MSc Developmental Biology / Course details

Year of entry: 2023

Course unit details:
Laboratory Skills Unit

Course unit fact file
Unit code MEDN66111
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The unit will consist of an induction session and two of the following workshops, providing theoretical or hands-on experience in the wet or dry laboratory environment

Aims

The unit aims to:

Equip students with the theoretical understanding and practical skills relating to laboratory and computer-based based biomedical techniques to enable them to undertake experimental research in the biomedical sciences.

 

Learning outcomes

On completion of this Unit the student will:

 

  • Develop awareness of current best practice in laboratory health and safety and understand how to keep themselves and those around them safe within a laboratory environment.
  • Develop an understanding of the principles of a range of practical techniques used in the biomedical context and understand how to employ and adapt these within their own research applications.
  • Develop critical understanding of the limitations of particular techniques and their applications.
  • Develop an understanding of how to solve problems arising from unexpected results.
  • Acquire the practical skills to enable them to follow written standard laboratory methods and achieve expected outcomes.
  • Acquire technical competence in a range of biomedical and computational techniques.
  • Learn best practice for recording experimental procedures and outcomes in a standard laboratory notebook.
  • Be able to carry out laboratory techniques alone or in partnership with others safely and efficiently.
  • Demonstrate the ability to record experimental procedures in written form and to interpret experimental results obtained.

 

 

Teaching and learning methods

The learning and teaching processes will take the form of lectures, practical laboratory classes, laboratory demonstrations and e-learning (completion of on-line formative assessments).

 

 

 

Intellectual skills

 

 

 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Students will:

  • Be able to carry out laboratory techniques alone or in partnership with others safely and efficiently.
     
  • Demonstrate the ability to record experimental procedures in written form and to interpret experimental results obtained.

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Other 20%
Report 80%

Feedback methods

All feedback will be delivered online using blackboard

Recommended reading

J Davies (ed) (2002) Basic Cell Culture: A Practical Approach.  OUP Oxford; 2nd edition.

ISBN-13: 978-0199638536

JP Mather, PE Roberts (eds) (1998) Introduction to cell and tissue culture: theory and technique.  Plenum Press, London, ISBN: 0306458594, 9780306458590 (Blue 2: 571.538/MAT)

Cabibbo A, Grant RP, Helmer-Citterich M (eds) (2004) Internet for the Cell and Molecular Biologist (2nd Edition) Horizon Scientific Press, Wymondham, ISBN: 1-898-48632-8 (Blue 2: 570.285/CAB)

McPherson MJ, Møller SG (2006) PCR: The Basics (2nd Edition) BIOS, Oxford, ISBN: 0-415-35547-8 (Blue 2: 572.808/MCP). Available via JRULM electronic resources

 http://www.netLibrary.com/urlapi.asp?action=summary&v=1&bookid=53951

T Brown (ed) (2000, 2001) Essential Molecular Biology Vols 1&2: A Practical Approach: v. 2. OUP Oxford. ISBN-13: 978-0199636426, 978-0199636440

Rosenberg, Ian M (2006) Protein Analysis and Purification: Benchtop Techniques (2nd Edition) Birkhäuser Boston MA. ISBN: 9780817644123, 9780817643409. Available via

JRULM electronic resources: Springer e-books http://www.springerlink.com/content/k3183r/#section=500456&page=1

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study 150

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Carol Yates Unit coordinator
Susan Taylor Unit coordinator

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