BI2BE4: Pharmacology and Toxicology

Module code: BI2BE4

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 10

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Professor David Leake, email: d.s.leake@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE BI1BEC1 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 5 August 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Drugs do not work by magic – they work by nudging the control systems in our body so that some particular process will work either faster or slower. You will learn how drugs act by binding to the receptors for our normal signalling molecules, including neurotransmitters, and how drugs manage to reach these receptors after they have been ingested. You will also discover the ways in which various substances, including drugs, can damage the body (toxicology). There is a pharmacological practical for you to carry out to discover that the very simple molecule nitric oxide has regulatory functions all the time in our bodies (a practical which earned the scientists that performed it a Noble Prize).

The module aims:

• To provide students with an understanding that drugs act by binding to receptors for endogenous signalling molecules
• To provide an understanding of how drugs are absorbed, metabolised and excreted
• To improve an appreciation of how new drugs are developed
• To provide an understanding of the mechanisms by which exogenous substances, including drugs, can damage the body

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe how drugs work by binding to receptors in the body and explain the concepts of agonism and antagonism at receptors
2. Explain how drugs are absorbed, metabolised and excreted
3. Discuss the different approaches to the development of new drugs
4. Explain toxicology and describe its basic concepts
5. Use an organ bath system for determining pharmacological data from tissue samples

Module content

The lectures will cover:

• The definition and scope of pharmacology
• The ways in which drugs act by binding to receptors
• Pharmacokinetics (i.e. the absorption, metabolism and excretion of drugs)
• Drug-drug interactions
• The definition of toxicology and the mechanisms by which exogenous chemicals can damage organisms

There is a practical on the pharmacology of arterial vasodilatation caused by nitric oxide.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Most weeks will include two ~45-minute lectures. 
• Practical class using organ bathes. 

Study hours

At least 21 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs