MEDISCOPE | ISSUE 6 | 07 APRIL 2021

MEDISCOPE | ISSUE 6 | 07 APRIL 2021
- GENETICS
- SMOKING
- NEUROLOGY
- DERMATOLOGY
- MEDICAL ETHICS
- VETERINARY MEDICINE
- MEDICAL MYTHBUSTING
- RECENT HEALTHCARE NEWS
- WORK EXPERIENCE REFLECTION
- ALTERNATIVES TO A MEDICINE DEGREE
- COVID-19 VACCINE SCIENTIST FACTFILES
- HEALTHCARE PROFESSION OF THE MONTH
Logo Design: Sethujah Gangatharan
Photo credits: http://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/mxthod/f-o-c-u-s

WELCOME!
Hi everyone!
We hope you have enjoyed the first few weeks back at school! As well as interesting and informative articles,
this month's issue consists of some exciting new additions, including a reflection of a virtual work experience
programme, some COVID-19 vaccine scientist factfiles, and some medical myth busting. Continuing with our
specialty of the month, we have included some information about physician associates and the vital role they
play in the healthcare industry. We hope you enjoy this month's release and a huge thank you once again for all
of your support!
- Mediscope Team: Sethujah, Amy, Shresth & Yashika
WELCOME
Genetics:
- The Phylogenetic Phenomenon
by Myah Darkwah 12N ................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
- Are our Genes really our Biological Destinies?
by Harry Clarke 12P ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Medical Ethics:
- Does Artificial Intelligence have the Potential to Replace Doctors in the Future?
by Sethujah Gangatharan 12S .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
- Xenotransplantation
by Phoebe Yan Chun Po 12P ......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Neurology:
- Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
by Ana Moulson 11S ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
- Parkinson's Disease
by Nicole Carpegna 7F ................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Smoking:
- The Health Risks of Smoking
by Jessica Pallickamyalil 12S ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Veterinary Medicine:
- Adaptations of the Spheniscidae Penguins
by Zhi Xia 10F................................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Other:
- COVID-19 Vaccine Scientist Factfiles ..................................................................................................................................................... 11
- Recent Healthcare News ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12
- April's Recommendations ......................................................................................................................................................................... 13
- Medical Dates in April ..................................................................................................................................................................................14
- Quiz .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
- Puzzles:
- Wordsearch ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
- Crossword: Immunisations ................................................................................................................................................................ 17
- Issue 5 Quiz + Puzzle Answers ................................................................................................................................................................ 18
- Crossword answers .................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
- Dermatology .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20
- Healthcare Profession of the Month: Physician Associate .......................................................................................................... 21
- A reflection of the Brighton & Sussex Medical School Work Experience ............................................................................. 22
- Medical Myth-busting ............................................................................................................................................................................... 23
- Alternatives to a Medicine Degree ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
1

THE PHYLOGENETIC PHENOMENON
By Myah Darkwah 12N
The Crime
From 1988 to 1997 Spanish anaesthetist Juan
Maeso infected 275 patients with Hepatitis C
(HCV) across four hospitals in Valencia. He used
the morphine intended for patients after surgery
1
and administered the remainder to the patients.
Morphine is an opioid analgesic that reduces pain
by binding to the opioid receptors in the brain.
Other effects are euphoria, increased heart rate
and change in respiratory functions. It is a highly
addictive drug and tolerance and dependence
2
develop quickly.
HCV is a virus transmitted by blood-to-blood
contact. Chronic Hepatitis C left untreated can
lead to liver damage and liver cancer. The sharing
of needles is the perfect mechanism for
transmission and is most likely how the
3
anaesthetist infected his patients.
The Case
The Valencian Provisional Court sentenced Juan
Maeso to 1,933 years in jail, but the most he could
serve under the law was twenty years. He also
had to pay 500,000 euros in damages to each
4
victim.
In the past forensics such as DNA and fingerprints
have helped in deciding the verdict of cases. The
area of microbiology that aided the Hepatitis C
case was molecular phylogenetics. This is looking
at the evolutionary relationships between taxa (a
group of organisms classified as a unit). In an
outbreak, phylogenetic trees are used to
investigate closely related strains and possible
routes of transmission by looking at their most
recent common ancestor.
Here is an example of an influenza outbreak
phylogram:
The tips of the tree are the taxa, and the internal
nodes represent a common ancestor. The length
of the horizontal branches shows the
4
evolutionary distance between the taxa.
Gonzáles-Candelas and other scientists analysed
this case using phylogenetics and population
genetics. They obtained sequences from the NS5B
gene, which codes for a polymerase, and the E1-
E2 (glycoproteins) region on the genome. Their
analysis contributed to the prosecution of the
6
anaesthetist.
The Conclusion
In a BMC Biology paper, Anne-Mieke Vandamme
and Oliver Pybus studied the use of phylogeny in
7
this case. DNA fingerprinting is used to convict
people because it has a high probability of
correctly identify individuals but phylogenetics
cannot be used to determine a verdict directly. In
the case of the anaesthetist, HCV was in question
and it evolves rapidly so the sequences of the
viruses within one patient may be different and
change over time. This leads to the branching that
does not clearly represent the transmission
routes. Another problem with phylogenetics is
that infection from the same outbreak cluster
together even if there is a direct transmission
between individuals. These issues, amongst
others, meant that Gonzáles- Candelas’ work was
used with other factors such as medical records
and interviews to help decide the verdict.
The Catalyst
Molecular phylogenetics is a new and developing
forensic tool. The Spanish anaesthetist case was
the first known use in court. It will be intriguing to
see if more courts use phylogenetic evidence in
cases like this one. But one concern discussed in
the paper by Anne-Mieke Vandamme and Oliver
Pybus was that the exposure to forensic dramas
and reports of convictions by DNA fingerprinting
could lead to jurors viewing phylogenetic
evidence in the same way and not understanding
its downfalls and complexity. Hopefully,
phylogenetics in forensics will be explored
further. Maybe it could become the evidence that
decides between innocent and guilty.
2
5
GENETICS

ARE OUR GENES REALLY OUR
BIOLOGICAL DESTINIES?
By Harry Clarke 12P
GENETICS
It’s often tempting to believe that every part of our makeup
and behaviours have arisen from our genes and only our
genes. Those small sections of DNA, embedded on our genetic
saviours, i.e., chromosomes, seem to have all the answers
about why and how we function in the way that we do.
However, as we have delved deeper into biology in the 21st
century, it has become more and more apparent that this is
not a true biological fact. In fact, epigenetics - most often
defined as a stably heritable phenotype resulting from
changes in a chromosome without alterations in the DNA
sequence - holds a whole other side to our biology and why
we look, feel, or act a certain way. We have started to discover
that our genes can change in many ways through different
processes, such as DNA methylation - the addition of a methyl
group to the DNA molecule leading to a change in DNA
segment activity without altering the DNA sequence 1- and
Histone modification - the process by which histone proteins
found in eukaryotic DNA are modified, again to alter chromatin
structure and change the expression of our genes, which
alone, do not change without these processes. It is worth
noting that both epigenetic processes work by altering gene
activity, as opposed to altering the genome itself.
As described, Methylation is the process of a Methyl (CH3)
group being added to the DNA molecule, as seen in figure 1. 2
This process can happen to either the cytosine or the adenine
base pair of the DNA molecule. It involves altering the DNA
segment activity without changing the sequence of the DNA,
and this ensures that the genes themselves remain the same
and unchanged. However, the expression of the genes
themselves and how they are used is different. Methylation
can give rise to many different epigenetic factors of medicine
and modern biology, proving that Methylation is an essential
process required for the different expression of genes. This
process can often be described through the terms of
‘switching off genes’.
Figure 1: Methylation
agouti genes methylated and therefore switched off, altering
the expression of coat colour and in turn the expression of
health; the yellow coated mice are more likely to contract
diabetes and become more obese later on in life. This case of
the agouti mice really does prove just how much weight DNA
methylation holds over gene expression.
DNA methylation can also have an important part to play in
the biological process of Carcinogenesis, which is the
formation of cancers in cells. DNA methylation can lead to
differing gene expressions which can lead to cell proliferation,
through the healthy regulation of gene expression to a disease
pattern being altered. A key example of this is in the disease
process of bladder cancers, 4of which 3% are believed to be
linked to DNA methylation. This addition of methyl groups
leads to the altering of the gene expression, and possibly
leads to mutations within the gene, in turn contributing to the
cell proliferation seen in cancers.
The other important epigenetic process is the process of
histone modification. Histones are the DNA associated
proteins found within eukaryotic cells, which are responsible
for the packing of DNA into units called Nucleosomes. In
histone modification, a series of biological processes:
Methylation - the addition of methyl groups this time to
the histone proteins as opposed to the DNA base pairs
Phosphorylation - addition of phosphate heads to the
histone tails, leading to drastic changes in the function of
the histone proteins
Acetylation - the process linked with gene silencing,
through the addition of an acetyl group to the amino acid
lysine where there is no DNA methylation present
Histone ubiquitylation - addition of ubiquitin to histone
proteins
Histone sumoylation - modification of this ubiquitin
Evidently, the process of histone modification has a massive
part to play in the epigenetic landscape of an individual as so
many different molecules are required for gene silencing and
gene activation. They have also proven to be significant in the
process of autoimmune diseases, through the methyl, acetyl,
phosphate and ubiquitylation groups acting as markers for
immunological breakdown through gene silencing of
important genes that can protect against autoimmune
disease.
5
3
DNA methylation quite literally proves the opening statement
of this article, that genes and genes alone do not control
everything despite what the majority of us have been
educated to think. A key example of this is the case of the
3
Agouti Mice, where in which identical mice, despite obviously
possessing the same genes, can be different in their
phenotype, for example, in colour and size. Epigenetics and
the process of DNA methylation can explain why one small,
brown mouse can be an identical twin to an obese, yellow
mouse. This is because the yellow mice have their agouti
genes switched on, and therefore have not been methylated
as opposed to the smaller, brown mice which have had their
It is undeniable that epigenetics is a truly exciting and eyeopening
field of biology which has so much more to uncover in
the world of science and research. Through only just the two
examples of epigenetic processes, it becomes blatant that it is
not only our genes that contribute to the way humans and
other species operate and possess different phenotypes but
instead the ways in which genes are expressed, altered, and
silenced.

DOES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO REPLACE DOCTORS
IN THE FUTURE?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the general
term given to the use of a computer to
model intelligent behaviour with minimal
human intervention. Engineers are
constantly developing and enhancing AI
and in fact, these machines can integrate
new knowledge into themselves at such a
high speed that humans cannot even
match. From making diagnoses to carrying
out surgeries, AI plays a major role in
medicine and is extremely beneficial to
both clinicians and patients. Its complexity,
intelligence and flawlessness almost beats
the ability of humans and perhaps even
intellectuals and although doctors are, to
some extent, 'experts' in the field of
medicine, in the foreseeable future, could
artificial intelligence replace them
completely?
Uses of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
One way in which artificial intelligence
currently assists physicians is by helping
them with clinical decisions. In certain
specialties such as radiology and
dermatology, 1 AI has actually shown the
potential to be more accurate than
physicians at making diagnoses. For
example, deep convolutional neural
networks (CNNs) - a type of AI - can detect
skin cancer just as accurately as
dermatologists and in 2017, a robot passed
China’s national medical exam, scoring 96
points more than the minimum. 2 Artificial
intelligence is also important in the field of
research; with tools like Google Fit, medical
research companies can collect health data
at a larger, more accurate scale and this
By Sethujah Gangatharan 12S
can help both clinicians and patients make
the correct decisions regarding their health.
One final area that artificial intelligence
contributes to, is medical education. The
best physicians are often the people with
the most varied clinical experience. Since
medicine is a career in which lives are on
the line, it isn’t always possible to allow
medical students to observe or aid certain
cases. Fortunately, some artificial
intelligence machines can produce highfidelity
medical simulation sessions for
students and this helps to strengthen and
prepare aspiring doctors for their future
careers.
Examples of Artificial Intelligence
One AI technology which has burgeoned
over the past decades and is used on a
daily basis in many hospitals is the surgical
system ‘Da Vinci’.
Da Vinci Surgical System
Traditional surgeries where surgeons
operate with handheld instruments
through large incisions leave a large scar
on patients and takes many weeks to
recover from. These surgeries are also
more demanding for surgeons in the way
4
MEDICAL ETHICS

MEDICAL ETHICS
that they require them to stand for long
periods of time and stay extremely
focused. To solve this issue, when possible,
minimally invasive surgeries using Da Vinci
can be performed and this only leaves a
few small scars on the patient’s body.
Surgical tools are not required and the
surgeon can simply control the robot from
3
a console whilst sitting down!
Another important AI technology which is
relevant to science in general, is
4
‘DeepMind’. Towards the end of last year,
DeepMind was programmed to determine a
protein’s 3D shape solely based on its
amino acid sequence, meaning that
scientists can now feed a sequence into the
machine and the protein’s bonds,
prosthetic groups and entire structure will
be discovered. This is a major revolution in
science and healthcare since scientists can
now create drugs faster to cure diseases,
create enzymes to decompose plastic
waste, and even design and build more
nutritious crops.
Ethical Dilemmas
Despite being evidently valuable in science
and healthcare, AI implementation can
pose some threats to privacy,
confidentiality and patient autonomy, and
this needs to be minimised. As well as this,
there should be a more proportional
representation of groups within a
population, i.e. algorithms should provide
more accurate predictions of outcomes
across race, gender and socioeconomic
5
status.
5
Conclusion
Now that we have explored a few examples
of AI within medicine, to answer the main
question, i.e. can artificial intelligence ever
replace doctors, we must consider the
question, what is a doctor? Although the
Cambridge dictionary states that a doctor is
‘a person with a medical degree whose job
is to treat people who are ill or hurt’,
clinicians do more than just treating a
disease. Doctors listen to people, form
rapports with them and provide emotional
support where needed. Although this may
not always be the case, they are there to
provide a holistic approach to one's
treatment, ensuring that the whole person,
i.e. the patient’s body, mind, spirit, and
emotions, are treated rather than the
illness itself.
In my opinion, the art of listening and
empathising is what makes doctors
humane and AI doesn’t have this skill . AI
cannot provide compassion or comfort like
a human can - or perhaps this is yet to be
developed. As well as this, I’m sure it’s
agreeable that expressing one’s problems
to a doctor-mimicking robot would not feel
the same as talking to an actual human!
Overall, although many people believe that
artificial intelligence has the potential to
replace physicians in the foreseeable
future, this is highly unlikely since AI lacks
the ability to form emotional connections
with humans. However there is no doubt
that AI will continue to assist doctors,
contribute to medical education and have
widespread outcomes that will
revolutionise medicine, transform patients’
experiences and healthcare professionals’
daily routines.

XENOTRANSPLANTATION
By Phoebe Yan Chun Po 12P
Xenotransplantation is a procedure that involves the
implantation of organs or tissue from a nonhuman
animal into a human through xenografts or
1
xenotransplants. Human organ transplantation on a
global scale faces many challenges, with the need
for organs exceeding the availability of donor organs;
each year less than half of the people on waiting lists
receive an organ transplant, with many dying each
day waiting for an organ. Xenotransplantation allows
potential uses of domesticated animals such as pigs
and cows to be considered as tissue and organ
2
sources.
The first account of tissue xenotransplantation is in
17th century France, where Jean Baptiste Denis
began clinical experiment and practice in xeno-blood
transfusions from animals to human; however,
results to the practice were mixed and preceded in
the ban for xenotranfusion in France for a number of
years. Attention towards xenotransplantation
garnered attention from scientific communities in
the 1960s, as a result of human-to-human
transplantations. Throughout the late 20th century,
many clinical procedures that involved the
transplantation of solid organs from animal donors
were performed in the US and South Africa. The first
experiment of transplanting used chimpanzee
kidneys into a human, by Keith Reemtsma at Tulane
University. It was conducted in 1963, with one of the
patients receiving the kidney, iving on for nine
months. The first heart xenotransplantation was
conducted by James Hardy in the 1960s, using
chimpanzee donors (stemming from the reason that
3
human and chimpanzees sharing a lot of DNA).
Some of the potential uses of the procedure are for
patients with Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s
disease is a neurodegenerative condition
(characterised by mental deterioration) with the
potential uses of pigs as experimental treatments. In
addition to this, there is the use of tissue and organ
sources. Pigs are preferred over monkeys for donors,
as pigs mature very quickly, produce large litters and
their organs are comparable to the size and function
of human organs; while monkeys are
undomesticated animals and are more difficult to
raise.
There has been research in using pancreatic islet
cells and neural cells from pigs, for diabetes and
4
refractory parkinsonism. There are numerous
advantages to xenotransplantation. It promises lifesaving
benefits, although the procedure hasn’t been
perfected, it allows life-saving solutions to extend
the life of people who are on waiting lists.
Furthermore, it reduces opportunities for black
market organ donations, which is a huge issue in
third world countries, where there are many issues
of exploitation. There are also potential new areas of
research, with an opportunity in research for fields
of treating illnesses and medical procedures. Overall,
the main advantage of xenotransplantation is
eliminating huge deficits in the supply and demand
for organs and generates technological advances in
5
medicine.
However, there are also very obvious cons to
xenotransplantation, with the main problem being
rejection. The recipient’s body attacks the new
organs similar to an infection. The genetically altered
pigs are expressed using human proteins (a human
immune system), which has the potential is
producing organs and tissues which don’t get
rejected after being transplanted.
Other potential cons are the transfer of infectious
diseases (cross-species infection). As well as this,
animal organs have shorter life spans, this as a
result requires the person to undergo multiple
transplants within their lifetime (preventing the
4
organ to wear out).
With the procedure, there have been guidelines
imposed, some examples are that the families and
friends will have to sign informed consent
documents indicating what they understand and
accept all the medical risks and inconveniences
involved (such as potential infection and lifelong
medical attention). Some of the ethical concerns of
the procedures are: deciding who receives the
transplant procedure, concern in the creation and
care of animals that serve as donors, animal rights,
determining under what circumstances someone
4
becomes a recipient and disruptive justice.
There are also many moral issues through religious
beliefs, such as humans being superior species to
6
animals, and mixing species against God’s will.
In conclusion, advances in surgical procedures such
as xenotransplantation could save thousands of
lives waiting for a donor organ or tissue, though
further research is needed for the problems of
rejection and possible cross-species infection.
6
MEDICAL ETHICS

ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME
By Ana Moulson 11S
NEUROLOGY
Personally, I’ve always found Lewis Carroll’s novel
and the Disney film classic, ‘Alice’s adventures in
wonderland’ slightly eery with the obscure world of
perplexing characters that just gets “curiouser and
curiouser”. The scenes where Alice and her
surroundings distort and resize are particularly
intriguing, as they pose questions of how differently
we interpret the world around us and, following this,
English psychiatrist John Todd introduced Alice in
Wonderland syndrome (or Todd’ syndrome) in 1955.
What is it and who does it affect?
Alice in Wonderland syndrome is a rare neurological
disorder that is associated with metamorphopsias
(the distortion of visual perception), which affects
the way the brain perceives sight, hearing, touch,
sensation or time. This syndrome is an infrequent
event that is thought to only affect individuals a few
times in their lives. It is primarily seen in children
and young adults (such as Alice), however in most
cases, patients will grow out of it as they develop
and age, yet, there have been some cases of it in
adults too.
Main symptoms:
Size distortion:
Micropsia-The sensation that one’s body or
surrounding objects are becoming smaller (such
as Alice when she drinks the bottle labelled
‘drink me’).
Macropsia- The sensation that one’s body or
surrounding objects are becoming larger (such
as when Alice eats the cake labelled ‘eat me’).
Perceptual distortion:
Pelopsia- The sensation that surrounding
objects are closer to you.
Teleopsia- The sensation that surrounding
objects are further away from you.
Other common symptoms
Migraines (some doctors believe this
syndrome is an aura, an early sensory
indictor of a migraine)
Time distortion (much like Alice where time
ran strangely, always 6 o’clock).
Sound distortion (sounds may feel louder
than usual).
Loss of limb coordination
Causes:
Doctors have concluded it isn’t associated with
problems of eyes or hallucinations, but researchers
believe it is an unusual electrical activity in the brain
that causes an abnormal flow of blood to the
primary visual cortex (a sheet of tissue less than
1/10th of an inch thick that processes environmental
experiences and visual perception). Study by Grant
Liu and the American Academy of Neurology: This
study involved 48 diagnosed Alice in Wonderland
syndrome patients with an average age of 8.1 years.
It revealed that 33% had infections (such as
Epstein- bar virus) and that neurological equipment
such as MRI scans and EEGs are unhelpful in finding
common causes however are helpful for diagnosis.
Treatment:
Currently, there is no treatment for Alice in
Wonderland syndrome and medical advice is to wait
for episodes to pass as many professionals say the
symptoms are not harmful to the vast majority of
diagnosed patients.
Lewis Carroll’s novel was written nearly a hundred
years prior to the introduction of this mental
disorder; however, the clear similarities between its
symptoms and scenarios that the protagonist, Alice,
experiences are undeniable. Maybe when you watch
the film again, ponder on the thought that Alice’s
distortion of her surroundings is not just a fictional
phenomenon but can truly affect some humans too.
For some more information:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/a
lice-in-wonderland-syndrome
https://www.healthline.com/health/alice-inwonderland-syndrome#risk-factors
https://n.neurology.org/content/82/10_Supple
ment/S19.003
7

PARKINSON'S DISEASE
By Nicole Carpegna 7F
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that
mainly affects the brain. It causes
problems that generally get worse over
time - like shaking and stiffness. A
person who has this disease may
experience involuntary tremours
throughout their body or slow
movement as a result of stiff and
inflexible muscles. This person could
also be affected by a wide range of other
physical and psychological symptoms.
These include depression and anxiety,
balance problems (increasing the
possibility of a fall), loss of sense of
smell (anosmia), difficulty sleeping
(insomnia), or even memory problems.
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is mainly caused by
a loss of nerve cells in a specific part of
the brain, the ‘substantia nigra’. This
leads to a reduction in a chemical called
dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a
vital role in regulating the movement of
the body. A reduction in dopamine is
responsible for many of the symptoms
of Parkinson’s disease. However, while
many experts think that a combination
of genetic and environmental factors are
responsible for the loss of nerve cells,
the exact cause is still unclear.
the condition first experience symptoms
when they’re under 40. Men are slightly
more likely to get Parkinson’s disease
than women because of a number of
reasons: toxicant exposure, head
trauma, neuroprotection by oestrogen
(reproductive hormones), mitochondrial
dysfunction, or because of X linkage of
genetic risk factors.
Treating Parkinson’s disease
Although there is currently no cure for
Parkinson’s disease, treatments are
available to help reduce the main
symptoms and maintain quality of life
for as long as possible. These include
supportive treatments, such as
physiotherapy and occupational therapy,
medication, or in some cases, brain
surgery.
The person may not need any treatment
during the early stages of Parkinson’s
disease, as symptoms are usually mild.
But they will need regular appointments
with their specialist to ensure that their
condition is monitored.
For further information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/par
kinsons-disease/
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk
NEUROLOGY
Who’s affected?
It is thought that around 1 in 500 people
are affected by this disease. Most people
with Parkinson’s disease begin to
develop symptoms when they’re over
50, although around 1 in 20 people with
8

THE HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING
By Jessica Pallickamyalil 12S
SMOKING
Smoking is a very harmful form of
substance abuse, due to the fact tobacco
contains nicotine, tar, toxic chemicals and
carbon monoxide . Smoking harms almost
1
all of the bodily organs, including the
heart, lungs, blood vessels, eyes, mouth,
reproductive and digestive organs,
bladder and bones.
2
There are many risks of smoking; it can
cause cancer, lung diseases, heart attack,
stroke, COPD (chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease) and diabetes. It also
increases the risk for immune disorders,
tuberculosis and several different eye
conditions.
Most cases of lung cancer occur due to
excessive smoking. Some other types of
cancers include:
Mouth
Throat
Stomach
Bladder
Larynx
Oesophagus
Bowel
Cervix
Kidney
Liver
Pancreas
Smoking is addictive due to the nicotine
content in cigarettes and/or vaping-leads. 3
This promotes the release of dopamine in
the human brain. Dopamine tells the brain
to continue to repeat an action (such as
smoking).
4
Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is the smoke produced
by burning tobacco products. This smoke
contains thousands of chemicals and
hundreds of them are toxic and are
carcinogens.
Most people do not realise that exposure
to secondhand smoke can be just as
harmful as smoking directly. Since 1964
around 2,500,000 people that do not
smoke have died or had health problems,
caused by exposure to secondhand
smoke.
Secondhand smoke around children can
be particularly harmful. It can cause:
Ear infections
Asthma attacks
Coughing
Sneezing
Shortness of breath
Lung diseases
Smoking during pregnancy
Smoking during pregnancies can be
extremely dangerous for the developing
baby as the toxic chemicals enter the
bloodstream of the mother and child. This
can cause sudden death, stillbirths,
premature births, a low birth weight and
lip and mouth defects.
9

ADAPTATIONS OF THE SPHENISCIDAE
PENGUINS
by Zhi Xia 10F
Most people recognise penguins as either from
cute Christmas cards or from the chocolate
biscuit bar. However, they are much more than
this! Penguins are a family of 19 species of birds
that live mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, each
with its distinctive colouring-black body and a
white belly which help camouflage the bird in the
water. Though they are birds, penguins have
evolved to have flippers instead of wings. They
cannot fly and on land they travel via waddling
and sliding on their tummies (when the snowy
weather permits). In the water they are expert
swimmers and professional divers, with some
species such as the Adele penguin reaching
speeds of 15 miles per hour and dives to around
1,500 feet (450 metres). Genetic analyses indicate
that members of the Spheniscidae family evolved
from non-flying birds whose ancestors were very
different from what we could imagine. Their basal
ancestor, the first to separate from other groups
of birds, lived 71-68 million years ago. These
penguins’ closer ancestors are known from bits of
well preserved fossils dating to about 50 million
years ago.
But how have they evolved to present penguins?
Well, non-surprisingly, penguins have been highly
specialized for centuries for their flightless
aquatic existence. First off, the feet are located
much farther back than those of other birds, so its
walk can be described as plantigrade (meaning
walking on the soles). The sole also makes up the
entire foot instead of just the toes, as in most
other birds. However, the most notable
characteristic of the group is that they are
adapted for rapid movement in water, in which
the ‘wings’ (actually called flippers) are used for
propulsion so the can birds “fly” underwater. The
flipper has the same skeletal base as the wing of
flying birds but with its elements shortened and
flattened and covered with very short feathers;
an ideal organ for rapid propulsion. The body
plumage likewise consists of very short feathers,
which minimize friction in the water. The density
of the plumage and the adapted to provide
almost complete insulation of the body, much
needed for living in constantly below 0 °C water.
But why did the ancestors stop flying in the first
place? Flight might make some aspects of
penguins' Antarctic life much easier, such as in an
escape from leopard fur seals and on an emperor
penguins’ grueling march may take only a few
hours rather than numerous deadly days. There
are several hypotheses, but the most accepted is
that such ancestors increasingly adapted to their
aquatic environment of what would later become
South America, New Zealand and Antarctica,
where they found a large amount of food. Over
the years, their swimming and diving necessities
brought their body structural changes ever since
about 40-25 million years ago, when penguins
were already hot-blooded predators of fish, squid,
and krill so they no longer needed to fly anywhere
for food. The number of species was formerly
much greater than now, as several became
extinct over time because they did not adapt to
new environmental conditions, for example, the
Anthropornis nordenskjoeldi species could have
reached a height of up to 1.8 metres, more or less
the height of people! For centuries, scientists have
often wondered why and how the birds lost that
ability but to this day no conclusive evidence of
any reason for it.
For further information visit:
https://www.penguins-world.com
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/
article/131320-penguin-evolution-scienceflight-diving-swimming-wings
https://www.bioexpedition.com/penguinevolution/
https://www.britannica.com/animal/penguin
/Natural-history
https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/peng
uin
10
VETERINARY MEDICINE

COVID-19 VACCINE SCIENTIST FACTFILES
COVID-19 VACCINE SCIENTIST
SARAH GILBERT
FACTFILES
Sarah Gilbert was a student in biological sciences at
the University of East Anglia, she was intrigued by
the diversity of thought and experience in the
department. She had never meant to be a vaccine
specialist. However, by the mid-1990s, she found
herself with an academic job at the University of
Oxford. She looked at the genetics of malaria which
she then progressed into research and her work on the malaria vaccine.
At Oxford, Dr Gilbert became a professor at the university's prestigious Jenner Institute. She
set up her own research group in a bid to create a universal flu vaccine (this was a vaccine
which would be effective against all the different strains).
In 2014, she led the first trial of an Ebola vaccine. And when the MERS virus came around
(Middle East respiratory syndrome) Sarah Gilbert travelled to Saudi Arabia to try to develop
a vaccine for this form of coronavirus. The second trial of that vaccine was just beginning
when Covid-19 also emerged in China. Sarah Gilbert decided that she might be able to use
the same approach she used for previous vaccines.
It took a few weeks to create a vaccine that worked against Covid-19 in the lab. Then the first
batch went into manufacture by early April, as the rigorous testing regime expanded. Prof
Gilbert described the process as a ‘series of small steps’.
"From the beginning, we're seeing it as a race against the virus, not a race against other
vaccine developers," she said earlier this year. "We're a university and we're not in this to
make money."
DR MAHESHI RAMASAMY
By Maria Comarita 10G and Arthy Arudkumar 10G
Dr Maheshi Ramasamy is a Consultant Physician at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust and is the Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Oxford.
WHERE RAMASAMY STUDIED
Dr Maheshi Ramasamy obtained her medical degree at Christ’s College, Cambridge. She
trained in Infectious Diseases and General Internal Medicine in London and Oxford and
completed a DPhil at Wadham College, Oxford.
WHAT DOES SHE RESEARCH?
Dr Ramasamy is a Principal Investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group where she leads on
adult clinical vaccine trials including the Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trials.
11
By Hanny Dao 10S

RECENT HEALTHCARE NEWS
More Twins!
According to new research, there are more twins being born than ever before. 1 in
42 children are a twin with 1.6 million twins born every year. Between 1980 and
1985, there were 9 twin births in every 1,000 deliveries but between 2010 and
2015 this rose by more than 30% to 12 twin births per 1,000 deliveries. This is
though to be due to an increase in medically-assisted reproduction such as in
vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Children and Young People’s Mental Health
The government announced that they are going to invest £79 million to boost
mental health support for children and young people. This boost will include
increasing the mental health support teams in schools and colleges from 59 to
400 by April 2023 as well as increasing the access to community mental health
services including cognitive behavioural therapy and talking therapies.
Women’s Health
The government launched a 12 week call for evidence to improve the health and
well-being of women and make sure the health service is meeting Women’s
needs to mark International Women’s Day last month. The themes they hope to
include in the call include placing women’s voices at the centre of their own care,
improve the quality and accessibility of information and education in women’s
health, maximise women’s health in the workplace,
Cameras to Check for Cancer
Cameras that patients can swallow that can detect cancer are being trialled. It is
called a colon capsule endoscopy and people can check themselves for cancer at
home. This means that more patients can be checked for cancer without having
to attend hospital. The capsule endoscopy takes about five to eight hours with
the images of the bowel going to a shoulder bag meaning patients can be having
the procedure while going about their day.
12
RECENT HEALTHCARE NEWS

APRIL’S RECOMMENDATIONS
Book of the Month: Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shephard
RECOMMENDATIONS
The dead do not hide the truth and they never lie. Through me the dead
can speak. Meet the forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd. He solves
the mysteries of unexplained or sudden death. He's a detective in his
own right. And he has one, ultimate and pressing question to answer:
How did this person die?
Unnatural Causes is an unputdownable record of an extraordinary life, a
unique insight into a remarkable profession, and above all a powerful
and reassuring testament to lives cut short. Dr Shepherd has faced serial
killers, natural disaster, 'perfect murders' and freak accidents, all in the
pursuit of the truth. And while he's been involved in some of the most
high-profile cases of recent times, it's often the less well-known
encounters that prove the most perplexing, intriguing and even bizarre.
In or out of the public eye, his evidence has put killers behind bars, freed
the innocent and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads. But a life
in death, bearing witness to some of humanity's darkest corners, exacts
a price and Shepherd doesn't flinch from counting the cost to him and his
family.
Podcasts of the Month:
How To Become A Doctor Podcast
A podcast delving into student insights about studying medicine as a degree; including advice from
students across different universities in the UK.
Nutrition & Immunity Podcast Series
In this series, you’ll hear a panel of world-renowned experts discuss nutrition guidelines for caring for
COVID-19 patients.
Documentary of the Month:
The Bleeding Edge
This eye-opening look at the fast-growing medical device industry reveals how the
rush to innovate can lead to devastating consequences for patients.
13
Upcoming Medical Events
Let's talk about Death and Dying - BSMS (Wednesday 7 April 2021, 6:30pm-7:30pm)
In this webinar, Dr Aoife Louise explores tools and communication skills used by health professionals to
aid patients and relatives to make informed choices about death and dying.
Student Life - What is it like to be a medical student? (Tuesday 27 April 2021, 5-6:30pm)
In this talk, you will meet current medical students at BSMS - they will be sharing their highlights and
challenges of the application process and starting medical school, as well as discussing what a typical
week of medical student looks like, both before and during a pandemic!
Applying to Medical School Webinar Series - Medic Mind (timings and dates for these can be found here)
In these webinars you will learn about the UCAT, work experience, and generally how to make a
competitive application for medicine.
Virtual Tour
Click the title above for a virtual tour of Canterbury Christ Church University’s New Health and Medical
Facilities

MEDICAL DATES IN APRIL
April is:
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Awareness Month
National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Medical Weeks in April:
Autism Week - 29th (March) - 4th (April)
MS Awareness Week - 19th-25th
World Immunisation Week - 24th–30th
Allergy Awareness Week - 26th-30th
Medical Days in April:
World Health Day - 7th
World Meningitis Day - 24th
On Your Feet Britain Day - 29th
.
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
Every April, Child Abuse Prevention Month provides an opportunity to mature your
understanding around the signs of child abuse and the ways in which we can work
together as a community to prevent it. This month is the prime time for societies to
support children and families by reinforcing existing strategies and implementing
outreach programs that promote awareness about the dangers of child abuse.
Introducing other activities and resources will also act as platforms for recognising
neglect.
Physical neglect is by far the most frequently occurring type of neglect. In most
cases, the guardian is not providing the child with essentials such as food, shelter,
and clothing. In some scenarios, young children are abandoned with no supervision
for extended periods of time. Our aim as a society this month is to bring hope to
families and become one step closer to ending child abuse and neglect.
MEDICAL DATES
Donate to NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) who
campaign and work to provide children with protection. You can donate here.
14

QUIZ
To check you’ve been reading so far...
1.What is morphine?
2.What is histone modification?
APRIL'S QUIZ
3.What are some ethical dilemmas of AI
implementation?
4. What is a con of xenotransplantation?
5. What is micropsia?
6. What is the main cause of Parkinson’s disease?
7. What can smoking during pregnancy cause?
8. What does plantigrade mean?
15
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ WILL BE FEATURED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE JOURNAL

WORDSEARCH
Common Allergens
Animal Dander
Mustard
PUZZLES
Aspirin
Dust Mites
Eggs
Fruit
Insect Sting
Latex
Peanuts
Penicillin
Sesame
Shellfish
Soy
Tree Nuts
Milk
Wheat
16

CROSSWORD - IMMUNISATIONS
PUZZLES
ACROSS:
2. Number of new disease cases reported in a
population over a certain period of time
3. An infection of the protective membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord
4. Product that stimulates a person's immune
system to produce immunity to a specific disease
6.Additional doses of a vaccine needed
periodically to “boost” the immune system
8. Type of vaccine that uses a weakened yet living
version of the virus
9. Contact with infectious agents that promotes
transmission and increases likelihood of disease
11. Sudden increase in the occurrence of a disease
in a particular time and location
13. Viral disease that can cause painful swellings
on the side of the face
14. A virus that damages the cells in the immune
system and weakens the ability to fight everyday
infections (no current cure)
15.Viral infection that attacks the respiratory
system, commonly known as the 'flu'
16. Indirect protection from an infectious disease
when a population is immune vaccination or
infection
17
DOWN:
1.Type of immunity that doesn't produce memory
cells
2. Reduction of the activation or efficacy of the
immune system
5. A highly contagious respiratory disease caused
by the SARS-CoV-2 virus
7. Organisms causing diseases in human beings
10.Substance that induces the immune system to
produce antibodies against it
12. Small white blood cells that help the body
defend itself against infection

Quiz
1) The transport of oxygen in the bloodstream would be severely limited, which would affect
respiration
2) 10%
ISSUE 5 QUIZ + PUZZLE ANSWERS
3) When your body sorts memories out more rapidly, choosing which ones to keep and which ones
to discard
4) Ghrelin levels increase and leptin is suppressed
5) The increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or stroke die to several factors
including high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess fat around the waist, high
triglyceride levels and low levels of HDL
6) An organ that, during pregnancy, provides oxygen and nutrients to the fetus developing in the
womb, whilst simultaneously removing waste products from its blood
7) Alcohol decreases the production of white blood cells and impairs the response to new
antigens, so the body is more vulnerable and prone to infections
8) Stimulants give the animal more energy and depressants make the animal move slower and in
turn manipulate their form.
Wordsearch
18
ISSUE 5 QUIZ AND PUZZLE ANSWERS

ISSUE 5 QUIZ AND PUZZLE ANSWERS
H
F
I
B
U M E
L
A
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
P
R
F
E
M
U
R
L
S
P
V
R
A
D
I
U
S
T
T
S
M
C L A V I
N
D
I B I A
B
E L L A
E
C
R
A
N
I
U
M
S
T
L E
R
N
U
M
L N A
19

DERMATOLOGY
Dermatology is the study of the skin - the word dermatology derives from the greek words 'derma-'
(meaning skin) and '-logy' (meaning the study of).
The skin is the largest and arguably, the most important organ in the body. It plays a vital role in
detecting and responding to sensations, regulating the body’s temperature and protecting the internal
organs and muscles from microbes and diseases.
Anatomy of the Skin:
Our skin is composed of three layers which each contain many different types of cells with:
The Epidermis: the outermost layer of skin, which provides a waterproof barrier and creates our skin
tone
Keratinocytes - responsible for the production of keratin (a protein which helps repair damaged
cells and protects the skin against bacteria)
Melanocytes – responsible for pigment formation and the production of melanin (a molecule
which protects the body from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun {almost like the body's own
sunscreen!} )
Langerhans cells – antigen-presenting dendritic cells
Merkel cells – sensory mechanoreceptors (cells that respond to mechanical pressure)
The Dermis: tough connective tissue beneath the epidermis
Fibroblasts – cells which synthesise the extracellular matrix
Mast cells – histamine containing cells of the innate immune system
Skin appendages – e.g. hair follicles, sweat glands, etc. Although present in the dermis, these
structures are derived from the epidermis which descend into the dermis during development.
The Hypodermis: interlaced with blood vessels and nerves, the hypodermis is the deeper
subcutaneous tissue made of fat and connective tissue. It provides the integral structural support for
the skin, insulating the body from cold and reinforcing shock absorption.
Facts about the Skin:
An average adult has approximately 21 square feet of skin which contains more than 11 miles of blood
vessels
The average person has roughly 300 million skin cells
The skin renews itself every 28 days - just like a snake!
Every minute, your skin sheds roughly 30,000 to 40,000 dead cells every minutes
Common Skin Conditions:
Acne: when blocked skin follicles from a plug caused by
oil from glands, bacteria, and dead cells clump together
and swell
Psoriasis: a chronic condition in which the immune
system becomes overactive and causes skin cells to
multiply too quickly
Vitiligo: when melanocytes (skin cells that make
pigment) are destroyed, causing patches of the skin to
become milky-white
Scleroderma: an autoimmune disease that causes
inflammation in the skin and other areas of the body.
Too much collagen is often produced and this causes
parts of the skin to go hard.
20
DERMATLOGY

HEALTHCARE PROFESSION OF THE MONTH
HEALTHCARE PROFESSION OF THE
MONTH: PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE
What are Physician Associates?
Physician associates are healthcare professionals that provide support to doctors in the diagnosis and
management of patients. Like other healthcare professionals, they work as part of a team, typically in GP
surgeries or hospitals, and are often supervised throughout their career by a supervisor (GPs,
consultants, etc.)
Physician Associates carry out many roles such as:
Taking patient medical histories - face-to-face/online consultations
Ordering diagnostic tests and analysing results
Delivering appropriate treatments and care management plans
Evaluating the effectiveness of care management plans
Making home visits to patients that are unable to travel to a medical practice
However, there are some roles that they are not permitted to carry out, e.g. they currently aren’t able to
prescribe or request CT scans and X-Rays.
Some skills of a Physician Associate include:
Writing Skills
Leadership Skills
Resilience
Problem-solving ability
Decision-making skills
Communication skills
The ability to work well under pressure
The ability to work as part of a MDT (multidisciplinary team)
To work as a Physician Associate (PA), a bioscience-related first degree is needed, followed by a PA
training course. Some examples of first degrees are:
Pharmacy
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Nursing
Genetics
Biomedical science
Medical science
Physiology
Microbiology
At some universities, Master of Physician Associate Studies programmes are also available - for this
degree, ABB or equivalent A-Levels are required.
Physician Associates’ starting salary after training is approximately £31,696.
For more info, visit:
BMA
Healthcare Careers
Prospects
21

A REFLECTION ON THE BRIGHTON &
SUSSEX MEDICAL SCHOOL WORK
From this course, one of the most valuable
lessons learnt was the importance of building a
rapport between the doctor and patient. This is a
healthy relationship in which the patient feels as
comfortable as possible in speaking with the
doctor on any concerns they have relating to their
health. Without the fundamental establishment of
a rapport in any type of healthcare - ranging from
General practice and primary care to end of life
support (both of which were covered in the
course), the role of a Doctor becomes a lot less
significant. Understanding the importance of
Doctor- Patient relationships is one thing, but how
can this actually be achieved?
First and foremost, in order for Doctors to
establish a healthy patient relationship, they must
listen to their patients, allowing them to open up
and explain what has brought them to the Doctor.
A key example of this in the course was in the
General Practice section, in which the GP saw a
patient who had concerns about his skin and the
negative effects it had on him in his professional
and personal life. Not only did the Doctor listen
and act on what the patient had said, but he also
allowed for the patient to ask any questions and
showed a real sense of empathy. Listening skills
and empathy are essential in building a doctorpatient
rapport as patients feel more comfortable
in the doctor’s company. Without this atmosphere,
the patient be less able to express their ICE (Ideas,
concerns , expectations) and doctors would find it
much harder to take an appropriate course of
action.
Being realistic towards Patients and their wishes
is another fundamental part of establishing a
rapport in medicine, and making promises or
guaranteeing that different courses of action will
certainly work hinders this. It is the job of a doctor
to, above all, Do no Harm (as seen in the four
pillars of Medical ethics as Nonmaleficence),
meaning that in order to establish a healthy
rapport between patient
EXPERIENCE
By Harry Clarke 12P
and Doctor, it’s important to inform the patient
and their family that nothing is guaranteedThis
was mostly emphasised in the Palliative care
section of the course, particularly in the section
titled ‘Husband and Wife clinical trial’. In this,
Judith, a patient diagnosed with breast cancer, is
offered the chance to partake in a clinical trial, as
well as access to new medical care for her cancer
which has spread to other parts of the body. The
doctor effectively stressed to Judith’s husband
that the clinical trial was experimental and there
was no way of knowing if this would alleviate the
symptoms that Judith was facing. Alongside this,
the Doctor reassured Judith that it was ‘her time’,
which stressed the importance of Autonomy for
Judith. It was clear to see that the Doctor in this
situation had developed a secure rapport with
Judith, who was grateful that the realistic
explanation of what the clinical trial was going to
entail.
Prioritising patients’ needs is another important
factor for building rapport. It’s evident throughout
the Brighton and Sussex Virtual Work Experience
course that all Doctors featured are focused on
finding solutions for patients and their concerns
regarding their physical or mental healthstressed
in both examples already discussed, in
which both doctors clearly treated their patients
and their condition as being an ultimate priority.
Through treating all patients with the utmost
urgency and regarding them as important, a
sense of trust can be established, ensuring an
open rapport. Ultimately, this virtual work
experience has made it clear that building a
rapport between patient and doctor is one of the
most fundamental skills in medicine. Without the
strong establishment of a healthy patient doctor
rapport, it’s very hard to practice medicine.
You can access the virtual work experience
program here.
22
WORK EXPERIENCE REFELECTION

MEDICAL MYTHBUSTING
MEDICAL MYTHBUSTING
Breaking Medical Misconceptions
Myth 1: All work, no play
People are often deterred from medical school based off the misconception medical
students have no social life and are forced to work every hour of each day, ultimately
missing out on what is deemed as the 'uni life' - this is not true! While obviously medical
students do have a fair amount of content to learn and it can be challenging to fit everything
in, having fun and finding time to pursue other interests is 100%. Most students lead
balanced lives, and it's all about finding the balance (as with any other type of student).
Myth 2: You have to be super smart to get into medical school
Intelligence will only take you so far in medicine - trying to get through medical school
without a work ethic and perseverance is not possible. The content not coming to you
naturally doesn't matter; a desire to learn and succeed is all you need. As a wise man one
said, 'hard work beats the intelligence when intelligence does not work hard'.
Myth 3: All doctors do the same thing
People that graduate with medical degrees don't all go on to become the stereotypical
hospital doctors, and even within the hospital setting, different jobs have different day-todays.
For example, the technicality of their work, the level of patient-contact and work-life
balance all vary. Although junior doctors all start off with the same type of work, work
becomes more diversified as you progress so don't fear if a particular aspect of typical
'doctor life' isn't for you, because there are many other options out there!
Myth 4: All-nighters are the norm
Many people assume medical students are forced to spend several nights a week working
non-stop to panick-study or just to stay on top of work, but all-nighters are neither healthy
nor necessary. Yes, medical school has a high work-load but it is definitely possible to do
everything you need to when the sun is up and still have enough sleep. Focus on doing your
tasks as efficiently as possible rather than trying to focus on working for a set number of
hours.
Myth 5: All medicine is about science
People that graduate with medical degrees don't all go on to become the stereotypical
hospital doctors, and even within the hospital setting, different jobs have different day-todays.
For example, the technicality of their work, the level of patient-contact and work-life
balance all vary. Although junior doctors all start off with the same type of work, work
becomes more diversified as you progress so don't fear if a particular aspect of typical
'doctor life' isn't for you, because there are many other options out there!
23

ALTERNATIVES TO A MEDICINE
DEGREE
Medicine is an extremely popular and competitive degree and it's important to be completely sure that it's the
correct degree for you before choosing to study it. There are many healthcare careers related to medicine that
do not involve qualifying as a doctor - one of the best ways to find out whether medicine is the right degree for
you is by exploring all the alternative degrees and thinking about why you would and wouldn't choose those
degrees instead. Here is some information about three different healthcare careers that you may or may not
have considered before:
Paramedic Science Degree - 3 years
Being the first responder to accidents and emergencies requires a very specific skill set. Paramedics must
be able to work well under pressure and deliver excellent medical care, even while in the back of a moving
ambulance. Soft skills such as decision-making, stamina, and resilience also make up the crux of a
paramedic’s qualities.
Entry Requirements: Minimum of B in each A-level subject. Biology is arguably the most important subject
when applying for this degree, closely followed by Maths. Most paramedic degrees involve spending
around half of your time on placements; for example, in clinical practice domains such as NHS facilities.
After qualifying as a paramedic, you can opt to work for the air ambulance or specialise in various
conditions such as strokes. Other possible jobs you can get with a paramedic science degree include:
Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic
Physician Assistant
Working in the Military
Biomedical Sciences Degree - 3 years
Biomedical science underpins a large proportion of modern medicine; from identifying infectious disease
outbreaks to regulating biomarkers in cancer, it can be considered a very broad area of science. Staff
usually work in healthcare laboratories, evaluating the effectiveness of a particular disease or analysing
samples to aid in the diagnosis of diseases. Skills such as problem-solving, time management, and
numeracy are vital in this field of work.
Entry requirements: Five GCSEs (A-C) including Maths and English, and three A levels, preferably including
Chemistry and Biology. Certain level 3 qualifications could be acceptable e.g. the diploma in applied science.
Possible job routes to take post a Biomedical Science degree include:
Biomedical scientist
Analytical chemist
Forensic scientist
Neuroscience Degree - around 6 years
Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system; it is a multidisciplinary science enclosing subject topics
such as anatomy, molecular biology, and psychology. This field delves deep into the structure and
development of the brain; zooming into its impact on cognitive functions and human behaviour. Thorough
knowledge of the central nervous system and the mental disorders associated with it are key aspects that
neuroscience students develop over the course. Key skills include being analytical and having an evergrowing
interest in research.
Entry Requirements: AAA-ABB, including two of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Maths.
Students who embark on the journey of studying neuroscience can go on to have careers in:
Biotechnology and contract research
Neuropsychology and psychiatry
Clinical sciences
24
ALTERNATIVES TO A MEDICINE DEGREE

WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED READING THE
JOURNAL! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE
THAT CONTRIBUTED TO IT - DON'T
FORGET TO KEEP SENDING IN PHOTOS
AND ARTICLES!
WE WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IT IF
YOU COULD FILL OUT THIS SHORT,
ANONYMOUS FEEDBACK FORM
ABOUT THE JOURNAL AS IT WOULD
HELP US IMPROVE OUR UPCOMING
ISSUES! THANK YOU :)
For any queries and suggestions, you can contact us via email:
nwsgmedicjournal@gmail.com