2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

BIOL2301 Intermediate Skills for Biological Sciences

40 creditsClass Size: 65

Module manager: Dr Takashi Ochi
Email: T.Ochi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Co-requisites

BIOL2113	Introduction to Omics Biology
BIOL2114	Omics and Big Data Biology
BIOL2210	Biological Membranes and Cell Signalling

This module is mutually exclusive with

BIOC2301	Intermediate Integrated Biochemistry
BIOC2302	Intermediate Biochemistry: Practicals
BIOC2303	Intermediate Biochemistry: Skills

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

To provide additional training in data collection, experimental techniques relevant to the multi-disciplinary arena of the biological sciences, the analysis of numerical data, problem solving, teamwork and presentation skills.

Skills training will be integrated with the lecture content of BIOL2113 Omics Biology, MICR2120 Cell Biology of Disease and BIOL2210 Membranes and Cell Signalling.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of and competence in an extended range of laboratory equipment and practical techniques current to molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry and microbiology;
- Record, analyse and interpret a variety of experimental data including the appropriate use of simple statistical tests;
- Propose hypotheses and design controlled experiments and/or strategies to investigate these;
- Apply knowledge of the discipline to solve biological problems;
- Interrogate academic databases to retrieve scientific data and/or literature;
- Communicate scientific information clearly and coherently in a range of formats, orally and in writing.

Skills outcomes
- Managing knowledge; data evaluation and problem solving, sourcing, selecting & interpreting data.
- Technical competence; laboratory techniques, experimental design, and analysing data, accuracy and IT skills.
- Managing self; planning, time management.
- Managing relationships; teamwork, decision taking, learning from others; sharing; receiving critique.
- Presentation skills; lab reports, written answers, oral presentations.

Syllabus

Students will undertake a range of experiments using biochemical, molecular and cellular techniques including gene cloning and protein expression, PCR, spectrophotometry, light microscopy, electrophoresis, chromatography, protein assays, bioinformatics & aseptic technique.

Through these experiments they will further develop their technical competence, as well as their ability to record results, interpret a wider variety of data types and form conclusions that do not exceed reasonable interpretation of the data.

Students will also participate in tutorials to further develop their ability to:
(i) handle, transform and interpret numerical data
(ii) interpret experimental results in order to solve biochemical, cell and molecular biology problems
(iii) draw on material from lectures and the primary literature to generate critical reviews of current topics in the area of cell and molecular biology,
iv) develop hypotheses and appropriate experimental strategies to test hypotheses.

The tutorials will consist largely of small group teaching. Practical and tutorial attendance and the completion of all work are compulsory.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Practical	14	6.00	84.00
Tutorial	17	1.00	17.00
Private study hours			299.00
Total Contact hours			101.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

- Preparation for lab: 50 hours
- Preparation for tutorials: 85 hours
- On-line practice and learning: 10 hours
- Completion of assessed coursework: 154 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Semester 1 tutorials.
- Semester 1 GFP practical classes.
- Semester 2 tutorials and practicals/demonstrations/data analysis delivered/ Student progress will be monitored through supervision by demonstrators during laboratory/data analysis sessions.
- Assessments to monitor progress.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Literature Review	Short literature review (semester 2). Submitted online.	10.00
Practical Report	2 x Practical reports summative (10% and 25% each) submitted online in semester 1.	35.00
Practical Report	Practical report - submitted online in semester 2.	25.00
Tutorial Performance	3 x Tutorial assignments equally weighted (10% each; 1 in semester 1 and 2 in semester 2). Submitted online.	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students should note that there will be NO RESIT OPPORTUNITY for this module during the August resit period, owing to the continuous nature of the assessment. Any student who fails this module will be unable to progress into Year 3, and will be required to repeat the module as an internal candidate the following year, repeating all classes and assignments, for a maximum mark of 40% (in line with other university resits).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/09/2024 10:48:17

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