Bioscience Skills: Advancing Experimental Techniques and Data Analysis - BIOS4020

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Module delivery information

Location Term Level1 Credits (ECTS)2 Current Convenor3 2026 to 2027
Canterbury
Summer Term 4 20 (10) Alexandra Moores checkmark-circle

Overview

How can you leverage the skills you have acquired so far in stage 1 to thrive throughout your academic journey? You will expand your skill set, advancing through the scientific process under the guidance of established conventions that define excellence in academia, healthcare, and industry. You'll apply your practical skills and knowledge to formulate hypotheses, enhance your practical abilities to effectively test them, and learn how to analyse and present data for a standard practical laboratory report. Through a series of progressive steps, you'll evolve towards becoming a confident, independent scientist, culminating in a mini-project where you'll integrate all your acquired skills within an extended investigation. At the end of this module, you will have the groundwork in place to support your success in later stages of your degree, undertaking and reporting on experimental work in line with professional standards in the life sciences sector.

Details

Contact hours

Lectures 8 hours, Practical 30 hours

Method of assessment

Practical report worth 30%. (1000 words)
Mini-project report worth 70%. (1500 words)

Reassessment Method: Like for like
For BSc Biomedical Science students (as a requirement of the IBMS accreditation) this module cannot be compensated or condoned as indicated in the course specification.

Indicative reading

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing the module, students will be able to: 

1. Formulate clear and concise hypotheses that align with established scientific conventions and standards.

2. Apply diagnostic tests in medical microbiology to identify different groups of bacteria, and present the findings in a standard practical laboratory report format.

3. Perform DNA isolation, gel electrophoresis, polymerase chain reaction, and simple bioinformatic techniques to effectively test hypotheses.

4. Identify and implement experimental controls correctly, applying them to scientific data analysis.

5. Choose appropriate statistical tests for experimental datasets and implement them correctly.

Notes

  1. Credit level 4. Certificate level module usually taken in the first stage of an undergraduate degree.
  2. ECTS credits are recognised throughout the EU and allow you to transfer credit easily from one university to another.
  3. The named convenor is the convenor for the current academic session.
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