University of Edinburgh

This course examines the dynamic nature of cells and the metabolic processes that occur in a regulated manner within cells. The lecture material is complemented by a graphics workshop, tutorials, laboratory practicals, and sessions that follow-up some of the practical classes. The course emphasizes that in order to understand biology it is first necessary to understand the basic unit of life: the cell. It is important not to view cells merely as the highly organized, static structures built up from lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides that seen in electron micrographs. Cells are, first and foremost, dynamic entities and students of this course examine the variety of cell units, biochemistry, and processes which make them so. 

In this course, students explore what reading literature at university level entails. Students are invited to explore different models of authorship, readership, and textuality, in order to reflect on how meaning is produced in the genres of poetry and drama. For example, how do we identify meter and rhythm? What do terms like 'caesura' and 'parallelis' mean, and what are they used for? In drama there is a big difference between reading a play on the page and seeing it performed on a stage - how do we get from one to the other? This course explores the key terms and concepts needed to address such questions and enable students to read previously unseen texts confidently at a first reading.

The course examines major modes of explaining nationalism, and relates nationalism to other key themes in sociology. It begins by examining key concepts, theories, and typologies of nationalism, with particular attention focused on the distinction among ethnic, civic, and civil nationalism. Thereafter the course explores the relationship between nationalism and other social and political processes, such as language, religion, class, gender, conflict regulation, and globalization. The course uses substantive case material to inform an understanding of nationalism.