This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module considers key areas of analytical technologies used for the analysis of proteins, small molecules and cells. This will include mass spectrometry techniques (GC-MS, ESI-MS, MALDI-ToF MS), crystallography and NMR, spectroscopy (UV-vis, IR, Raman, fluorescence, ESR), chromatography, DNA and RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, microscopy (AFM, EM), electrophoresis, (qRT)-PCR, 'omics' approaches, glycosylation profiling, cell based assays, simple fermentation control and measurements. Industrial case studies will be covered to demonstrate how different techniques and approaches are integrated in a commercial environment. Students will also be expected to design and implement a protocol aim at recovering and characterising a protein molecule from mammalian cell culture within set constraints and parameters. There will also be a visit to an industrial analytical laboratory to demonstrate such technologies in the work place. This will be delivered through workshops and seminars by specialists within the Industrial Biotechnology Centre (IBC) and involve a number of course work assignments that will consider the most current research and thinking in these areas. This will be complemented by a one week practical where the students are asked to design a process to purify and characterise a molecule and then use this to setup a crystallisation screen.
Total Contact Hours: 60
Total Private Study Hours: 240
Total Study Hours: 300
Data Handling and Interpretation (6-10 pages, including calculations/data handling/supporting material) – 25%
Practical and Write-up (approx. 6 pages, including tables and figures)– 30%
Presentation (10 minutes) – 25%
In-Course Test (45 minutes) – 20%
The reading list will largely be the latest review and primary research articles in this area, which will be used to drive a case-study based approach to learning. Students will be provided with their own copies of this reading material, but in some cases, they will be set tasks for receiving appropriate journal articles to which we already have access. Key Journals will be Nature Biotechnology, Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Genetic Engineering News to which the students can subscribe free of charge. Many basic biochemistry and chemistry textbooks within the Library also cover much of the material which will be delivered.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of key analytical technologies used in the analysis of cell-based expression systems in the biotechnology and bioengineering field.
Demonstrate practical experience of modern analytical technologies utilised in academia and industry in the field.
Display a fundamental understanding of the principles underlying spectroscopic, chromatographic, sequencing, microscopy, and physical methods of analysis.
Demonstrate confidence when interpreting data from analytical analysis of products and samples.
Demonstrate an assured ability to design appropriate analytical experiments to answer questions to be addressed.
Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of analysis for quality assurance, process monitoring and fundamental understanding of biological systems.
The intended generic learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate an ability to organise information clearly, present information, and adapt presentation for different audiences including academic and industrial.
Demonstrate confidence in interpreting data, marshal information from published sources, critically evaluate their own research and that of others.
Demonstrate effective time and workload management in order to meet personal targets and imposed deadlines.
Demonstrate use of appropriate technology to retrieve, analyse and present scientific information.
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