536-302 Mammalian Cellular Physiology

Note

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Physiology 536-201, 536-211 and 536-202. The Head of the Department will consider exemptions for students who passed 536-211.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Students will comprehend:

• the relationship between structure and function of certain specialised cells, such as contractile cells, secreting cells and proliferating cells;

• the complex links between stimuli and cell responses; and

• the properties of individual cell types that determine the overall features and function of mammalian tissues and organ systems.

This subject is taught from an experimental perspective so the student develops a critical evaluation and interpretation of experimental data and a theoretical basis to devise experimental approaches to investigate physiological processes. The student applies these skills in a group assignment to formulate and test a hypothesis in an area of interest.

The first 12 lectures are taken together with 536-301 Systems Physiology and concentrate on the processes involved in investigating physiological phenomena. The practical component is designed to develop skills of experimentation including experimental design, experimentation and data collection, data analysis, culminating in manuscript preparation and scientific writing.

Assessment

A 1.5 hr open book examination held during Semester 1, a laboratory report of not more than 2000 words in manuscript form as indicated in handout, a group assignment on grant writing of not more than 6 pages, a 2 hour end-of-semester examination. Students must obtain a satisfactory standard in the research reports to be eligible for the final examination.