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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Biological Sciences : Postgraduate

Postgraduate Course: Practical Skills in Biochemistry A (PGBI11098)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Biological Sciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThe programme provides thorough training and hands-on experience in fundamental practical skills required for employment as a biochemical scientist. The course will cover wet laboratory work, laboratory bookkeeping, health and safety, a small amount of bioinformatic analysis and numeracy.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Automation and Industry (PGBI11118)
Other requirements Pre-requisite: Undergraduate degree in either a biological or chemical science
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  34
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 30, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Three in-course assessments:
Practical skills and laboratory book are assessed weekly (20 %)
written report - results and analysis of data collected (own and whole class) in weeks 3 and 4 (20 %)

full experimental write-up of practicals in weeks 6-10 (60 %)
Feedback Students will receive individual verbal feedback weekly on their skills and lab books during the laboratory sessions. Individual written feedback will be provided on each of the two written assessments within 15 working days of the submission deadline.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Prepare analytical quality solutions and dilution series ; determine concentrations of biological molecules by, and understand relative advantages of, a range of methods
  2. Design and execute a strategy for cloning of recombinant proteins, from primer design to the amplification, purification, restriction enzyme digest, ligation and transformation of DNA; through to the analysis of DNA sequencing data.
  3. Correctly operate and calibrate, or understand principles of calibration of, fundamental laboratory equipment.
  4. Analyse and manipulate experimental data, and present experiments and results in appropriate format.
  5. Understand the health and safety responsibilities required for a laboratory
Reading List
Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences by R. Reed et al, Pearson Education.
Chapter on DNA cloning in general biochemistry textbooks, e.g.
Molecular Cell Biology by Lodish et al. W. H. Freeman.
Biochemistry by Berg et al. W. H. Freeman.
Molecular Biology of the Cell by Alberts et al, Garland Science.

For very detailed experimental protocols:
Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual by Sambrook et al. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills confidence in laboratory environment
report writing
data management
appreciation of health and safety responsibilities
time management
organisation
group work
KeywordsBio1
Contacts
Course organiserDr Janice Bramham
Tel: (0131 6)50 4786
Email: janice.bramham@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Andrea Nichol
Tel: (0131 6)50 8643
Email: Andrea.Nichol@ed.ac.uk
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