- Academic Registry
Course & Unit Catalogues


SL12006: Practical research skills in biology

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWOG 22%, CWRI 54%, EXIC 24%, PRPR 0%
Assessment Detail:
  • Practical (PRPR 0%)
  • Lab Notebook 1 (CWRI 12%)
  • Lab Notebook 2 (CWRI 42%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Problem solving with practical and applied skills in biology (EXIC 3%)
  • Experimental Design (CWOG 22%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: 1. Carry out basic laboratory and life science skills, scaling from molecular techniques through organismal interactions to landscape level ecology. 2. Use knowledge of practical biological techniques to select and apply these appropriate techniques in sequence in order to meet the task or project aims. 3. Interpret data derived from the application of techniques and skills, identifying the relevance to projects and specific tasks.


Synopsis: This unitintroduces you tocore techniques and research skillsin biologythat will support you through youracademicstudies and beyond.You will useskills-centred and project-based approaches to developthe integration of multiple techniques to address biological questions.

Content: This unit will include: Learning basic laboratory and applied biology skills (such as accurate pipetting, use of spectrophotometers, the handling of microorganisms safely and efficiently, assessment of species richness) Routine molecular techniques (such as PCR and electrophoresis, DNA purification and characterisation), specialised non-lab techniques (such as bioinformatic species identification, primer design, and field surveys) Pre-lab and post-lab Moodle quizzes An introduction to field work through day-long field trips to e.g., Bristol Zoo and Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Course availability:

SL12006 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change 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.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.