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 BIOL3271: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (L)

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3271: ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY (L)

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Available in 2006/2007	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Molecular Biology BIOL2201, Biochemistry BIOL2191.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To promote an understanding of contemporary research areas in biochemistry.
Demonstrate how biochemical questions can be investigated.
the basis of appropriate experimental techniques and how data acquired from these can be used to build and test models for the molecular understanding of biological processes.
Promote an understanding of advanced bioinformatics to retrieve and interpret biological data.
To conduct a supervised investigation of an area within Biological Sciences where knowledge obtained by laboratory experimentation is important.

Content

The rationale and approaches used in examples of current research in biochemistry will be investigated.
This will include the influence of developments in technology on data acquisition and the possible approaches that can be used to investigate biochemical problems.
The primary research literature will be used to illustrate the ways in which data is generated and used to build models for the molecular understanding of biological processes.
Examples of areas that may be investigated are: Protein complexity and covalent modifications.
Protein interactions and substrate channelling in metabolism.
Cold perception and signal transduction.
Engineering fatty acid metabolism.
Secondary metabolism.
Advanced Bioinformatics will include: Relationships between protein structure and function.
Uses in rational protein design.
Internet databases.
Searching and interpreting specific databases.
Composite and secondary databases.
Virtual reality modelling.
Structural biology databases: use in defining structure-function relationships.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Students should be able to: Appreciate some current areas of biochemical research.

Subject-specific Skills

Interpret experimental results in areas of biochemical research.
Interpret experimental results in areas of biochemistry and comment on these: Understand the limitations and possibilities of new technologies in biochemistry.
Rationalise approaches which can be used to solve a biochemical problem dependent on the knowledge base available.
Use appropriate bioinformatics procedures to retrieve and interpret biological data.

Key Skills

Acquire, interpret and critically analyse experimental data and present the results effectively.

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

MCQs are appropriate as a revision aid and to demonstrate knowledge acquisition.
The data handling exercise will show the ability to interpret data and develop presentation skills.
Examinations will be used to test understanding of current research areas and methodologies within Biochemistry.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Lectures	25	1 or 2 per week	1 hour	25
Tutorials	1		1 hour	1
Seminars	2		1 hour	2
Project	6		6 hours	36
Preparation and Reading				136
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting
Examination	50%	Formal Examination	2 hours	100%
Data Handling Exercise	10%	Data Handling Exercise		100%
Research report from the project	40%	Research report from the project		100%

Formative Assessment

MCQs to assess knowledge.

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.