To be competent in their chosen profession, biomedical science graduates need to demonstrate thorough understanding of the morphology and function of cells and tissues and acquire core microscopy skills. This unit explores cells and tissues as the building blocks of the human body. Students examine the structure of human cells and tissues and develop an understanding of how structure fulfills function. Key topics include the plasma membrane and its role in the various mechanisms of cellular transport, structure and function of cellular organelles with a focus on cellular metabolism, and the role of the cell nucleus in protein synthesis and cell division. Students investigate the four basic types of tissue, and how they contribute to physiological processes.This unit aims to form the foundation for other disciplines including biochemistry and pharmacology and is a pre-requisite for later units; namely BIOL124, BIOL204, BIOL206, and BMSC207.