MIMS (BIOCHEMISTRY)

Molecules in Medical Science

The MIMS lecture series covers a range of topics from biochemistry which are generally linked to Medicine/Veterinary Medicine. In Michaelmas, you will cover topics like macromolecules, proteins, metabolism, cell-signalling, and enzyme-substrate reactions. In Lent, you will cover topics like the structure of the genome, DNA replication, transcription, translation, the cell cycle, and how these processes can fail causing cancer.

There is also one 4-hour practical in each of the three terms, focusing on different areas of the course. These will develop your laboratory skills through experiments directly linked to topics from the lecture course (eg protein markers, ELISA, methods of DNA analysis).

You will also attend two PBL (problem based learning) sessions, in which you are expected to deliver a presentation to a small group of people about a particular topic you have been assigned to research. This is designed to improve your research skills and also your ability to present findings to others.

A computer-based exercise on bioinformatics is also held usually later in the year, which you are expected to attend.

You will also have a weekly supervision for MIMS to strengthen your knowledge.

What resources should I use?

The primary resources we would recommend using are the lecture slides and handouts from the lectures as these are what the examination content is drawn from.

However, there are also several textbooks which you may find helpful, particularly for wider reading. One such textbook is 'Voet's Principles of Biochemistry' by Voet, Voet, and Pratt.

How is it examined?

YOU WILL SIT THREE EXAMS AT THE END OF YEAR 1:

Paper I: Theory of Biochemistry (60 mins)

Paper II: Written Practical (120 mins)

Paper III: Essays (120 mins)

PAPER I:

This is a 60-minute online MCQ paper consisting of around 35-40 questions.

These questions examine the lecture content and content from the PBL exercises.

PAPER II:

This is a 120-minute online paper where you must complete 3 questions, each with several sub-questions.

These questions test your knowledge of the practical aspects of the course, including interpretation of results and data-handling. They may require knowledge of the lecture course but focus on experience in the laboratory and computer-based exercises.

PAPER III:

This is a 120-minute online paper where you must complete 3 essays, one from each of 3 sections.

Questions from Section A are based on content from Michaelmas lectures.

Questions from Section B are based on content from Lent/Easter lectures.

Questions from Section C draw on content across the year and are designed to test integrated understanding.

SECOND MB & TRIPOS:

The Second MB examination comprises Sections I and II only and must be passed in order to continue the course.

Sections I, II and III contribute to the overall Tripos score but as follows:

Section I contributes 25%

Section II contributes 25%

Section III contributes 50%

** PLEASE NOTE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AS OF JUNE 2023 BUT MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE **

** SEE THE MIMS MOODLE PAGE FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION **