NES2307 : Animal Function (Physiology and Development)
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Catriona Anderson
- Lecturer: Dr Andrew Beard, Dr Aleksei Podturkin, Dr Miguel Velazquez
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
The aim of the course is to promote knowledge and understanding of the normal physiological functions and processes that take place in animals during development and throughout life. The module will also illustrate how different groups of animals have physiological features that support their adaptation to different ecological niches and their environment. The module will use both comparative examples and in depth study of particular groups (e.g. mammals). A practical class associated with the lectures will build on knowledge gained from lectures and develop experimental and data analyses skills.
Outline Of Syllabus
Lectures will introduce and explore animal physiology and development using a comparative approach. Topics such as the following will be covered:
- Respiration
- Circulation
- Sensation
- Development
- Reproduction
- Digestion
- Excretion
Practical sessions will include: firstly, experimentation on respiratory, circulatory and sensory physiology and physiological adaptations in diving; secondly, quantitative measurement of biological imaging data to identify and evaluate major events during mammalian preimplantation development from time-lapse imaging.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Summative assessment (2 hour exam) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | In person review lecture |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 3 | 0:20 | 1:00 | Non-synchronous online lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Computer-based Practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 33 | 1:00 | 33:00 | Revision for summative assessment |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 33 | 1:00 | 33:00 | Guided reading given in lectures / lecture material / on Canvas |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 1 | 3:00 | 3:00 | Laboratory Practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Preparation for practical |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Guided reading for practical |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Online Q&A sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Lecture follow up to identify areas requiring further, more detailed study |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 72:00 | 72:00 | Student-selected study of lectures, ReCap, University online resources etc. to enhance understanding |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Factual information, and the experimental evidence behind it, are delivered as lectures to provide a conceptual framework for understanding animal physiology and development at the level of cells, tissues, organs and whole animals. Some of the fundamental concepts are reinforced by the practical work. The practical classes provide the students with the opportunity to develop and employ: laboratory skills, using apparatus to make measurements, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data.
Private study using recommended physiology texts and supporting material will provide further depth of understanding of underlying and integrated physiological systems.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 120 | 1 | A | 80 | Present in person Inspera exam |
| Digital Examination | 90 | 1 | M | 20 | Canvas quiz taking place during the scheduled practical session. Open book. Will include: data handling and interpretation; quiz questions based on the practical and associated lecture content. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 1 | M | Canvas Quiz - Practise MCQ questions |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Digital assessment (Inspera) will test the breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of concepts derived from lectures and practical work. The Canvas-based Digital Assessment within the practical class will test data handling, interpretation and presentation and breadth of understanding of practical, and related lecture, content. The formative assessment will provide the opportunity to try the type of questions that will be in the Inspera assessment, but without exam conditions, and use this feedback to guide study and revision.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES2307's Timetable