2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BIOC1202 Introductory Skills in Biochemistry

20 creditsClass Size: 96

Module manager: David Brockwell
Email: D.j.brockwell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Module replaces

BIOC1302/BIOC1303

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This will be the introductory “Skills” module for Biochemists. The module will build on the core laboratory skills developed in Semester 1 (i.e. design, execution and analyses of data derived from hypothesis driven experiments) and apply these to answer more complex biochemistry-focussed questions. Increasing learner confidence in arithmetic and data manipulation / analysis will continue to be developed in the tutorials, together with practice in drafting and writing scientific essays.

Objectives

(i) to develop competency in core laboratory skills required for biochemists
(ii) to develop competency in numerical manipulation, analysis and interpretation of data commonly generated in biochemistry experiments.
(iii) to develop the ability to formulate and produce coherent and illustrated laboratory reports.
Laboratory skills will be developed in the practical classes, scaffolded by the experimental investigation of biochemical principles introduced in lectures and supported by laboratory support staff, post-graduate demonstrators and an academic
Scientific writing will be developed by learning the techniques and skills required to write formal lab. Reports will be introduced via a formative assessment and then assessed via a summative assessment.
Finally, in addition to the skills developed in the practical classes, students will further consolidate and develop their skills in more advanced numerical manipulation, data analysis and interpretation focussed on biochemical problem sets in the small group sessions on online tests.

Learning outcomes
Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of, and practical competency in core biochemical laboratory techniques
2. Understand and apply safe laboratory practices
3. Design controlled experiments, maintaining effective records of outputs
4. Analyse and interpret a variety of numerical and experimental data using appropriate digital tools
5. Reflect on their experiments to improve hypothesis generation, practical ability, data analyses and their interpretation.
6. Describe and discuss data and topics relating to biochemistry in written presentations

Syllabus

Practical classes will continue to develop core skills required for laboratory based research introduced in semester 1. In this course, additional skills commonly encountered in biochemistry will be introduced and developed.
These practicals will be complemented by small group and academic personal tutor led tutorials focussing on consolidating and enhancing skills in calculations required for data manipulation, interpretation and presentation, further sessions on statistics and computational biology and scientific writing skills will be introduced by the construction and writing laboratory reports.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	1	1.00	1.00
Practical	10	6.00	60.00
Tutorial	6	1.00	6.00
Independent online learning hours			32.00
Private study hours			101.00
Total Contact hours			67.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be given on pre-submitted work for the 3 APT led tutorials, during the larger group workshops. A formative lab-calculations online test will be provided prior to the summative exam and a formative lab exam will be run.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	Coursework essay	30.00
Report	Coursework lab report	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Practical Exam / OSCE	6 hr	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		0.00

IMPORTANT: The Practical skills exam is a compulsory pass element. Failure to complete this assessment to pass standard will result in a V code being appended to the final module mark and module credits will not be awarded.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 13/11/2024

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