Biological Sciences

This course provides a general overview of practical applications of fertility control for ethical management of wildlife and other free-living animals. Lectures and practical sessions focus on case studies to illustrate the many aspects of wildlife fertility control applications. Students learn about products available, methods to deliver contraceptives and evaluate their impact on reproduction and welfare of individuals and populations of free-living animals. Through a mixture of lectures, informal discussion groups, laboratory and field practical sessions, students learn about the challenges and opportunities offered by fertility control and complete a proposal for a project on wildlife fertility control. The course addresses the rising demand for innovative conservation approaches and prepares students to balance ecological and economic needs with animal welfare. 

This course provides a critical understanding of the discipline of Forensic Science as it applies to the scientific underpinning of the processes from crime scene to courtroom.

This course provides an overview of how clinical research is conducted, from the identification of molecules with potential therapeutic interest to their approval by regulatory entities and the publication/dissemination of results to the scientific community. Through lectures, practical sessions, and practical problem-based learning, the various phases of clinical trials are explained in detail, using real examples. 

Computational biology and data science have undergone tremendous expansion in recent years, resulting from increased computational power and accessibility of quantitative biological measurements. The course teaches students about the power of mathematical, computational, and statistical analyses, and their roles in biological research. This is achieved through sessions that combine lectures, paper-and-pen calculations, and computer practicals. Topics include data carpentry, handling, modelling, and data analysis using different types of biological measurements from the areas of Genomics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research. Students gain confidence in searching and curating real-life datasets, constructing mathematical models, and combining them to answer biological questions that are inaccessible without the use of computers or mathematics.

This course examines the diverse world of microbes and discusses the roles they play not only in causing infectious disease but also in both creating and maintaining life as we know it. Various types of microbes and their basic life processes are described, with the focus mainly on bacteria and viruses. Cell biology principles and roles of organelles in protein trafficking will be discussed. Bacterial genetics and metabolism are explored, with the emphasis on how these areas determine observed behaviors and activities. The components of the immune system are outlined and their interactions and functions described. A central part of this course is outlining some of the strategies used by microbes to cause disease, and the counter strategies employed by the immune system to prevent disease. Other ways of controlling microbes, including antibiotics and vaccines are also discussed. The key roles played by microbes and the immune system in medical and biotechnological research is described. 

In this course students participate in an individual program of supervised research within the School of Biomedical Sciences, or elsewhere within the faculty, at a research institute or overseas institution in which the student contributes to the design of a research project, in consultation with a supervisor; conducts the research; and presents the findings of the project. The project may be self contained or form a component of a larger research program. 

This course takes an ecological approach, emphasizing interactions between different organisms and all aspects of their environment. All environments are now changing under the influence of human activities and many species are under threat as a consequence. In this course, students learn tools that allow them to begin to scientifically address such issues.

The course is an introduction to the basics of ecology, concepts, approaches, and applications, with a focus on the utilization of natural resources. Topics include the history and discipline of ecology; population ecology; principles of population growth, effects of density, and population regulation. Species interactions: competition, predation, and other interaction forms. The structure and diversity of biological communities, succession, food webs, stability, and biodiversity. Ecosystems: nutrient and energy cycles and trophic efficiency.  An introduction to Icelandic ecosystems.

This course provides an understanding of the structure, organization, and function of cellular membranes. Particular emphasis is placed on membrane composition and organization, and involvement of membranes and membrane proteins in ion and solute transport, signal transduction, and vesicular transport. Diseases that arise from defects in these processes are used to exemplify the importance of this topic to life science.

This course explores the anthropogenic impact on the marine environment. Topics include: context and causes of changes to the marine environment; habitat loss; exploitation of the marine environment; marine pollution; exotic species and diseases in marine organisms.