Overview

The practical work will be carried out in a state of the art category 2 teaching/research laboratory. Tuition and experimental techniques are supported and enhanced via extensive use of audio/visual technology/tutorials and delivered by research active personal with extensive molecular experience and leaders of research groups focusing on medical-molecular research.

Practical work will employ the following techniques and methodologies

• Tissue culture growth and analysis of Human Cancer lines
• Extraction and purification of RNA from Human Cancer cells
• Fluorometric Quantitation, ‎Agarose gel and microfluidic chip analysis of RNA quality and quantity
• Reverse transcription cDNA synthesis
• Application of the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for RQ-PCR analysis of cDNA, RT-PCR molecular cloning, and recombinant plasmid detection (colony PCR).
• Plasmid extraction from bacteria
• Restriction enzyme digestion and ligation cloning of PCR fragments into plasmid vectors
• Methods of growth and selection of recombinant plasmid transformed bacteria
• Extensive utilisation of gel electrophoresis for DNA and RNA analysis and purification of specific DNA fragments
• Introduction to and application of bioinformatic DNA/RNA sequence analysis software

For student revision, lectures, tutorials and practical demonstrations are recorded using the Panopto system

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -Pass (C- to C+) (range 50-59%)Primary criteria A threshold student demonstrates knowledge of key areas & principles, and understands the main elements of the subject area, although gaps and weaknesses in the argument are evident. No evidence of background study and wider reading. Answer focussed on question but also with some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure & argument. Answers have several factual/computational errors. No original interpretation. No links between topics are described. Limited problem solving skills. Some weaknesses in presentation accuracy & delivery.Secondary CriteriaC+ Good within the class - Exceeds expectations for some primary criteria - Strong factual knowledge with some weaknesses in understanding - Ideas/arguments are limited but are well presented C Mid-level - Matches all primary criteria - Moderate factual knowledge with some weaknesses in understanding - Ideas/arguments are limited presented with weaknesses in logic/presentation C- Meets requirements of class - Matches most but not all primary criteria - Moderate factual knowledge with several weaknesses in understanding - Ideas/arguments are limited presented with weaknesses in logic/presentation -good -Merit (B- to B+) (range 60-69%)Primary criteria Good students demonstrate strong knowledge & understanding of most but not all of the subject area. Limited evidence of background study. The answer is focussed with good structure. Arguments are presented coherently, mostly free of factual/computational errors. Some limited original interpretation. Well know links between topics are described. Problems are addressed by existing methods/approaches. Good presentation with accurate communicationSecondary CriteriaB+ Good - Exceeds expectations for most primary criteria - Command of subject but with gaps in knowledge - Some ideas/arguments originalB Mid-level - Meets all primary criteria - Strong factual knowledge and understanding - Ideas/arguments are well presented by few are originalB- Meets requirements of class- Meets most but not all primary criteria- Strong factual knowledge with minor weaknesses in understanding- Most but not all ideas/arguments are well presented and few are original -excellent -Distinction (A- to A) (range 70-100%)Primary criteria Excellent students demonstrate comprehensive knowledge & detailed understanding of the subject area. Clear evidence of extensive background study & original thinking. Highly focussed answers and well structured. Arguments are logically presented and defended with evidence and examples. No factual/computational errors. Original interpretation of the information with clear evidence of wider reading. New links between topics are developed and new approaches to a problem are presented. Excellent presentation skills with very accurate communication.Secondary Criteria*A Outstanding - Exceeds expectations for most primary criteria - Complete command of subject and other relevantareas - Ideas/arguments are highly originalA+ Excellent - Exceeds expectations for some primary criteria - Complete command of subject - Ideas/arguments are highly originalA Good - Meets all primary criteria - Command of subject but with minor gaps in knowledgeareas - Ideas/arguments are mostly originalA- Meets requirements of Class- Meets most but not all primary criteria- Complete command of subject but with some gaps in knowledge- Ideas/arguments are mostly original

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate ability to fully process and critically analyse experimentally generated data

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theories and practical methods of nucleic acid isolation, purification, quantity and quality analysis

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theory and practical utilisation of restriction enzymes for molecular cloning

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theory and practical utilisation of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for molecular cloning and DNA analysis

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of transcription, reverse transcription and RNA transcripts

• Demonstrate master level abilities to prepare and present scientific reports and presentations, to specifically designated formats