineering technologies, illustrated through next generation sequencing methods.

■ Introduce the students to the ethical contexts in biomedical engineering applications.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ explain the mechanisms of enzymatic reactions and determine key kinetic properties of these reactions;

■ describe the processes of energy metabolism in mammalian organisms and detail the roles of ATP and enzymes in these processes;

■ explain how DNA can form complex structures and how these structures are used to store information in cells;

■ explain how proteins can recognize DNA molecules;

■ apply the knowledge of the function of enzymes and the structure of DNA with respect to the principle of next generation sequencing methods;

■ explain how knowledge of the DNA sequence can be used in biomedical applications.

■ Outline ethical questions in a range of biomedical engineering applications.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Students must attend the timetabled laboratory classes and engage with the journal club activity.