NUT1022 Fundamentals of biomedical sciences

Semester 2, 2025 onwards: This unit introduces you to the concept of homeostasis and its importance in maintaining physiological and nutritional balance. You will develop strong knowledge and skills with respect to key biomedical science concepts and how they apply to human nutrition and health.

You will study major organ systems through the lenses of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology, and chemical pathology, with a focus on how these systems influence nutritional balance and metabolic processes.

You will explore how physiological changes, such as disruptions in metabolism, fluid regulation, and organ function, impact nutritional needs, and how nutrition can, in turn, affect health outcomes. Through case studies and real-world examples, you will apply biomedical principles to assess health and well-being, and develop the skills to communicate complex physiological processes clearly within a nutrition-focused context.

Semester 1: This unit which is part of Theme 1 – Foundation of Medical, Food and Nutritional Sciences, introduces you to the fundamentals of medical biosciences which are essential for understanding the biological and chemical concepts of nutrition and the roles of nutrition in health and disease. The unit includes the fundamentals of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology and chemical pathology with a particular emphasis upon the body systems which are significantly involved in nutrition.  You will learn about protein, fat, carbohydrate and alcohol metabolism thereby laying the foundation for an understanding of human energy metabolism.  The unit concludes with an introduction to molecular human biology, the building blocks (DNA and RNA) of life and the processes of genetic inheritances, mitosis, and meiosis and gene transcription together with the roles of gene-nutrient interactions in human health.