BI1AFF1: Animal Form and Function

Module code: BI1AFF1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Manabu Sakamoto, email: m.sakamoto@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Professor Amanda Callaghan, email: a.callaghan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 December 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Animal form and function is an introduction to the structural and physiological diversity of animal life. A comparative approach, this module will develop your understanding of the fundamentals of physiological systems across a diverse range of taxonomic groups. The module will begin by introducing the basic underlying body plans and structural organisation and development and growth of animals, discussing symmetry, body cavities and deep developmental splits between animal groups. This helps to inform the diversity of different physiological solutions that have evolved to solve fundamental requirements including circulation, gas exchange (respiration), feeding and digestion, excretion and the nervous systems.  The relationship between structure, function and environment are important to understand how animals survive and thrive.  

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of the body plans and growth of a range of animals.
2. Understand and explain the deep evolutionary splits between animal groups that have led to different physiological solutions.
3. Identify and discuss the differences between example physiological systems across the animal kingdom related to environment and evolutionary history.
4. Understand and compare the key physiological systems required to keep an animal alive. 

Module content

Lecture material will include the following topics:

• What is an animal? Definition of metazoans and their characteristics, basic animal classification, symmetry, cephalisation, diploblast, triploblast
• Animal development – development of embryos (basic), cleavage, protostomes and deuterostomes, animal tissues, body plans and cavities, coelomate, acoelomate, pseudocoelomate
• Growth – growth and life histories, contrast aquatic vs terrestrial animals; invertebrates vs vertebrates
• Respiration - overview of different approaches in animals - lungs, gills, tracheal systems, book lungs, across skin etc.
• Contrast the circulation, muscles and movement, nervous systems, reproduction, homeostasis, excretion, osmoregulation and digestive systems between aquatic and terrestrial animals; invertebrates vs vertebrates
• Contrast the metabolism of endotherms and ectotherms

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, practical classes (laboratory work), use of the Cole Museum of Zoology teaching collection, digital resources, self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard.

Students will be encouraged to consider how what they learn in this class informs the wider life sciences and real-world problems. 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Synopsis (150 words max) on three most important things the student learned in the course

Reassessment

Additional costs