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Biochemistry/Biomedicine
Biochemistry is the study of molecules and mechanisms in living organisms. Its goal is to understand and explain the operation of living organisms by examining their chemical, molecular, and cellular properties.
Through coursework and lab work, biochemistry you’ll explore the structure and function of the key biomolecules (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids) that allow the growth and development of all organisms.
Biomedicine courses focus on that specific field.
Digging deeper into subject interests can help you in a number of ways:
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Confirm whether this is (or isn't) something you would be interested in enough to want to study it at university either as the focus of your degree or a minor/elective
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Give you some inspiration to use when creating your questions and topics for IA's (coursework) and your Extended Essay
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Provide you with content for your university application writing in the future, enabling you to reflect on the things you've been doing to explore your interests in a way that is academically relevant to the course or institution you are applying for.
Useful Resources
Oxford University Research Blog | Blog | The University of Oxford's Blog on their current research. It includes articles on a huge range of topics but particularly relevant to the current global challenges. | Click Here > | |
The BMJ Blog | Blog | Opinion articles from the Blog of the British Medical Journal | Click Here > | |
Advice To a Young Scientist, by Peter Medawar | Book | Sir Peter Medawar, Nobel laureate, deflates the myths of invincibility, superiority, and genius instead, he demonstrates it is common sense and an inquiring mind that are essential to the scientist's calling. He delivers many wry observations on how to choose a research topic, how to get along with collaborators and older scientists and administrators, how (and how not) to present a scientific paper, and how to cope with culturally "superior" specialists in the arts and humanities. | St. Clare's Library at shelf location L23 500 MED | |
Conversations with Neil's Brain: The Neural Nature of Thought & Language by Wukkuan H. Calvin and George A. Ojemann | Book | Written by neurophysiologist William H. Calvin, Ph. D and Neurosurgeon and neurophysiologist George A. Ojemann, this book is available to download free of charge for personal use. | Click Here > | |
Genome: the autobiography of a species in 23 chapters | Book | This book examines the world of the genome, the 100,000 or so genes which provide a collective recipe for the building and running of the human body, sited across 23 pairs of chromosones. The author discusses the genome, explaining that by looking at our genes we can see the story of our evolution and what makes us individual. | St. Clares Library L24 576.5 RID | |
Genome: the autobiography of a species in 23 chapters by Matt Ridley | Book | This book examines the world of the genome, the 100,000 or so genes which provide a collective recipe for the building and running of the human body, sited across 23 pairs of chromosomes. The author discusses the genome, explaining that by looking at our genes we can see the story of our evolution and what makes us individual. | St. Clare's Library at shelf location L24 576.5 RID | |
Oxygen: the molecule that made the world by Nick Lane | Book | Drawing on fields as diverse as geology, cosmology, chemistry, biology and medicine, this book explains why oxygen bridges the gap between the two great facets of life, metabolism and reproduction. It provides a critique of modern medical research and a new theory of ageing. | St. Clare's Library at shelf location L23 546 LAN | |
The Human Brain: a guided tour, by Susan Greenfield | Book | Locked away remote from the rest of the body in its own custom-built casing of skull bone, with no intrinsic moving parts, the human brain remains a tantalising mystery. But now, more than ever before, we have the expertise to tackle this mystery - the last 20 years have seen astounding progress in brain research.
Susan Greenfield begins by exploring the roles of different regions of the brain. She then switches to the opposite direction and examines how certain functions, such as movement and vision, are accommodated in the brain. She describes how a brain is made from a single fertilized egg; the fate of the brain is traced through life as we see how it constantly changes as a result of experience to provide the essence of a unique individual. | St. Clares Library L24 612.8 GRE | |
The Language of the Genes: biology, history and the evolutionary future, by Steve Jones | Book | Steve Jones's highly acclaimed, double prize-winning, bestselling first book is now fully revised to cover all the new genetic breakthroughs from GM food to Dolly the sheep.'An essential sightseer's guide to our own genetic terrain.' Peter Tallack, Sunday Telegraph | St. Clares Library L24 576.5 JON | |
Why Chemical Reactions Happen, by James Keeler and Peter Wothers | Book | By tackling the most central ideas in chemistry, this text provides the reader with all the tools and concepts needed to think like a chemist. It takes a unified approach to the subject, aiming to help the reader develop a real overview of chemical processes. | St. Clare's Library at shelf location L23 540 KEE | |
BioGrad | Course | BioGrad provides courses for 16-19 year olds who are currently studying towards their A-Levels or IB. Their courses are designed to trial your chosen career path and provide work experience that would look fantastic on your university application. They have a variety of courses available, from 1-day courses, 5-day courses, up to a 6-week summer school in Laboratory Skills, Clinical and Medical Research, Biomedical Science, Cardiac & Pulmonary Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Medical School Preparation, Orthopaedic Care and Medical Ethics. | Click Here > | |
New Scientist | E-Magazine | Podcast | Website | New Scientist is the world’s most popular weekly science and technology publication. Their website, app and print editions cover international news from a scientific standpoint, and ask the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human. | Click Here > | |
Cafe Scientifique Oxford | Events | The Oxford branch of Cafe Scientifique meet monthly to open up conversations on a wide range of scientific topics open to all | Click Here > | |
Summer Schools in Europe | Events | The most complete directory of summer courses in Europe. It includes courses for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, so ensure you read the descriptions to find options right for you. | Click Here > | |
Young Forensic Scientist Programmes | Events | Conference | Gain an immersive experience of Forensic Science alongside top professionals. Choose below either our Young Forensic Scientist Weekend or our Young Forensic Scientist Summer Experience. | Click Here > | |
Understanding Biochemistry | Jounrnal | Understanding Biochemistry provides up-to-date overviews of key concepts in biochemistry and molecular biosciences. The Understanding Biochemistry issues of Essays in Biochemistry are Open Access publications, meaning that these issues are freely available online to readers. | Click Here > | |
Open Biology | Journal | An open access journal publishing high impact biology at the molecular and cellular level | Click Here > | |
Royal SOciety Open Science | Journal | An open journal publishing high-quality research across all of science, engineering and mathematics | Click Here > | |
The British Medical Journal | Journal | News and Research in the field of medicine | Click Here > | |
Research from the University of Bristol | Journal Articles | Website | Explore cutting edge research from the different faculties and departments from the University of Bristol, including free access to their published journal articles. | Click Here > | |
Coursera | Online Course | Coursera is an online platform for distance learning. They have a range of free courses delivered by universities. Search in this section to find courses of interest to you, often these are courses you can follow at your own pace. | Click Here > | |
EdX | Online Course | The X Series courses on the EdX platform are free online courses delivered by universities and aimed at helping you explore areas of interest. | Click Here > | |
FutureLearn | Online Course | FutureLearn is a free online platform where universities from around the globe host FREE online courses you can undertake in your areas of interest. Browse courses by categories or use the search bar to find courses relevant to your interests | Click Here > | |
Online Introduction Nanobiology | Online Course | An online taster of the Nanobiology degree at TU Delft in the Netherlands. Courses start regularly over the academic year. | Click Here > | |
Talk Medicine from the British medical Journal | Podcast | Podcasts from the British Medical Journal and other specialist journals on a range of medicine and healthcare topics. | Click Here > | |
Oxford Martin School: Public Lectures and Seminars | Podcast | Recorded Lecture | Public Lectures and Seminars from the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford. The Oxford Martin School brings together the best minds from different fields to tackle the most pressing issues of the 21st century. | Click Here > | |
Cafe Scientifique Oxford - Archive 2021 | Recorded Lecture | The Archive of the 2021 Cafe Scientifique sessions - held on Zoom due to the pandemic | Click Here > | |
Cafe Scientifique Oxford, 2020 Archive | Recorded Lecture | A video archive of the 2020 Cafe Scientifique Oxford sessions, held on Zoom due to the pandemic | Click Here > | |
UCL Medical Sciences Lecture: 'One-shot' radiotherapy safer and as effective for treating breast cancer as longer course | Recorded Lecture | Hear about a pioneering breast cancer therapy that requires one shot of radiotherapy rather than conventional weeks-long treatment and the evolution of a patient-centred treatment from an idea to worldwide adoption. From October 2021 | Click Here > | |
Society for Natural Sciences Seminars | Recorded Lecture | Webinar | Recorded and upcoming seminars introducing topics in contemporary science and informing potential undergraduates about degrees in Natural Sciences. | Click Here > | |
Bench to Bedside | Video | An interactive video guide introducing you to different roles within healthcare including both practitioners and research scientists. This resource from King's College London takes you through the case study of one patient to explore how the different roles interact and support that patient. | Click Here > | |
ExeTalks | Video | Recorded Lecture | ExeTalks are a chance to discover some of the fascinating research undertaken at the University of Exeter. | Click Here | |
British Heart Foundation Online Events | Webinar | Events | Recorded Lecture | The British Heart Foundation hold monthly online events talking about topics related to Cardiology and the heart. There is also a library of past sessions you can watch on demand. | Click Here > | |
NHS: Find your health career | Website | Take the health career quiz, explore the roles within healthcare and find out about the different routes into these professions | Click Here > | |
Springpod Virtual Work Experience | Work Experience | Virtual work experience Opportunities across a range of companies and sectors. Most of them are free. | Click Here > | |
Zooniverse - Real Science Online | Work Experience | Website | Online Crowd Science Projects that you can contribute to | Click Here > |
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