This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2006-2007 (archived)

Module BIOL1091: CORE SKILLS FOR BIOLOGY

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL1091: CORE SKILLS FOR BIOLOGY

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	1	20	Available in 2006/2007	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

A Level Biology, GCSE Science double award, GCSE Mathematics or equivalents.

Corequisites

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

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To cover core skills in chemistry, physics required for the study of the sub-disciplines of biology;
to consolidate, correct and fill gaps in the physical sciences required for introductory Molecular Biology, Genetics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology resulting from the diversity of pre-University course syllabuses relating to different School Examination Boards.
and to extend coverage of these areas of the physical sciences to provide a firm foundation for specialisation at level 2 and level 3 in Honours Degrees offered by the School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
To introduce basic methods used in contemporary experimental biology.
The course will employ a case study approach to the teaching of relevant concepts and methods with emphasis on the usefulness of these basic concepts to research and data analysis.

Content

Concentrations and amounts.
Moles and molarity.
SI units.
Scientific Notation.
Logarithms.
Precision.
Covalent bonding.
Chemical structures of biological molecules.
Isomers.
Non-Covalent Interactions.
Molecules in Solution.
Chemical Equilibria.
Thermodynamics.
Free energy in chemical reactions.
ATP & other biochemical energy sources.
Redox reactions.
Simple Kinetics.
Thermobiology.
Air and water.
Electromagnetic radiation.
Light and Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction.
Spectroscopy: Magnetic resonance.
X-ray crystallography: Mass spectrometry.
Radioisotopes.
Metabolite Identification.
Chromatography and Electrophoresis.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

On completion of this module students should have: An introductory level of knowledge of chemistry and physics required to study biology modules delivered at all three levels.

Subject-specific Skills

A familiarity with basic experimental and safety procedures applicable to modern cell and molecular biology.

Key Skills

An awareness of concepts and methods as relevant tools for research design and analysis.
An ability to handle and interpret simple experimental data.

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

Teaching is delivered by a mixture of lectures, workshops and practical classes.
Assessment is through formal written un-seen examinations, practical reports and workshop assignments.
For the core foundation skills being taught in this module, the most appropriate learning methods are those that allow students to experience data handling, there is thus a large element of self-tuition.
This experience is backed up by formal lectures and workshops to reinforce the material learnt.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Lectures	29	Weekly	1 hour	29
tutorials				4
Practicals	3	1 per term	3 hours	9
Workshops	2	1 per term	2 hours	4
Preparation and Reading				154
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Element Weighting
Written examination	50%	paper 1	100%
Practical reports	50%	practical reports	80%
Practical reports	50%	test	20%

Formative Assessment

Two formative assessments set as worksheets.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.