In addition, each candidate will be required to choose one Specialised Field of Study. A total of 18 credit units should be selected in the chosen Specialised Field of Study.
School of Biomedical Sciences
SBMS7700 Current Topics in Biomedical Sciences
Aim(s)
- To enable students to gain basic knowledge in cell biology, physiology, cancer biology and brain function under normal and disease conditions.
- To provide training in choosing the current innovative research topics.
- To provide guidance in critical thinking in analysing the scientific papers and gain insight into the importance and contribution to the field of studies.
- To guide them to discuss and write scientific assays highlighting the strength and weakness of the major hypothesis, results and interpretations.
- To guide them how to prepare poster presentation.
- To develop scientific writing skills.
Requirements
- Candidates are required to choose one of the following blocks (either A, B, or C). Each block carries 18 credits and contains three components with 6 credits each.
- Candidates are required to write 3 literature reviews (~2000 words per review) on 3 different topics under A1, B1 or C1 (6 credits).
- Candidates are required to write 3 technology reviews (~2000 words per review) which mainly focus on describing the principle of the technology and their applications in the relevant research area under A2, B2 or C2 (6 credits).
- Candidates are required to submit 2 posters for presentation on two different topics under A3, B3 or C3 to summarize recent advances in the relevant area (6 credits).
- Candidates may consult their supervisor or the relevant topic supervisors on review writing and preparing for the poster presentation.
Contents
| Course Code | Courses | Credit Units |
|---|---|---|
| SBMS7701 | Block A1: Molecular Neuroscience (Developmental Neurobiology)
|
6 |
| SBMS7704 | Block A2: Molecular Neuroscience (Technological advances in understanding neurological disorders)
|
6 |
| SBMS7705 | Block A3: Molecular Neuroscience (Frontiers in neuroscience)
|
6 |
| SBMS7702 | Block B1: Cell Biology (Molecular regulation of cell adhesion, migration and proliferation)
|
6 |
| SBMS7706 | Block B2: Cell Biology (Recent advances in stem cell biology and single cell technology)
|
6 |
| SBMS7707 | Block B3: Cell Biology (T-cell immunity and RNA therapeutics)
|
6 |
| SBMS7703 | Block C1: Cancer Biology (Carcinogenesis)
|
6 |
| SBMS7708 | Block C2: Cancer Biology (Technological advances in cancer treatment)
|
6 |
| SBMS7709 | Block C3: Cancer Biology (Frontiers in cancer science)
|
6 |
Learning outcomes
On completion of these courses, students will be able to:
- Carry out independent evaluation of original scientific papers.
- Improve in logical and critical thinking in the study fields of cell biology, physiology, cancer biology and brain function under normal and disease conditions.
- Improve in preparing the scientific reports without plagiarising from other references.
- Know how to integrate essential information from the literature, organize them in a logical manner and present them in a poster format.
- Improve in scientific writing and poster presentation skills.
Mode of teaching
Literature review
Poster preparation and presentation
Assessment
Essay writing and poster presentation
SBMS7800 Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics for Biomedical Sciences
Aim(s)
- To introduce laboratory techniques of biochemistry and molecular biology.
- To enable students to carry out research independently using the skills acquired in the research project.
- To provide training to students to work as a team with other scientists and gain insight into the field of research.
- To provide training to students so that they can critically analyse scientific papers and design experiments to verify scientific theories.
Contents
- Candidates are required to take 18 credit units from three of the four courses listed below.
| Course Code | Courses | Credit Units |
|---|---|---|
| SBMS7801 | Advanced biochemistry: Signal transduction, biomodulators, enzyme kinetics, catalytic mechanisms, protein chemistry, post-translational modification of proteins |
6 |
| SBMS7802 | Biomedical sciences seminar: Present and attend seminars, criticise, think, write and talk about biochemical sciences, organise mini-conferences, technical reviews, research proposals, communication skills, personal and career development |
6 |
| SBMS7803 | Molecular biology of the gene: Eukaryotic gene regulation, control of gene expression, transcription factors, DNA-protein interaction |
6 |
| SBMS7804 | Practical bioinformatics: (Advice to Applications: candidates choosing this Specialised Course should have molecular biology background.) Gene identification Information searching and retrieval: Entrez and SRS Internet resources: DNA and protein sequence databases Patterns, Motifs and Profiles analysis Phylogenetic analysis Sequence alignment: multiple sequence alignment Sequence database searching: FASTA, BLAST, Smith-Waterman, algorithm and parameters Simple sequence analysis |
6 |
Learning outcomes
On completion of these courses, students will be able to:
- Improve in logical and critical thinking in the study fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.
- criticise and assess merits of original papers in scientific journals.
- carry out a research project related to biomedical sciences
- Improve in scientific communication skills.
Mode of teaching
Lectures, Tutorials, Essay writing and Literature review
Assessment
In-course assessment and Final examination