Undergraduate Course: Structures and Functions of Proteins 3 (BILG09015)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | 1. To describe the structures of biological macromolecules, particularly proteins, in relation to their functions in catalysis, ligand binding, membrane transport and energy transduction, and to illustrate the types of experimental techniques used to study macromolecular structure and function.
2. To develop personal skills appropriate to a third-year biological science student, including competence in a range of laboratory techniques; the ability to analyse scientific papers; familiarity with the use of libraries and databases; the ability to present the results of experimental work concisely and accurately, both numerically and in writing, and to write about biochemical and molecular biological topics in a clear and well-organised manner. |
| Course description |
Not entered
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2015/16, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 15,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
146 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
30 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Normally two items of in-course assessment
plus one 2 hour exam. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Structures and Functions of Proteins 3 | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Literature | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the principles and practice of the experimental methods used to study the structures and dynamics of macromolecules and their assemblies and to characterise their functional properties and mechanisms of action. Chemical and physical principles that determine the structures of proteins and nucleic acids. Principles of the interactions of proteins with other molecules and ligands. Principles underlying the types of mechanism by which protein function can be regulated.
- Perform a range of biochemical measurements and analytical and preparative procedures accurately and reproducibly, and to be able to explain the theoretical bases of these techniques.
- Comprehend biochemical papers, to interpret data in figures and tables, to use search systems and indices to find related papers and details of experimental methods, and to abstract papers and construct a short review of a particular topic.
- Write a logically-constructed essay on a biochemical topic, in which experimental evidence is discussed and research papers properly cited.
- Produce a concise written report of experimental work, containing tables and figures in which results are presented with a realistic assessment of precision and of the limitations of the procedures used and data obtained, and a discussion of the theoretical basis of the work.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Knowledge and Understanding: All components of the course provide this to some degree but your lectures, in particular, offer an important framework upon which you can build attributes. This University considers itself to be a research-led Institution and you will be exposed to cutting edge information and ideas as you progress through your degree course. In SFP you will develop a comprehensive knowledge of key features and functions of major macromolecules and macromolecular assemblies and will see how these operate in a cellular context.
Research and Enquiry: These skills are enhanced by encouraging further reading of books, research papers and electronic materials, to embellish your lecture and practical material. They underpin assessed, in-course material such as the Paper Analysis and PeerWise.
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy: By reading and preparing materials for tutorial sessions, you will learn to synthesise your own views, develop reasoned arguments and refine scientific judgement. In addition, we encourage self-development through use of past papers and the PeerWise assessment systems. Such skills enhance your capacity for life-long and independent learning.
Communication: This is a key attribute of all scientists and it is therefore important that you develop skills to interact constructively with others and convey knowledgeable and balanced scientific views. We specifically encourage and develop these skills in group tutorials.
Personal Effectiveness: The ability to organise and summarise your thoughts and material in a flexible and accessible way are core features that are required for personal effectiveness. Planning, time management and reflection are central to this. Of course these features also interlink with your personal and intellectual autonomy. By providing you with a timetable where key submission dates are highlighted, we are encouraging you to develop your effectiveness throughout the course. These same skills extend to other courses and also to your overall ability to maximise your achievement whilst studying at this University.
Technical and Practical Skills: In order to continue in a scientific career it is important that you not only understand the conceptual basis of how experiments are designed and carried out but also that you have the underpinning practical skills required for employability. Our course has a particularly heavy laboratory-based, experimental component which is designed to prepare your for this, as well as to assist you in your future Honours course projects. As part of your laboratory training skills in basic structural biology techniques including the computational analysis of structural data, are provided. The laboratory skills you develop from your practical sessions include critical observation, investigation and interpretation, careful recording, quantification and analysis, and should serve you well in any future employment. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
First lecture Monday 17/09/12 in Daniel Rutherford lecture theatre 1.
Tutorials: James Clark Maxwell Building, Room 3217
Practicals: Darwin Building, Level 6.
Molecular Graphics: Darwin Building, Level 1, computer rooms. |
| Keywords | SFP3 |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Laura Spagnolo
Tel: (0131 6)50 7066
Email: lspagnol@staffmail.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Samuel Bishop
Tel: (0131 6)51 3404
Email: Sam.Bishop@ed.ac.uk |
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