Biomedical Sciences BSc (Hons)

This module describes the detailed composition of cells and the processes by which they obtain and generate energy, grow, replicate and eventually die.
The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources and illustrated with some of the latest research methods that are used to study cell structure and function.
Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.
The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

This module describes the evolutionary processes that have resulted in the generation of the diverse life forms that populate the planet.

This includes the theory of evolution by natural selection, and the genetic processes that result in gene evolution and diversity.

Selected scenarios and case studies will apply evolutionary concepts, showing the fundamental importance of evolution to a broad range of the life sciences.

The module is split into two parts: the first part (A) is the same for all students, the second part (B) contains a number of parallel strands tailored to students interest.

Students will be advised by their programme director which strand to follow. 

The lectures will be supplemented with a variety of on-line resources.

Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by continuous assessments.

​This module introduces students to how grand challenges (scientific and societal) are addressed in universities and in particular at the University of Liverpool. Students will be introduced to four major topics (Infections and Global Health, Ageing, Food Security, Personalised Medicines) by experts in the respective fields. Emphasis will be placed on students understanding concepts and assembling information rather than memorizing facts. The material will be delivered based on the concept of a scientific conference with plenary talks and parallel sessions presented by the lecturers, and (in light of Covid-19 driven procedures at scientific meetings) a video session driven by student input. Assessment of lecture material and associated readings will be by continuous assessment.

This is the first practical module that students will take in the School of Life Sciences. The skills that students acquire will be needed for other practical modules that they will take in semester 2 Year 1, and during Year 2 and will prepare them for their year 3 research project and for their subsequent career.
This module is designed to teach the basic multidisciplinary skills required in the biological sciences.

It aims to develop careful working practices, experimental design and interpretation of results. Skills acquired in this module will be both utilised and enhanced by the co-requisite module LIFE 109 (communication and study skills and quantitative skills).

The way in which LIFE 107 is taught and assessed is designed to place emphasis on encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning . Demonstrators and academic staff will be on hand to answer questions or show students how to use lab equipment.

Resources will be available online via VITAL and include a weekly Blog, technical manual, module handbook, lab instruction manual and weekly lectures.
The module will be taught in weekly practical classes and it will be assessed through continuous assessment (assessment 1-2) and a final exam (assessment 3).

For any student studying the Biological Sciences a firm grasp of quantitiative skills is an absolute necessity. This module will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to manipulate numbers and analysis/visualise data using digital tools. The module emphasises a "learn by doing" approach to the development of quantitative skills and is heavily workshop based.

to provide students with study and communication skills for higher education in the Life Sciences;

to develop students’ ability to reflect on their progress and use feedback to identify opportunities for personal development;

to develop students’ appreciation of the application of these skills to future employment.

This module will provide the foundation for future studies on the molecular basis of life and disease. It covers basic biochemistry and immunity and how these fields can provide a molecular explanation for life and disease. The module will encourage confidence, teamwork and communication through active learning in lectures and workshops centred around authentic assessments.

This module introduces students to the fundamentals of human physiology and pharmacology and how they complement each other. The lectures will be supported with a range of learning support materials, for example multimedia and text based resources. Students will also be provided the opportunity to consolidate and extend their learning through a variety of assessments. The module will be assessed via two assessments; the first in week 6, which is a group poster worth 25% and an individual abstract for the poster worth 15%; the second at the end of the module, after week 12, which is a MCQ / MAQ assessment worth the remaining 60% for the module.

This module has a focus on the fundamental principles of physiology such has homeostasis and control of normal function, including examples such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems, plus others. In addition, the module introduces the underlying elements required to develop an understanding to study pharmacology in more detail. Its systems approach provides a solid foundation upon which a number of Biological and also Biomedical degrees can flourish.

This module introduces students to modern genetics and developmental biology at an introductory level. Using examples taken from across the biosciences and medicine, students will develop their understanding of the inheritance of genetic traits, how mutation can lead to disease and the molecular techniques used to study genes. They will also be introduced to development from meiosis and germ cell formation through to organogenesis, emphasising both the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms involved and the embryological processes. Students will explore current advances in both fields including current and potential use of gene editing techniques and stem cells in therapeutics, and will consider the ethical implications of these advances.
The module is taught through a combination of lectures and workshops incorporating problem solving and discussion, with an emphasis on an appreciation of the techniques and experimental evidence underpinning the material. Assessment is by a combination of a written examination and a group ethics poster presentation.

This course introduces widely used laboratory concepts and practical techniques that are relevant to academic research, industry and medical applications.

This module will provide an understanding of the quantitative aspects of drug action on cellular receptors and will address the relationship between drug efficacy and chemical structure.

The module will introduce the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, outline the relationship between drug concentration and response, and include an introduction to the principles of toxicity of drugs and their metabolites.

The module will provide knowledge of the molecular biology of receptors.

The lectures will be supplemented with online resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

This module will describe the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to communicate with each other;

The basic properties common to all signalling pathways will be studied and then a series of individual pathways will be examined in more detail, in the light of these general principles;

The importance of cellular signalling mechanisms will be illustrated by examining diseases (e.g. cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, neurological disorders) that result from defects in these mechanisms;

The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module;

The module will be assessed by continuous assessment

This module aims to provide the essential background knowledge to understand key concepts in neuroscience. It covers the principles of operation of nervous system, systematic and sensory neurophysiology, excitotoxicity and behaviour. The module also provides essential background knowledge to understand the key principles of endocrinology, and how it contributes to physiological homeostasis. It covers the secretions, functions and regulation of the major endocrine glands. The module also explores the role of the nervous and endocrine systems in the integrative control of the digestive tract. The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module. The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

This practical module aims to provide practical and theoretical experience in techniques currently used in cell biology. These techniques include assay, culture, histology and microscopy. The module is assessed through coursework and a final exam.

This module will continue, extend, and broaden the transferable skills developed in Year 1. It will focus on improving the students’ analytical, communication, quantitative, and employability skills. The communication skills component is assessed through a portfolio whereas the quantitative skills component is assessed through a group poster and SAQ.

Many aspects of modern biology are being revolutionized by high-throughput methods that make copious amounts of data available in digital form. The aim of this module is to provide students with a practical appreciation of the nature and significance of this revolution. While the focus will be on analysis of data from areas such as genome sequencing, gene expression, and protein structure studies, the module will also look at use of such data in the context of understanding higher order phenomena within cells, such as metabolism, gene regulation, and protein-protein interaction. The module is continuously assessed.​​

Many aspects of modern biology are being revolutionized by high-throughput methods that make copious amounts of data available in digital form. The aim of this module is to provide students with a practical appreciation of the nature and significance of this revolution. While the focus will be on analysis of data from areas such as genome sequencing, gene expression, and protein structure studies, the module will also look at use of such data in the context of understanding higher order phenomena within cells, such as metabolism, gene regulation, and protein-protein interaction. The module is continuously assessed.​​​

The module will develop knowledge and understanding of the immune system, the molecules, cells and tissues that are involved in its function, its role in combating infection and how its dysfunction can contribute to disease.

Lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Problem solving workshops dedicated to case studies will be held to help students prepare for the assessments. Students will be given guided reading, and formative and summative assessment exercises held during the course will enable students to monitor and evaluate their progress and to prepare for the final assessment.

The module will be assessed by two assessments.

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental processes whereby genetic information is expressed as proteins in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module. The module will be assessed two assessments.

The Biochemistry and Pharmacology programmes, and at UoL require students to have studied chemistry to A level or equivalent standard. The Biological Chemistry module is designed to build on this background, and the chemical content of the Year 1 modules, especially LIFE101 and LIFE102 (which is designed for all students) to develop chemical understanding and analytical skills to support later modules in structural and mechanistic biochemistry, medicinal chemistry and pharmacokinetics. The module may also be taken by C130 or C100 students with the appropriate chemical background to equip them to study some of these later modules as part of their general programmes.

This module aims to describe the structure and function of fundamental tissues, such as epithelial and connective tissue and of specialised tissues such as bone, muscle and the nervous system. An introduction to the mechanisms by which cells differentiate to form different tissues and regenerate following injury will be included. The processes that occur during aging will be explained with special reference to changes in key tissues and organs. The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources, guided reading and formative assessment exercises that will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module. The module will be assessed by both continuous assessment and by a final examination.​

This module is an introduction to modern virology.

The module provides an overview of different virus families and aims to explain the fundamental properties of different viruses, their infection in different organisms, their detection and control, and positive applications of viruses.

The lectures will be supplemented with online resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

The aim of this practical module is to develop students’ core experimental skills in human physiology, including methods to measure the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Students will thus improve their understanding of scientific method, and develop teamworking and presentation skills. During the practical classes and plenary lectures students will be introduced to various techniques for measuring physiological variables. Then they will learn how to apply appropriate statistical tools to define the normal or expected range for physiological variables. Students will learn how to design experiments and how to assess the accuracy and precision of data, and identify sources of error. The module is continuously assessed.

This module is a 6 weeks molecular biology practical to provide experience in techniques to isolate, clone and analyse genes (analysis of DNA fragments by agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR, transformations, plasmid DNA preparations, gene cloning). The module has a range of different formative and summative assessments to include in-course problem-solving exercises, online quizzes and abstract writing, which ensure the student becomes confident to continue genetic manipulations in specialist Year 2 Semester 2 practical modules and for project work in Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology.  ​The module will encourage confidence, teamwork and communication through active learning in lectures and practicals centred around authentic assessments.

This module aims to enable students to develop their understanding of the cardiovascular, endocrine and central nervous systems and the mechanisms by which drugs interact with physiological processes operating within each of these systems. They will also gain an appreciation of the drug development process, including clinical trials and drug regulation. The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises in class will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module. The module will be assessed by through two online assessments.

This module aims to introduce students with an interest in Genetics and Molecular Biology to the range of biological mechanisms that control structure and stability of the genetic material and their impact on health and disease.

It uses examples from both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, to develop principles that explain DNA replication, repair and recombination. These principles and processes are then discussed in a clinical/medical genetics context.

The lectures will be supplemented with on-line resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

This module will examine the ways in which biological processes are applied for solving technological processes.

Examples of specific processes will be used including production of antibiotics, biomass, single cell protein, biopolymers, vaccines and other therapeutic agents.

The lectures will be supplemented with on-line reading resources. Students will be given guided reading, and regular formative assessment exercises will enable students to evaluate their understanding of the module.

The module will be assessed by two assessments.

This module aims to provide practical experience in many of the techniques specifically used in the study of Pharmacology. It will also provide you with the specialist skills and knowledge of techniques necessary to undertake practical work and project work in Year Three. Each practical will be introduced through a 15-20 minute presentation and will run for 3 hours. The module will be assessed through a report describing the experimental techniques and main findings of one of the key practicals, and through a final online assessment aimed at evaluating student understanding of the experimental approaches, underpinning pharmacological principles and data processing/interpretation.

This module will provide practical experience in advanced biochemical techniques. Students, working in small groups (of 4, exceptionally 3) will plan and perform two experimental projects: one on enzyme stability, and the other on protein purification. This module is required for students intending to enter the Biochemistry Honours School and is continuously assessed.

This practical module aims to provide students with an opportunity to learn and apply a range of microbiological laboratory techniques in order to develop their ability to plan and execute research projects in microbiology. The module is continuously assessed.

This practical module will enhance knowledge and understanding of the biology and control of parasites of medical importance and their vectors. This is achieved through a series of laboratory experiments and plenary lectures. Topics will include the diagnosis and pathology of parasitic infections; interactions between the environment, humans, mosquitoes, and their parasites; techniques for the control of vectors, including susceptibility to insecticides; data handling and interpretation. The module is continuously assessed.

This module provides students with experience in the planning, design, and execution of a research project in the area of their programme discipline. The project will encompass a range of approaches including laboratory work, fieldwork, outreach work and data, and / or literature analysis depending on the nature of the project. Students will write an evaluative report on a relevant scientific area and work in collaboration with an academic supervisor to develop, plan, carry out, and record research work. The supervisor will hold regular discussion meetings with the student, and both will contribute to a reflective record of progress. Students will be expected to communicate their findings orally and in a variety of written formats.

This module will introduce the concepts that are fundamental to modern ideas in biophysics and cell signalling in both health and disease. It will provide students with the ability to access, collate and discuss the modern literature in cell signalling from a systems physiology perspective. Successful students will develop the skills required for interpretation of experimental cell signalling data. The module will be taught through a series of lectures and tutorials and will be assessed by both continuous assessment and by a final examination.

This module will cover selected diseases which will be discussed in terms of a number of clearly-identified processes from the clinical presentation of the disease to our understanding of the underlying anatomy, physiology, pathology, and current therapies.

Sucessful students will achieve an integrated and cross-disciplinary understanding of disease processes.  They will also attain a knowledge of current thinking on the underlying cause of each disease and how scientific tools can be used to develop novel approaches for new treatments. Students will be required to think across the various disciplines they have studied at Level 4 and 5 in their quest to understand disease mechanisms.

The module will be taught by lectures and tutorials and it will be assessed by a formal final examination and continuous assessment.

The module aims to provide a set of related skills in the context of biological and medical sciences, including evaluation of scientific literature, oral, written, and multimedia presentation skills, data analysis and problem solving. These are designed to help students enhance the execution and presentation of their research project, prepare them for Level 6 assessments and maximise their employment and personal development opportunities. The module will be taught through lectures, workshops and groupwork, and it will be assessed by continuous assessment.

The aim of this module is to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology. It will develop an awareness of the basic pathophysiology of major cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It will also explain the mechanisms of action of drugs at the molecular, cellular, organ, and system levels in health and disease. The module is taught through short asynchronous course content delivery and face to face tutorial and revision sessions held in person in lecture theatres. It will be assessed according to the two teaching-cycle model with an assessment at week 8 (40%, 1,250 words) and a final assessment at the end of the course (60%, 1,750 words).

​ The aim of this module is to  provide a contemporary review of drug treatment for the most common disorders of the brain, focusing on pathophysiology, receptors and ion channels as drug targets, and the mechanisms of action of key classes of neuropharmacological agents The module will be assessed by both continuous assessment and by a final examination.

This module aims to develop an advanced understanding of modern medical genetics. It will develop fundamental principles introduced at level 5, including the identification of disease genes, epigenetics, genome instability, cytogenetics and post-genomic approaches. These processes will be explained in the context of clinical genetics, in a manner that illustrates the variety of genetic phenomena that affect human health. The module also aims to develop a critical awareness of the ethical considerations raised by advances is clinical genetics. Content will be delivered through a mixture of lectures and workshops with discussion. In workshops, students will participate by considering the appropriate genetic analyses and techniques that should be utilised in a variety of clinical scenarios, together with the arising ethical concerns. Stream capture of all sessions will be available on VITAL, together with additional resources. The module is assessed by an in course written test (examination) and by a final examination.

This module aims to provide students with a systematic knowledge and critical understanding of how patterns of gene expression in an organism alter in response to environmental changes, growth and development;

It will explain the steps at which control of gene expression can be exerted, focusing on eukaryotic cells;

The module will be taught through lectures and assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

This module will develop an understanding of the concepts fundamental to modern ideas in the physiology of muscles and neurons, related human diseases and model organisms. It will also develop in students the skills to access, collate and discuss the modern literature and to interpret experimental data in neuromuscular physiology. The module will be taught in lectures and tutorials and it will be assessed by both continuous assessment and by a final examination.

The module trains students in molecular oncology, with an emphasis on how scientific advances are translated into clinical practice for patient benefit. This transition from basic biology of cancer to the technologies actually used in cancer diagnosis and treatment, is usually called "translational cancer research" and it is a major focus of the Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, whose scientists will teach the module.
Oncology, whether approached from the clinic, research or the pharmaceutical industry, is a very important career path for Life Sciences graduates. Final year biomedical students will have already seen some aspects of the molecular basis of cancer, through their learning of normal cellular function. This module will strengthen their knowledge of the biochemistry of cancer and will integrate it with the pathology in a cancer patient and the epidemiology and prognosis of cancer.
Students will learn about diagnostic technology, treatment and clinical trials. The module is taught in four topics: 1) introduction to cancer biology; 2) haematological; 3) head and neck and 4) pancreatic cancer.

These themes are delivered as lectures, followed by formative tutorials.
The module assessment comprises two essays.

This module aims to describe the major features of the structure and life histories of a range of protozoan and helminth parasites of humans. It describes the causes of major clinical symptoms and pathology attributable to these parasites and describes major approaches to their prevention and control. The module is delivered in four main themes, diagnostics, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and control. The module will be delivered through lectures and is assessed by formal examination and continuous assessment.

The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of cancer development and progression and how this is exploited in the rational design of drugs to target cancer. A further aim is to explain the molecular mechanism of anti-cancer drugs and the potential for side-effects, drug toxicity and drug resistance. The module will be assessed by continuous assessment in the form of a student presentation, and by a final examination. Module material will be delivered primarily through standard lectures. For independent learning, materials such as lecture handouts and links to research articles will be available on VITAL. Students will be directed to further key articles in the literature (textbooks, original papers, and review articles) and be expected to use this material to inform their independent learning. One class revision tutorial will be held at the end of the course.​

​The aim of this module is to introduce current concepts of mechanisms by which cells are killed by toxic chemicals with particular emphasis on drugs. It will also outline the main defence mechanisms that cells possess against injury . The module will be assessed by both continuous assessments and by a final examination.

The main aim of this module is to develop students’ understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to tumour formation and be able to critically read published papers on the biology of cancer. In the first part of the module, the students will learn about the molecular and cellular mechanisms that lead to tumour formation. This includes understanding the origin of cancer by studying the mutations causing cancer and the genome instability. A bioinformatic workshop and a case study exercise on mutations in cancer cells will complement the lectures. This leads to the identification of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. The second part focuses on the general cancer hallmarks acquired during the development of human cancer, including the role of tumour microenvironment and cancer stem cells. The third part of the module will cover therapeutic strategies including drug design, targeted therapies, and a clinical viewpoint. The module will be assessed by both continuous assessment and a final examination.

​ This module introduces advanced principles of the application of molecular approaches to the study and treatment of human disease. Selected topics, namely inherited disorders, post-genomic medicine and drug discovery, the therapeutic potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine, and diseases associated with the extracellular matrix are presented in detail. The module will be assessed by both continuous assessment and a final examination.  

This module provides a review of the role of viruses as important pathogens of humans and animals. A broad overview of viral virulence mechanisms, immune evasion and vaccine development will be given followed by detailed consideration of significant groups of viruses. The module is assessed by formal examination and continuous assessment.

This module describes the mechanistic diversity and common themes of bacterial infection. The pathogenesis of infection is described from first contact with the host to explain the importance of attachment, colonisation and avoidance of the immune system through to persistence and chronic infection. Pathogenesis is described in terms of common themes and the variation between pathogens due to their complement of virulence determinants by covering multiple, key bacterial pathogens. Lectures are delivered on broad aspects such as subversion of the host, expression of bacterial toxins and expression, motility loci and intracellular survival. Specific disease mechanisms used by major human pathogens are outlined to demonstrate the complexity and multicomponent aspects leading to successful infection. The use of infection models to study infection and techniques to assay the contribution of both individual and multiple genes are described. The importance of temporal regulation of virulence determinant expression is outlined along with gene mobilisation via phages, plasmids and transposons. Resistance to antimicrobials and the future prospects for treatment are featured. The module is assessed by formal examination and continuous assessment.

The module gives students a broad understanding of the public health significance of tropical infectious and non-infectious diseases.

It aims to enhance awareness of the global distribution of disease and the impact of poverty induced inequalities in access to effective and affordable treatments.

The module is assessed by equally weighted formal examination and continuous assessment.

​ This module allows students to undertake an employment placement that will be undertaken during the summer-break between Year 2 and Year 3. Students will have to find and secure their own placement, which will need to be approved by the module leader beforehand. Placements will typically be 6-8 weeks. Early in Year 2 there will be an introductory event to present the module and advise students on how to search for placement opportunities. This session will be available to all students (including those who do not wish to enrol on the placement module). Students will be encouraged to search for placements during Semester 1, with the support of Academic Advisers and the Careers and Employability Service. Other seminar activities will take place during Semester 2 of Year 2 to prepare students for the placement work. More taught sessions will be delivered in early Semester 1 of Year 3, which include lectures on relevant psychological theories and research (e.g., workplace performance, leadership, motivation) and reflective group sessions on placement experience. The module will provide students with an opportunity to develop their employability skills by direct engagement in a commercial, research, voluntary or similar professional organisation that will support future plans, develop skills and graduate attributes. Module assessments include a skill audit and reflective log to be completed before and during practical work placement, and final written recommendations-to-employer report based on reflection on the placement experience of the individual student and the wider cohort, supported by relevant employability and occupational theories.