BI3EN1: Endocrinology

Module code: BI3EN1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Nandini Vasudevan, email: n.vasudevan@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Andrew Bicknell, email: a.b.bicknell@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE BI1AP12 AND ( TAKE BI1CM1 OR 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: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The Endocrinology course aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the endocrine system and its intricate role in regulating various physiological processes within the human body. Students will delve into the study of homeostatic control, hormones, their functions, and the associated glands, comprehending the intricate mechanisms that maintain hormonal balance. The purpose of this course is to equip learners with comprehensive knowledge of physiological regulation of three tier and two tier axis, associated endocrine disorders and their management, as well as understanding the interplay between different hormonal systems. By exploring the latest research and technological advancements, this course intends to empower students to critically analyze scientific data and make inferences. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Describe, illustrate and analyse how the organisation and regulation of the endocrine system determines function and the workings of the basic components of the system, including hormones and receptors. 
2. Compare the physiological endocrine system to the pathological endocrine responses, by synthesizing knowledge gained across the module.  
3. Develop specific knowledge of select endocrine disorders that illustrate divergent organisation or function of the endocrine system and be able to justify how this knowledge is developed, using current research techniques. 
4. Integrate their knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms, developed during this module, to current pharmaceutical and biomedical interventions for these conditions. 
5. Interpret data from both primary and secondary scientific sources, to infer and predict possible outcomes from these data and synthesize these inferences and accepted facts into scientific arguments. 

Module content

Lecture material includes the following topics: 

• Signalling by hormones 
• Types of hormones. 
• Three tier endocrine axes and homeostatic control. 
• Reproductive function and the three tier HPG axis. 
• Hormones from the posterior pituitary 
• Stress and the HPA axis. 
• Endocrine control of metabolism 
• Growth hormone 

A practical session where students can dissect the sheep brain will also be held to help students consolidate the lecture material on neuroanatomy. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, self-directed learning and directed independent study. This course will rely on face-to-face lectures based on textbooks and primary scientific literature. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard and students will also find material that is related to the lectures on scientific and journal websites.  

Study hours

At least 40 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.

Two exercises in reading a scientific paper will be set during the module.  Both papers will illustrate some recent advances in a neurological disorder and questions set for in-class discussion will serve as a formative exercise.  In the final exam, similar questions will be asked for a “seen paper” given to students.  Discussion during the class and provision of answers after the discussion to the students will allow students to learn how to interpret and analyse data as well as how to answer accurately, completely and in a logical sequential manner that is typical of scientific argumentation. 

Reassessment

Additional costs