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Laboratory & Professional Skills for Bioscientists - BIO00017C

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  • Department: Biology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Adrian Harrison
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

This module aims to provide a foundation in the laboratory, scientific and transferable skills necessary for students to study, research and communicate topics in Biosciences. The material in this module is designed to equip students with the skills they need for later stages of the course.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

• To introduce laboratory safety and how to assess risk.

• To introduce basic scientific skills such as literature searching, record keeping, liquid handling, laboratory calculations and light microscopy.

• To introduce mathematics and statistics and then show how they can be applied to real experimental data acquired in the module’s practical sessions.

• To perform simple experiments that develop experimental design, data handling and interpretation skills.

• To plan, execute and analyse an experiment relating to antibiotics for which students will submit a report and lab book for assessment.

• To introduce laboratory safety and how to assess risk.

• To Provide a point in the course to offer training in either Maths or Chemistry for students arriving without those skills

Module learning outcomes

• Understand concepts and acquire knowledge in Biological Sciences relating to example topics covered in tutorials.

• Understand an apply chemical and mathematical principles to Biological problems

• Work safely in a laboratory and be aware of potential hazards and their associated risk.

• Competently use basic laboratory equipment, including micropipettes, light microscopes and conduct microbiological experiments aseptically.

• Apply scientific mathematical calculations relating to molarity, SI units, concentrations and dilutions.

• Write well structured, coherent, scientific reorts, keep accurate records, cite literature, appropriately, prepare reference lists, give confident oral presentations and solve numerical problems related to biological processes.

• Appropriately select classical univariate statistical tests and some non-parametric equivalents to a given scenario and recognise when these are not suitable

• Use R to perform these analyses, reproducibly, on data in a variety of formats

• Interpret, report and use R to graphically present the results of covered tests reproducibly

• Design and execute experiments with rigorous scientific controls.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Practical report		 N/A 80
Practical
Practical report		 N/A 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

See formative assessment tasks that are available via the VLE

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Practical
Reassessment: Practical report		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Marks for open assessments will be made available to you and your supervisor via e:vision. Individual comments will be added to your script and/or on separate summary feedback document. Histograms of module marks will be posted on the notice boards outside the Biology Student Services office. You should take the opportunity to discuss your marks and feedback with your supervisor.

During the teaching of the module you will receive feedback that may be at a whole class or individual level. Forms of feedback may include: model answers and discussion of workshop questions, summaries of performance in practicals, VLE-based quizzes, individual spoken comments during workshops, individual written comments on formative work.  

Indicative reading

Jones. A., Reed. R. and Weyers. J (2012) Practical Skills in Biology. Pearson


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.