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BB20025: Practical molecular biology

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2015/6
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: OR 20%, PR 80%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Practical (PR 80%)
  • Oral (OR 20%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: BB20025 Coursework (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To provide practical experience of some commonly used molecular biology techniques and to evaluate these in comparison with other available methods so that the students are aware of a range of techniques used for the characterisation of gene structure and gene expression.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this course the student should be able to:
* explain how and why these techniques have been applied when they encounter them in journal articles;
* select appropriate methods of this type when they design their own experiments;
* planning and organise carrying out a scientific project;
* handle and interpret data of this type generated by these techniques.

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, Career preparation T/F.

Content:
The course involves a series of linked experiments that form a mini-project. This begins with the preparation of cellular RNA, its conversion to cDNA and the amplification of gene fragments using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Specific fragments are cloned in a bacterial plasmid, these screened by restriction enzyme digestion and one or two are subject to DNA sequencing. Data interpretation involves DNA sequence analysis and the interrogation of remote nucleic acid databases, chromosome physical maps and mutational databases. A demonstration of various methods for analysing gene expression is included.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

BB20025 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
  • USBB-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry (Year 2)
  • USBB-AKB06 : BSc(Hons) Biochemistry with Professional Placement (Year 2)
  • USBB-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology (Year 2)
  • USBB-AKB08 : BSc(Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology with Professional Placement (Year 2)

BB20025 is Optional on the following programmes:

Department of Biology & Biochemistry
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2015/16 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2016/17 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2015/16.
* 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.