Advanced Methods in Molecular Research
806C7
Course Handbook 2010
Autumn term
V1
15 credits
M level
Course Organiser: Dr. Alison Sinclair 3C19
Aims and Objectives:
This course aims to introduce, or improve your knowledge of, techniques that are commonly used in modern, molecular biological research. An assignment will be set following many of the seminars that may test not only your understanding of the technique, but its application and also your ability to analyse data generated by the technique.
Learning outcomes:
The student will be expected to be able to critically interpret and analyse scientific data.
The student will be expected to understand the scientific basis of molecular research techniques and how to apply them to a novel problem.
The students will be able to extract relevant information from complex sources.
The students will be able to communicate their interpretation of a problem in written form.
AMMR TEACHING
Wk date location/timefaculty member/topic
1. Wed 6 October JMS 1B1 2-4Dr Sue Jones Bioinformatics I
2. Wed 13 October JMS 1B1 2-4Dr Sue Jones Bioinformatics II
3. Wed 20 OctoberJMS 1B1 2-4Dr Simon Morley
Expression vectors and Si RNA
4. Wed 27 October JMS 1B1 2-4Dr Helfrid Hochegger
Manipulating gene expression in model systems
5. Wed 3Nov.Pev 1 0A2 2-4Dr Roger Phillips
Microscopy
6. Wed 10 Nov.Pev 1 0A2 2-4Dr Lucas Bowler
Proteomics
7. Wed 17 Nov.Pev 1 0A2 2-4Dr Darren Thompson
Protein Crystalography
8. Wed 24 NovPev 1 0A2 2-4Drs Sharada Ramasubramanyan/Alison Sinclair
Chromatin precipitation
9. Wed 1 Dec.Pev 1 0A2 2-4Prof Tony Carr
DNA sequencing
10. Wed 8 Dec.Pev 1 0A2 2-4 Dr John Armstrong
High through put techniques
Feedback:
Written feedback is sought from students at the end of the course. Students are also welcome to send feedback to the course organiser during the course. In response to student feedback in previous years, we have expanded the Bioinformatics practical workshops.
Assessments:
For MSc students
The course is assessed 30% by coursework and 70% by examination in the January exam period.
Assignment set in week 4.
Assignment submission date week 7.
Assignment: The word limit is 2000 words. Simplified diagrams (not ones downloaded from the www or scanned from text-books or other sources) should be included where appropriate. No marks will be given for scanned or downloaded diagrams.
Two copies of your work must be submitted with the appropriate cover sheet to the School Office by 4 pm on the Thursday of the week stated. The word count for your work MUST be included on the front page.
Evidence of failure to submit due to ill health must be supported in writing with a medical certificate attached to the work (information from LifeSci School Office).
Written feedback will be provided when your scripts are returned. The marks on the scripts are submitted to the MSc. examination board and are NOT NEGOTIABLE with individual faculty.
Candidate numbers and not names must be used for submitted work.
PLAGIARISM, COLLUSION AND MISCONDUCT
It is an offence for any student to be guilty of, or party to, attempting to commit or committing
collusion, plagiarism, or any other misconduct in an examination or in the preparation of work
which is submitted for assessment. Misconduct in assessment exercises, examinations or in the
presentation of marks achieved elsewhere is conduct likely to be prejudicial to the integrity
and fairness of the examination process. The submission of a dissertation, essay or any other
assessment exercise will be considered by the examiners to be a declaration that it is the
candidate's own work.
(i) Collusion. Collusion is the preparation or production of work for assessment jointly with
another person or persons unless explicitly permitted by the examiners. An act of collusion is
understood to encompass those who actively assist others as well as those who derive benefit
from others’ work. Where joint preparation is permitted by the examiners but joint production
is not, the submitted work must be produced solely by the candidate making the submission.
Where joint production or joint preparation and production of work for assessment is
specifically permitted, this will be stated explicitly in the relevant course documentation.
(ii) Plagiarism. Plagiarism is the use, without acknowledgement, of the intellectual work of
other people, and the act of representing the ideas or discoveries of another as one’s own in
written work submitted for assessment. To copy sentences, phrases or even striking
expressions without acknowledgement of the source (either by inadequate citation or failure to
indicate verbatim quotations), is plagiarism; to paraphrase without acknowledgement is
likewise plagiarism. Where such copying or paraphrase has occurred the mere mention of the
source in the bibliography shall not be deemed sufficient acknowledgement; each such
instance must be referred specifically to its source. Verbatim quotations must be either in
inverted commas, or indented, and directly acknowledged.
For further information see