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BB10213: Practical research and academic skills

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 12
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Academic Year
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 20%, OT 10%, PR 70%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Semester 1 Maths (OT 5%)
  • Semester 1 Practical (PR 35%)
  • Semester 1 Tutorial (CW 10%)
  • Semester 2 Practical (PR 35%)
  • Semester 2 Statistics (OT 5%)
  • Semester 2 Tutorial (CW 10%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To provide students with basic laboratory and academic skills, including essay writing, group discussion and presentation skills. A workshop will introduce students to Library facilities, literature searching and citing.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* Apply basic laboratory skills (e.g., accurate pipetting, make spectrophotometric determinations and calculations, set up and use a compound light microscope and handle microorganisms safely and efficiently) to mini-projects and practicals;
* Demonstrate data interpretation and analysis skills;
* Present reasoned and coherent arguments and analyses in the form of reports;
* Clearly present scientific information orally to a small audience;
* Cite references (in an appropriate scientific format).

Skills:
Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Numeracy & computation T/F/A, Laboratory skills T/F, Information technology T/F, Problem solving T/F, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F.

Content:
Practical Research

Skills:
Basic quantitative laboratory skills, experimental design strategies using a 'mini-research project' (recombinant gene constructs for directed protein expression and localisation studies). Techniques used will include common bioinformatics and DNA manipulation methods, recombinant protein expression, purification and functional characterisation, and cellular localisation techniques.
Academic skills: Essay writing. Small group discussion work. Giving presentations. Searching, reading and analysing research papers. Statistics. These skills will be developed during tutorial sessions, which have the additional aim of identifying and rectifying weaknesses in subject background.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

BB10213 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
  • USBB-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry (Year 1)
  • USBB-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AFB11 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AKB11 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • USBB-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology (Year 1)
  • USBB-AKB08 : BSc(Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology with Professional Placement (Year 1)

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.