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BI35F4: LAB SKILLS IN BIOSCIENCES (2024-2025)

Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 11:06


Course Overview

Practical laboratory experience enables you to develop skills and competencies relevant to lab-based Honours projects.

Lectures provide the theoretical foundation for understanding the techniques, methodologies and data generated.

Structured learning consolidates your understanding of health and safety issues and your competence in using standard procedures related to creating solutions and determining sampling protocols.

Feedback on your lab report will help you develop your communication skills and allow you an opportunity to engage with critical evaluation of practical work.

The dates for this course are 8th April - 19th April.

This course is designed to teach practical skills and will only be run on-campus (there will be no online alternative available)  

 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Catherine A. Jones
  • Dr Sharon E. Mitchell

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Programme Level 3
  • One of Biology (BI) or Ecology (EK) or Environmental Sciences (EV) or Forestry (FY) or Plant Science (PL) or Zoology (ZO)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • ()

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

Yes

One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.


Course Description

This is a short, intensive course that runs for two weeks in April. The aim of the course is to provide students with the theoretical background and practical laboratory based experience of wide range of commonly used lab techniques used in the biosciences, particularly those related to molecular biology. The course is ideal for students partaking in a lab based Honours project or those wishing to gain a better understanding of scientific research

The course is split into two parts: 1) preparatory/ theory sessions; and, 2) laboratory sessions. Part 1 will cover the relevant health and safety regulations for working in a laboratory. Essential calculations for solution preparation and the theory behind the lab techniques will also be covered.

Part 2 is comprised of laboratory work, where students have the opportunity to perform a number of molecular biology techniques. Good laboratory working practice and record keeping will be gained over the course. 

Please note that Honours students should not take this course if they require marks to contribute to their final degree as marks will not be available until July. Honours student should therefore only be take the course as extra credits.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Online Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Online test on fundamental lab skills.

Individualised written feedback will be released through the VLE; general verbal feedback will be provided during the practical sessions

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyDevelop and produce good laboratory record-keeping practice.
ProceduralApplyDemonstrate competence in completing basic calculations for solution and sample preparation.
ProceduralApplyIdentify and implement appropriate health and safety protocols in the laboratory and demonstrate good laboratory working practice
ProceduralEvaluateTo conduct a range of molecular techniques from preparation of nucleic acids to DNA sequencing and cloning and record the output.

Lab Report: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Individualised written feedback will be released through the VLE

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualEvaluateAppreciate the theoretical principles behind a number of molecular techniques and their application
ProceduralEvaluateTo effectively interpret, evaluate and present experimental data in the form of a report

Online Test

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 15
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Bioinformatic.

Individualised written feedback will be released through the VLE; general verbal feedback will be provided during the practical sessions.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Resubmission of failed element

Assessment Type Summative Weighting
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyDevelop and produce good laboratory record-keeping practice.
ProceduralApplyIdentify and implement appropriate health and safety protocols in the laboratory and demonstrate good laboratory working practice
ConceptualEvaluateAppreciate the theoretical principles behind a number of molecular techniques and their application
ProceduralEvaluateTo conduct a range of molecular techniques from preparation of nucleic acids to DNA sequencing and cloning and record the output.
ProceduralApplyDemonstrate competence in completing basic calculations for solution and sample preparation.
ProceduralEvaluateTo effectively interpret, evaluate and present experimental data in the form of a report

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