BSc in Oral Biology or B Dental Sciences
The intercalated degree in oral biology is designed both for dental students and medical students with an interest in this specialised area of patho-biology.
The course will provide an in-depth approach for exploring current concepts in human and mammalian oral biology. It will develop the students' interest in, and critical appraisal of, current research practices in oral biology.
The programme will contribute to/enhance the student's career options by allowing them access to current thinking/concepts of oral biology and research in this field. For this reason, those successfully completing the program may choose the award of Batchelor of Science or Batchelor of Dental Science.
The course consists of 2 taught modules, a self-directed module and an experimental/laboratory-based project.
Oral Biology
The course will provide an in-depth approach for exploring current concepts, ideas and problems in a variety of selected topics in human and mammalian oral biology. Initially students will be introduced to cell biology particularly as it applies to the cell cycle, apoptosis, cell adhesion and migration and oncogenes. Other topics will then be introduced which include oral cancer, oral immunity and the inflammatory response, tissue engineering, as well as the mouth as a drug delivery surface. Other areas to be covered include the evolution and development of the jaws and the dentition, tooth replacement, dental anthropology (visit to the Natural History Museum and the Royal College of Surgeons) and identifying human remains. Most of the content of these seminars given by staff members will be drawn from their current research interests. Some lectures will be delivered by guest speakers with an international reputation in their particular fields
An introduction to Laboratory Methods
This module aims to provide an overview of basic laboratory and research methods. It covers basic topics such as safety, experimental design, statistics, use of literature, laboratory methods, analysing and presenting data. This unit is organised and run by Professor Priestley as part of the Neurosciences intercalated BSc programme.
Presentation of Information
Communication skills are important in almost all careers. It is vitally important to be able to write coherent and argued accounts on current research and to be able to present scientific information in a variety of formats to different types of audience. The aim of this unit to provide the student with the necessary skills to be able to communicate scientific ideas and research findings in different styles to a variety of audiences. Students will be asked to present a recent piece of scientific research in three different manners; as a poster presentation and an oral presentation to a scientific readership and a newspaper-style article.
Experimental Project
The project will normally be a piece of original work which will occupy nearly half of the course and will be presented as a written report and a short presentation. It will involve experimental work and during the first term there will be several seminars directed towards teaching skills necessary to interpret and report the results of the project. A wide choice of projects will be offered within the field of Dental Sciences and a list of available projects will be circulated. Individual members of staff will supply details. Each student will be assigned (by agreement) to one member of staff. However, if you have a specific interest outside the project areas of offer, it is possible, subject to consultation with a potential supervisor, to devise a project related to this.
Assessment is by one exam paper: 50%
Project dissertation: 35%
Lab Methods unit - continual assessment: 15%