This course deals with the basic physiology of cells, with a particular emphasis on human disease and functioning of the nervous system. It covers the following topics: cell renewal and death; cell structure and function; membrane channels and transporters and their roles in nutrient uptake, ion homeostasis and drug resistance; the role of ion channels in the excitability of the nervous system; diseases involving ion channel defects; ion channel blockers as local anaesthetics and as agents for the treatment of neuropathologies; diseases arising from transporter defects; communication between cells - tight junctions and specialised synapses of the nervous system; fast and slow signal transduction; growth factor signalling; insulin secretion; receptor-mediated endocytosis.

On completion of the course students would be expected to be able to

1) demonstrate knowledge about, and understandingof, cellular physiology;

2) apply this knowledge to analysis of experimental data and use of relevant methodology;

3) interpret, synthesise and critically analyse published literature, at a graduate level, in the area of cellular physiology.

Postgraduate assessment: two tutorial tests (each 15%), literature review and critique (20%) and final exam (50%).