Teaching
Junior Freshman Biology
Click here for details of all Junior Freshman Biology Modules available in the academic year 2011-12.
Senior Freshman Biology
Click here for details of all Senior Freshman Biology Modules available in the academic year 2011-12.
Timetables
Michaelmas Term 2011
JUNIOR FRESHMAN
BY1101 - Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
SENIOR FRESHMAN
BY2201 - Cell Structure and Function
BY2202 - Vertebrate Form and Function
BY2203 - Metabolism
BY2204 - Evolution
Hilary Term 2012
JUNIOR FRESHMAN
BY1102 - Introduction to Evolution, Biodiversity and the Environment
SENIOR FRESHMAN
BY2205 - Microbiology
BY2206 - Ecosystem Biology and Global Change
BY2207 - Behaviour
BY2208 - Genetics
BY2209 - Infection and Immunity
BY2210 - Animal and Plant Bioresources
Foundation Scholarship 2011-12
This year’s Foundation Scholarship exams will take place in January 2012, and will follow essentially the same format as in 2010/11. General information of the Foundation Scholarship may be found on the Senior Lecturer’s website (click here), and the Science Course Office website (click here)
Each of the four Biology modules (BY2201, BY2202, BY2203 and BY2204) will form one section of a two section, three hour examination.
The modules will be arranged as follows:
Paper 1 (XID 3078): BY2201 and BY2203 (three questions each, students answer three questions, the compulsory question from each section and one other). The 2010-11 paper may be accessed here: XID 3078
(Students of the course in "Human Health and Disease", taking modules BY2201 and BY2203, will also sit this paper).
Paper 2 (XID 3153): BY2202 and BY2204 (three questions each, students answer three questions, the compulsory question from each section and one other). The 2010-11 paper may be accessed here: XID 3153 - note, however, that the rubric will differ this year to include the compulsory question on BY2202
In addition, modules BY2201, BY2202 and BY2204 (different questions) will appear as sections on a Science (Combined Subjects) paper (XID 3192), together with modules from Maths and Geology. The 2010-11 paper may be accessed here: XID 3192 - note, however, that the rubric will differ this year to include the compulsory question on BY2202 for students taking that module.
Human Genetics students taking BY2204 will be examined on this in a section on a separate ‘Human Genetics’ paper (XID 3126), which will also contain questions on the Human Genetics tutorials. The 2010-11 paper may be accessed here: XID 3126
Details of any special topics and/or reading associated with each module is given below, together with contact information for the Special Topic Coordinator for each module:
BY2201: Cell Structure and Function
Module Coordinator: Dr Ken Hun Mok (mok1@tcd.ie)
Special Topic: Neurotransmitter Release
Special Topic Coordinator: Dr Colm Cunningham (colm.cunningham@tcd.ie)
Special Reading:
The following two reviews constitute the specific extra reading for this special topic. The shorter of the two is recommended general reading for the module, but the 'Annual Review in Neuroscience' paper is quite substantial and is only expect to be read by Scholorship candidates.
Pang, Zhiping P. and Sudhof, Thomas C. 2010. Cell biology of Ca2+-triggered exocytosis. Current Opinion in Cell Biology 22: 496–505.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955067410000645 (and download PDF)
Sudhof, Thomas C. 2004. The Synaptic Vesicle Cycle. Annual Review of Neuroscience 27: 509–47.
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.neuro.26.041002.131412 (and download PDF)
Dr Cunningham will discuss details of the special topic, and the recommended special reading, during the course of his BY2201 lectures.
BY2202: Vertebrate Form and Function
Module Coordinator: Dr Aine Kelly (aikelly@tcd.ie)
Special Topic: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Special Topic Coordinator: Dr Aine Kelly (aikelly@tcd.ie)
Study guide:
The special topic for the BY2202 scholarship examination this year is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and one of your examination questions will be on the physiology of COPD. In your answer, you may be required to demonstrate that you understand the physiology underlying the causes and progression of COPD and its potential physiological consequences. You should also be familiar with the physiological rationale underlying the treatment of COPD. To aid you in understanding the physiology of COPD, you have been provided with additional reading consisting of a book chapter and three review articles recently published in the 10 September 2011 edition of The Lancet. A brief study guide to each is given below. Please note that you will not be required to reproduce figures or tables from these papers.
Book:
Sherwood, Lauralee. 2010. Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (7th edition) - Chapter on "Respiratory Physiology"
publisher - Cengage Learning-Brooks/Cole
ISBN 9780495826293 / 0495826294 (International Edition)
(Hamilton Counter Reserve - 5 copies - 612 M98*6;19 - 6;23)
(Hamilton Lending - 15 copies - S-LEN 612 M98*6;4 - 6;18)
This gives an excellent overview of fundamental Respiratory Physiology. The sections dealing with Airway Resistance are of particular relevance to COPD.
Review Articles:
Brusselle, Guy G., Joos, Guy F. and Bracke, Ken R. 2011. New insights into the immunology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Lancet 378: 1015-1026.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673611609884 (and download PDF)
This review article covers recent advances in our understanding of the inflammatory component of COPD. You should pay particular attention to the authors’ synopsis of the Therapeutic Implications of inflammation in COPD.
Martinez, Fernando J., Donohue, James F. and Rennard, Stephen I. 2011. The future of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment - difficulties of and barriers to drug development. The Lancet 378: 1027-1037.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673611610477 (and download PDF)
This review article highlights the scarcity of effective therapies for COPD and speculates on future potential therapeutic developments. Please pay particular attention to the sections devoted to the importance of further developing our understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.
Rabe, Klaus F. and Wadzicha, Jadwiga A. 2011. Controversies in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Lancet 378: 1038-1047.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673611612956 (and download PDF)
This paper highlights the complexity of COPD and the gaps remaining in our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. You should pay particular attention to the comments on methods for diagnosis of COPD.
Dr Kelly will meet with students to discuss details of the Scholarship paper and special reading during the BY2202 module.
BY2203: Metabolism
Module Coordinator: Dr Ken Hun Mok (mok1@tcd.ie)
Special Topic: Lipid Biosynthetic Pathways
Special Topic Coordinator: Dr Anne Molloy (amolloy@tcd.ie)
Special Reading:
Li, Lei O., Klett, Eric L. and Coleman, Rosalind A. 2010. Acyl-CoA synthesis, lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity. Biochim Biophys Acta 1801(3): 246-251.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388198109002376 (and download PDF)
Leibundgut, Marc, Maier, Timm, Jenni, Simon and Ban, Nenad. 2008. The multienzyme architecture of eukaryotic fatty acid synthases. Current Opinion in Structural Biology 18: 714-725.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959440X08001450 (and download PDF)
Lago, Francisca, Gómez, Rodolfo, Gómez-Reino, Juan J., Dieguez, Carlos and Gualillo, Oreste. 2009. Adipokines as novel modulators of lipid metabolism. Trends in Biochemical Sciences 34(10): 500-510.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0968000409001418 (and download PDF)
Gnoni1, Gabriele V., Priore, Paola, Geelen, Math J. H. and Siculella, Luisa. 2009. The Mitochondrial Citrate Carrier: Metabolic Role and Regulation of its Activity and Expression. IUBMB Life 61(10): 987-994.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=17&sid=ee6f6cb2-0fed-4fe2-b246-14467302fd2e%40sessionmgr15&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=44435711(and download PDF)
Strable, Maggie S. and Ntambi, James M. 2010. Genetic control of de novo lipogenesis: role in diet-induced obesity. Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 45(3): 199-214.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=17&sid=2c3e8271-399a-4d5e-a33c-f384e8ec3ae6%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=50620190(and download PDF)
Csaki, Lauren S. and Reue, Karen. 2010. Lipins: Multifunctional Lipid Metabolism Proteins. Annual Review of Nutrition 30: 257-272.
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.nutr.012809.104729 (and download PDF)
Goldstein, Joseph L., DeBose-Boyd, Russell A. and Brown, Michael S. 2006. Protein Sensors for Membrane Sterols. Cell 124: 35-46.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867405014637 (and download PDF)
Wakil, Salih J. and Abu-Elheiga, Lutfi A. 2009. Fatty acid metabolism: target for metabolic syndrom. Journal of Lipid Research 50(Supplement): S138-S143.
http://www.jlr.org/content/50/Supplement/S138.full.pdf+html
Charlton-Menys, V. and Durrington, P.N. 2008. Human colesterol metabolism and therapeutic molecules. Experimental Physiology 93(1): 27-42.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/expphysiol.2006.035147/abstract (and download PDF)
Dr Molloy will discuss details of this special topic and, in particular, the recommended special reading, during the course of her BY2203 lectures.
BY2204: Evolution
Module Coordinator: Dr Mario Fares (faresm@tcd.ie)
Special Topic: Global Change and Evolution
Special Topic Coordinator: Dr Trevor Hodkinson (hodkinst@tcd.ie)
This is a broad topic covering evolution in a changing world. The Earth's geology, chemistry and life changed has changed substantially since its beginning and reading could focus on topics such as the influence of atmospheric gases, plate tectonics, and climate change on evolution (including origination and extinction). See lecture notes for reference material on this topic (all in the Hamilton Library, including S-LEN) including:
Beerling, David J. 2008. The Emerald Planet: How Plants Changed Earth's History. - Chapters 1-3
publisher - Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
ISBN 9780199548149 / 0199548145
(Santry Stacks - PB-287-752)
(Lecky Open Access - 561 P7 [2007 edition])
Bouchenak-Khelladi, Yanis et al. 2011. Savanna Biome Evolution.
and
Hodkinson, Trevor R. 2011. Integrating Ecology and Systematics in Climate Change Research.
In Hodkinson, Trevor R., Jones, Michael B., Waldren, Stephen and Parnell, John A.N. (eds). 2011. Climate Change, Ecology and Systematics.
publisher - Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
ISBN 9780521766098 / 0521766095
(Hamilton Open Access - BM 574 L194.78)
(Hamilton Lending - 4 copies - BM 574 L194.78;1 - 78;4)
Reece, Jane B. 2011. Campbell Biology (9th edition) - Chapter 25: History of Life on Earth.
publisher - Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, San Francisco, CA
ISBN 9781408277379
(Hamilton Counter Reserve - 5 copies - 574 M84*8;1 - 8;5)
(Hamilton Lending - 30 copies - S-LEN 574 M84*8;6 - 8;35)