BIOCHEMISTRY - ENZYMES AND METABOLISM - 2025/6
Module code: BMS2035
Module Overview
This module will cover three broad topics, namely Metabolism in Health & Disease (Dr Alfred Thumser & Dr Sarah Bailey), Cell Signalling (Dr Sarah Bailey) and Diabetes mellitus (Dr Matin Whyte & Dr Ben Field)
Module provider
School of Biosciences
Module Leader
PINTO Sneha (Biosciences)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 5
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 8
Independent Learning Hours: 52
Lecture Hours: 40
Guided Learning: 10
Captured Content: 40
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
Biochemistry: The molecules of life (BMS1049) or Biochemistry: Understanding the chemistry of life (BMS1054), and Biochemistry: A conceptual overview (BMS1041)
Module content
Indicative content includes:
- Metabolic control of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis
- Pentose phosphate pathway
- Lipid catabolism and anabolism
- Plasma membrane and nuclear receptors
- Cell signalling
- Diabetes mellitus
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay (500 upper word limit) | 30 |
| Examination Online | ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) MCQ EXAM (90 MINS) WITHIN A 4HR WINDOW | 70 |
Alternative Assessment
Not Applicable.
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their critical understanding of the taught topics.
The assessments for this module consist of:
- One coursework essay, with topics provided by Dr Alfred Thumser & Dr Sarah Bailey (500-word upper limit)
- An MCQ final exam (90 minutes) covering all taught topics
Formative feedback & advice is provided through:
- In-class and online discussions
- In-class polls, e.g. PollEverywhere or Kahoot
- Assessments brief
- Online tests
- Small-group essay workshops
- One-to-one feedback
Summative feedback on coursework & final exam will be provided (one-to-one, as requested, with generic on-line feedback).
Module aims
- Critically discuss and assess aspects of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
- Discuss metabolic diseases in conjunction with metabolic pathways.
- Explain the concept of intracellular signalling pathways and their importance in cell function.
- Discuss the importance of cellular signalling pathways in regulating metabolic pathways in health and disease.
- Discuss diabetes mellitus linked to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Define and describe glucose (carbohydrate) homeostasis, pathways of glucose metabolism, and control of glucose metabolism | KC |
| 002 | Discuss glucose (carbohydrate)metabolism in disease e.g. diabetes | KC |
| 003 | Define and describe lipid catabolism and anabolism in relation to health & disease metabolism | KC |
| 004 | Describe the major plasma membrane components and explain their role in cellular signalling and function. | KC |
| 005 | Describe the intracellular signalling pathways activated by major plasma membrane and nuclear receptors and explain their role in controlling gene transcription in health and disease. | KC |
| 006 | 6. Demonstrate independent learning and relevant further reading | KPT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
- Enhance students’ knowledge of biochemistry, progressing from Level 4
- Develop the critical understanding of biochemical concepts;
- Demonstrate the role of metabolism in health & disease;
- Develop and enhance critical thinking, writing and communication skills.
The learning and teaching methods include:
- In-person lectures
- In-class and online discussions
- Small-group essay workshops
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2035
Other information
Resourcefulness & Resilience: Students will be provided with guidance, both direct (wellbeing & resilience workshop) and indirect (further workshops & tutorials), to further develop their resiliency and reflective skills (Learning Outcomes 6 & 7).
Digital capabilities: Students will enhance their digital and literacy skills throughout the module, building on their learning at level 4 (Learning Outcome 6).
Employability: Students will indirectly gain employability skills through the further development and fine-tuning of their critical thinking, literacy and communication skills, building on their learning at level 4 (Learning Outcomes 6 & 7).
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry MSci (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Biochemistry BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Microbiology BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
| Biomedical Science MSci (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.