Modules (2025)

 

Each module runs for two weeks and consists of five lectures plus a tutorial. These tutorial sessions are used to recap the material, answer any questions, and practice past papers.

 

Each module is associated with a lab (except module 6), thus, to make sense of the lab, it is important to keep up with the module content. 

 

1. Protein Structure with Associate Professor Shaun Lott

 

This module is essentially the basics of biochemistry, and good understanding of this topic is helpful for the rest of the course. The following topics were covered: 

• Amino acids and their properties

• The peptide bond and its influence on secondary and tertiary structure

• Molecular enzymology and the importance of pKa

• Methods of structural determination and prediction

• Thermodynamic and kinetic principles of protein folding

 

There is quite a bit of rote learning in this module — you will need to know all of the 20 amino acids and their structural chemistry, including their chirality and side-chain characteristics, but the content is highly beneficial, and Shaun Lott has many tips and tricks for learning it. 

 

2. Multimeric Proteins and Molecular Machines with Dr Jamie Taka

 

Module 2 continues off Module 1, diving into quaternary structures — multimeric proteins of more than one amino acid chain. It looks at how proteins interact and work together to trigger specific cellular responses. The module consisted of the following topics:

• Multimeric Proteins: Hemoglobin and the Transport of Oxygen

• Molecular Machines: Introduction to ATP Synthase and the Rotary Motor

• Molecular Machines: The Rotary Catalysis of ATP

• Molecular Machines: Flexing Myosin

• Molecular Machines: Intracellular Traffic by Kinesin and Dynein

 

This module was (unexpectedly) quite enjoyable and it was interesting to see the workings of systems we learn about in other courses. The concepts were not too hard to grasp, thanks to  the lecturer — Jamie Taka taught at a good pace and often went over the harder concepts multiple times.

 

3. Signal Transduction with Dr Monica Kam

 

The module builds on Dr Monica Kam’s signal transduction module in BIOSCI106. There is more of a focus on physiological processes related to each signal transduction pathway. We looked at how defects in the signal transduction pathway could lead to disease, and how we could potentially develop drug treatments. The module covered the following topics:

• Introduction to Signal Transduction

• GPCR activation, G proteins, effectors & second messengers

• Receptor tyrosine kinases

• Ligand-gated ion channels

 

It was interesting to see how small changes in molecular processes, interrupting the signal transduction pathway, could link to very common diseases like diabetes, hypertension, cancers, etc. Like in BIOSCI 106, Monica Kam explains concepts very clearly and prefers to draw diagrams and annotate her slides, making her lectures interactive and enjoyable.

 

4. Metabolism with Professor Kerry Loomes

 

Module 4 expands on the metabolic pathways content taught by Kerry Loomes in BIOSCI 106. The module focused on how these metabolic pathways are coordinated together to produce a concerted response, especially with regard to carbohydrate metabolism and exercise, and how they are altered in cancer and diabetes mellitus. The topics in this module in 2025 were:

• Overview refresher on the metabolic pathways

• Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism

• Metabolism and exercise

• Metabolism and cancer

• Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus

 

There is also significant rote learning due to the number of pathways and elements in the pathways. However, once you get the basics, it is easier to link the rest of the module and understand the main concepts. This module is taught in similar fashion to his module in BIOSCI 106. 

 

5. Nutrition with Associate Professor Jennifer Miles-Chan

 

This module is about how the body regulates energy intake, energy stores and energy expenditure in order to maintain equilibrium and its relationship with human health and disease. The module covered the following topics:

• Principles of Energy Balance

• Regulation of Energy Balance in the Fed State

• Effect of Fasting & Starvation on Energy Balance

• Diet-Induced Thermogenesis

 

This module was a great introduction to nutrition with more of a focus on physiological responses. The concepts were straight forward and Jennifer Miles-Chan would make sure to emphasise and repeat important points. The diagrams and readings used to support the concepts were also very helpful (as well as her enthusiasm!). 

 

6. Biochemistry of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr Kathryn Jones

 

This module combines the knowledge from the other modules to understand the basic biochemistry of Alzheimer's disease, almost like a case study. There is a focus on the proteins, enzymes and cellular processes important in the prodromal (pre-symptomatic) and pathological course of the disease, and how they can be manipulated into a possible treatment. The lectures in this module were:

• Introduction to Alzheimer’s Disease.

• Alzheimer’s Disease Biochemistry.

• The Secretases

• Therapeutic Strategies: Reducing Aβ42

• Therapeutic Strategies: Immunotherapies

• How Tau fits in 

 

I really enjoyed this module and it was nice to see how all the modules link together. It was really interesting to learn and debate about all the different theories and evidence related to Alzheimer’s Disease. I liked how Kathryn Jones started each lecture with a summary of the previous lecture to emphasise the key concepts and aid in exam study. There is no lab associated with this lecture module.

 

Labs (2025)

 

The labs were all enjoyable and supported the lecture content. As mentioned previously, each lab links to a module — the lecturer teaching that module will be leading the lab, so make sure to ask any questions you have about lecture/lab content or about their field of research. They are all friendly people and very easy to talk to!

 

Most (almost all) lab assignments required experimental results to be displayed in a graph/figure, thus there were a lot of figure legends to write — it did get a bit repetitive, but this is an important skill required for many other courses and lab work, so it is a great opportunity to practice. There is no assigned pre-lab, but each lab is supported by introductory videos/slides which are best viewed before entering the lab. As for lab assignment marking, each lecturer has different expectations (some prefer one sentence per mark, while others expect more detail), so do check the rubric or with the lecturer/lab teaching assistants. 

 

Lab 1: Protein Structure

This lab measures ionization of the amino acid tyrosine in order to determine the pKa of the ionization of its side-chain. 

 

Lab 2: Beetroot ATPase

In this lab, the activity of a Vacuolar ATPase extracted from beetroot is measured.

 

Lab 3: cAMP Assay

This lab aims to screen potential drug candidates by measuring cAMP levels following stimulation of a G protein-coupled receptor by agonists and antagonists.

 

Lab 4: Lactate Fermentation

This lab follows the production of lactate using yoghurt as a model system.

 

Lab 5: Biochemical Detective

In this lab, you conduct an urinalysis to match urine samples to patients. 

 

Assessment details

 

As of 2025, cheat sheets are no longer permitted in stage 2 BIOSCIs and above. Don’t stress out too much though, as the grades achieved without cheat sheets are very similar to those years where cheat sheets were used! 

 

Test: Module 1 and 2

The first 2 modules are examined in Test 1 and not examined again in the exam. Test 1 usually occurs before the mid-semester break, sometime in week 6. It is a one hour test with 10 minutes reading time consisting of multiple choice and long answer questions. 

 

Exam: Module 3, 4, 5 and 6

The content examined will be the lectures from the last four modules and is a two hour exam with 10 minutes reading time consisting of multiple choice and long answer questions. 

 

Post-module quizzes

These are online (Canvas) revision quizzes which are provided for each module to summarise the content. You can attempt these more than once in order to get the question correct, so I encourage you to do these for easy marks!! They are also a great revision tool to see where you are at with your learning.