Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module BIOL2311: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Department: BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

BIOL2311: EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Type	Tied	Level	2	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2005/06	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Tied to	C100
Tied to	C101

Prerequisites

Introduction to Whole Organisms and the Environment (BIOL1082), Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology (BIOL1072).

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

None.

Aims

To provide training and experience in experimental techniques representative of modern practical approaches in biology.

Content

Animal and Plant Diversity.
Field trips to investigate marine and bird diversity at Holy Island.
Invertebrates associated with paving stones.
Freshwater diversity.
Plant diversity on limestone grasslands.
Animal Physiology.
An invertebrate and vertebrate dissection.
Behavioural Ecology.
Insect behaviour and Ethograms.
Microscopy Techniques.
Light microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal and fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridisation.
DNA Analysis.
DNA extraction and purification, spectrophotometric estimation, restriction analysis, restriction mapping and data handling.
Cloning - cloning vectors, DNA restriction and ligation, transformation, library screening, analysis of selected clones.
Gene expression - techniques for measuring gene expression, enzyme induction and analysis.
Experimental Design and Statistics.
A series of lectures and workshops to teach good experimental design and statistical analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

By the end of this module each student should be able to: Understand the bases and experimental procedures used in a wide range of techniques in biology.

Subject-specific Skills:

Demonstrate a range of practical skills in field work, molecular biology and cell biology.

Key Skills:

Interpret and execute detailed practical instructions.
Be able to acquire, record, interpret and critically analyse experimental data.
Be able to present the results and conclusions effectively.
Appreciate the approaches used to devise experimental strategies.
Appreciate safe working practices.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching and learning in this component will be through lectures, practicals, workshops and field trips.
Knowledge, understanding and interpretation will be formatively assessed through practical reports and statistical exercises.
Knowledge, understanding and interpretation will be summatively assessed through practical reports (35%), field trip reports (15%), statistics exercises (20%) and statistics exam (30%).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	10	0.75/week	1 hour	10
Tutorials	1		1 hour	1
Workshop	3		3 hours	9
Practicals	10		3 hours	30
Fieldwork	4		6 hours	24
Preparation and Reading				126
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
practical and fieldwork reports		80%
statistics exam		20%

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment will be based on practical reports and exercises in the use of statistics.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University