Study information

Physical Methods in Biology and Medicine - 2023 entry

MODULE TITLEPhysical Methods in Biology and Medicine CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEPHYM008 MODULE CONVENERProf Francesca Palombo (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 34
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
This module will discuss principles and current techniques used for the understanding of biology at cellular and molecular level and the particular challenges arising in their application to living systems. In addition it will highlight some of the contributions these approaches can make to medicine and the life sciences.
 
AIMS - intentions of the module
Advances both in understanding biology at the cellular and molecular level as well as clinical diagnosis are increasingly dependent on the availability of new experimental techniques that are almost always based on physics ideas and principles. This module aims to give students an understanding of the physical basis of these techniques as well as their strengths and weaknesses, potential and limitations while also providing a concise introduction into muscle biophysics.
 
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
A student who has passed this module should be able to:
 
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1. describe and explain the physical consequences of the physical make-up of biological cells especially cardiac and skeletal muscle cells;
2. analyse and explain, by applying the general principles of physics and optics, a wide range of experimental methods used to investigate biological cells and cell systems;
3. give physics-based explanations of, and solve quantitative problems inspired by, the properties of cells and tissues;
4. apply biophysical concepts to muscle cell properties and processes;
 
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
5. apply physics-based techniques in a multi-disciplinary context;
6. explain and apply the concepts of convolution and deconvolution to the solution of measurement problems;
7. explain and apply the concepts of complex measurement methods to the design of biophysical experiments;
8. discuss the possibilities offered by complex physical measurement methods, including advanced new microscopy techniques;
 
Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:
9. retrieve and evaluate information from specialist research literature;
10. undertake co-operative learning though peer-group discussions.
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
I. Biophysics of Muscle Cells as a Model System for Experimental Methods
  1. Revision of cell biophysics
  2. Specific structures and Properties of muscle cells
  3. Biophysics of muscular activation
II. Signal Processing for Microscopy and Related Experimental Methods
  1. A-to-D conversion and aliasing
  2. Signal-averaging techniques to retrieve signals from noise
  3. Impulse responses, convolution and deconvolution in 2D and 3D
III. Determination of Protein Structure
  1. Protein structure and its interaction with radiation
  2. Structural analysis of biomolecules
IV. Spectroscopy
  1. Molecular spectroscopy of biomolecules
  2. Properties of fluorescent dyes and labels for probing biological systems
  3. Applications to the study of muscle cells
V. Microscopy Techniques
  1. Fluorescence microscopy
    • optical microscopy Modalities
    • wide-field microscopy
    • confocal microscopy
  2. Nonlinear and other microscopies
    • multi-photon microscopy
    • TIRF and FRET microscopy
    • CARS microscopy
  3. Modern single molecule techniques
  4. Super-resolution microscopy
    • localisation microscopy
    • stimulated emission depletion microscopy
    • structured illumination microscopy
  5. Application to investigation of muscle biophysics
VI. Other Techniques
  1. Computed tomography
    • Whole body scanning
    • Micro CT methods
  2. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and applications in muscle
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 22 Guided Independent Study 128 Placement / Study Abroad
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning & teaching activities 20 hours 20×1-hour lectures
Scheduled learning & teaching activities 2 hours 2×1-hour problems/revision classes
Guided independent study 30 hours 5×6-hour self-study packages
Guided independent study 16 hours 4×4-hour problem sets
Guided independent study 82 hours Reading, private study and revision

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Guided self-study (0%) 5×6-hour packages (fortnightly) 1-10 Discussion in class
4 × Problems sets (0%) 4 hours per set (fortnightly) 1-10
Solutions discussed in problems classes.
 
       
       
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 0 Written Exams 100 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Final Examination 100% 2 hours 30 minutes (May/June) 1-10 Mark via MyExeter, collective feedback via ELE and solutions.
         
         
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Whole module Written examination (100%) 1-10 August/September assessment period

Re-assessment is not available except when required by referral or deferral.

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
An original assessment that is based on both examination and coursework, tests, etc., is considered as a single element for the purpose of referral; i.e., the referred mark is based on the referred examination only, discounting all previous marks. In the event that the mark for a referred assessment is lower than that of the original assessment, the original higher mark will be retained.
 
Physics Modules with PHY Codes
Referred examinations will only be available in PHY3064, PHYM004 and those other modules for which the original assessment includes an examination component - this information is given in individual module descriptors.
RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
ELE:
 
 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Extended Alberts, B. et al Molecular Biology of the Cell 6th Garland 2017 978-1-317-56375-4
Extended Hille, B. Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes 3rd edition Sinauer Associates 2001 978-0-878-93321-1
Extended Hobbie, R.K. Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology 4th edition Springer 2010 978-1-441-92167-3
Extended Leake, M.C. Single Molecule Cellular Biophysics Cambridge University Press 2013 978-1-107-00583-9
Extended Mertz, J. Introduction to Optical Microscopy Roberts and Co. 2009 978-0-981-51948-7
Extended Pawley, J. (Ed.) Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy 3rd Springer 2006 978-0-387-25921-5
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES PHY2023, PHY3051, PHY3052
CO-REQUISITE MODULES
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 7 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 7th December 2021 LAST REVISION DATE Thursday 26th January 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Physics; Biomedical Physics; Spectroscopy; Microscopy; Imaging

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.