Unit information: Advanced Molecular Cell Biology in 2026/27

Unit name	Advanced Molecular Cell Biology
Unit code	BIOC30009
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Cory
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	MOLG22100 – Recombinant DNA Technology and BIOC20001 – Molecular Cell Biology
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Biochemistry
Faculty	Faculty of Life Sciences

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?
This unit covers advanced topics in cell biology. It examines the roles played by proteins and other biomolecules in a range of cellular events, and explores the techniques and experimental approaches needed to decipher those roles in the highly complex cellular environment.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit deepens understanding of key concepts in cell biology, building on knowledge acquired in the year 2 units Molecular Cell Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content
The unit aims to develop an understanding of key concepts in current molecular cell biology including:

• The molecular, imaging and computational techniques informing advances in cell biology.
• The regulation of intracellular trafficking and cellular homeostasis.
• The function of cytoskeletal structures and associated motors.
• The coordination of molecular events to control complex cellular functions such as migration, synaptic plasticity and autophagy.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Following successful completion of this unit, students will be able to demonstrate:

1. an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the advanced molecular cell biology topics covered in the unit and an ability to keep abreast with recent developments in the field.
2. the ability to gather information from the primary scientific literature and to critically evaluate the material and appraise competing theories.
3. an understanding of the importance of advanced aspects of cell biology to biochemistry.
4. an understanding of the experimental tools used to study cell biology.
5. the ability to interpret and explain data from studies investigating the topics covered in the unit.
6. the ability to propose and critique experimental strategies to address specific questions relating to the topics covered in the unit.

Learning Outcomes
Learning on this unit directly addresses components of the Bristol Skills Profile, including:

• How to think in and beyond my discipline.
• How to express my ideas.
• How to develop effective learning strategies.
• How to evaluate the research of others.
• How to think critically.
• How to develop ideas and solve problems.
• How to think creatively and innovatively.
• Confident in using digital tools.
• Able to identify and work with technological advances.

How you will learn

Lectures, workshops, asynchronous material, reading suggested research and review papers

How you will be assessed

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Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will undertake a formative assessment exercise.

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
The components that make up the unit assessment are:

• An examination: 100%

To earn credit for this unit you must normally have made a reasonable attempt at each of the components of the unit assessment. A reasonable attempt requires a student to have undertaken the assessment activity and engaged with its purpose in the academic judgement of the relevant Unit Director, or nominee.

When assessment does not go to plan
Where required, a reassessment normally involves a second attempt at the same form of assessment.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BIOC30009).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.

The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.