Overview

A range of laboratory exercises will be included to develop proficiency in laboratory and analytical skills. Laboratory sessions will include techniques such as spectrophotometry, microscopic analysis of biological tissue, microbial identification, PCR and electrophoresis. The related transferable skills such as scientific communication, data collection and quantitative data analysis techniques will be developed in tandem with the practical programme.

In addition, students will have the opportunity to visit a clinical laboratory. The aim of this visit is to give students an insight into how biomedical science approves patients' diagnosis and treatment.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Category D (40-49%): A threshold student should have a basic knowledge of the essential facts and key concepts of the topics presented in the module. A basic ability to organise and present information, and should be able to address questions with relevant facts and understanding of the subject matter. The student should be able to demonstrate and understand the use of basic laboratory skills. Laboratory calculations may be incomplete or incorrect, units may be missing. Figures and tables may be missing or may not be correctly labelled.

-good -Category B (60%-69%): A good student has a thorough understanding of the methods used in the experimental work and displays a confident level of laboratory skills. The laboratory reports summarise the practical work and underlying theory well, but may be too technical and/or contain some incorrect statements. Statements are followed up by explanation and context. The figures and tables are fully annotated, but the captions may be to brief. Most laboratory calculations are correct and contain units. There is limited evidence of knowledge acquired outside of the provided lecture and practical content. Harvard style referencing is correctly used.

-excellent -Category A (70%-100%): Very good understanding of the methods used in the practicals. The student is very confident and thorough whilst conducting the experimental work. The laboratory reports are self-explanatory following a logical argument and are supported by good figures and tables including informative captions. The laboratory calculations are correct and contain units. There is evidence of knowledge acquired outside of the provided lecture and practical content.References (Harvard style) are relevant and correctly included.Evidence of critical thinking and wider reading is essential for A+ and A* marks.

-another level-Category C (50-59%): A less engaged student should have sufficient knowledge to provide correct but limited information about the essential facts and key concepts of the topics presented in the module. The student should display a solid ability to organise and present information and should be able to address questions with relevant facts and understanding of the subject matter. Often correct statements are included but not supported by the context. The student should be able to demonstrate and understand the use of laboratory skills. Laboratory calculations are largely correct and only some units may be missing. Figures and tables are included, but they may be incompletely labelled. Captions may be too brief. References may be missing or they may be incorrectly referenced.There is no evidence of knowledge acquired outside of the provided lecture and practical content.

Learning Outcomes

• Follow a written experimental protocol, record and process experimental data, including appropriate statistical analysis

• Keep a record of work done in an appropriate scientific writing style.

• Obtain, critically evaluate and synthesise information from the literature

• Show understanding of the application of molecular techniques to a variety of biological questions.