Cellular Communication module (BS21002)

Cellular communication is at the heart of how living organisms coordinate their activities, respond to their environment, and maintain health.

​You will learn about the diverse mechanisms by which cells receive, transmit and respond to signals. This includes paracrine, endocrine and neural communication to the molecular detail of receptor activation, hormone action and gene expression changes.

​You will examine:

• how steroid and peptide hormones act
• compare and contrast different modes of signalling, including neurotransmission
• explore cell signalling in plants
• study how the cell cycle is regulated

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn about the key mechanisms of inter- and intra-cellular communication. This will be done with reference to biological and biomedical contexts

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• describe key extracellular signalling molecules, receptor types and cell responses. This will include changes in gene expression and protein modifications
• explain the general modes of action of steroid and peptide hormones
• compare and contrast neurotransmission with hormonal signalling
• describe cell signalling mechanisms in plants
• explain how the cell cycle is regulated
• access and use a range of learning resources. You will be able to evaluate your own learning, and extract relevant information from the scientific literature

Assignments / assessment

Exam (60%)

• December exam diet
• Computer marked assessment (>Multiple-choice style)
• Practice assessment given on week 7 with feedback soon after

Written assessment (40%)

• Structured written report
• Given in week 3
• Due in week 6

Teaching methods / timetable

• Lectures
  • These will be around two hours each Monday
    • Topics that will be covered in lectures are:
      • G-protein coupled receptors
      • Kinase-linked receptors
      • Post-translational modifications
      • Peptide hormones
      • Steroid hormones
      • Cytokines
      • Signalling in plants
      • Signalling in cancer
      • Signalling in development
• Workshop
  • This will consist of preparation for the coursework assignment
• Weekly recap sessions
  • These will be around one hour each Thursday. They will also include Q&A sessions on the week’s topics