BMB550. Experimental Life Science

• knowledge of theory and experimental methods in the biochemical and molecular biological disciplines; 
• knowledge of the scientific terminology used in the biochemical and molecular biology disciplines; 
• be able to understand how scientific knowledge is achieved by an interaction between theory and experimentation; 
• apply one or more biochemical and molecular biology theories and methods; 
• to be able to carry out analyses using scientific methods and critically reflect on scientific theories and models in the biochemical and molecular biology disciplines; 
• to acquire new knowledge in an efficient and independent way and to be able to apply this knowledge reflectively; 
• knowledge of the safety aspects of laboratory work; 
• describe, formulate and communicate scientific problems and solutions to either peers and non-specialists or collaborators and users; 
• engage in professional and interdisciplinary collaboration with a professional approach based on group-based project work
• identify own learning needs and structure their own learning in different learning environments

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

Study technique

• Use study and learning strategies to plan your own learning process in relation to learning goals, learning activities and evaluation methods
• Establish professional relations with fellow students and describes ones role as an active contributor to the social and professional environment of the programme.
• Identifies different science representations (textual, auditory, visual, symbolic, iconic, graphical, tabular, static or dynamic) and applies them in problem solving

Physical concepts

• Perform simple mathematical derivations.
• Identify the most relevant components of a physical system.
• Describe a physical system with a mathematical model.
• Apply Newton's laws to predict the future behavior of a physical system based on a mathematical model.
• Calculate electrical and magnetic fields from simple charge distributions and currents.
• Analyze the movement of charged particles in electrical and magnetic fields.
• Understand the physical concepts around absorbance and flourescence of light.

Molecular biology techniques

• Work independently and safely in a laboratory, including safe handling of chemicals and the most basic apparatus (pipettes, centrifuges etc.).
• Take notes, work reproducibly, and use standard curves for laboratory work.
• Understand experimental design and the importance of controls from a theory of science perspective.
  

• Perform various basic molecular biology techniques (fx. protein concentration, western blotting and qPCR) and explain the underlying physical and biological principles.
• Perform and analyze fluorescence microscopy and explain the underlying physical principles.
• Explain the most basic physical principles behind mass spectrometry and perform simple analyses of proteomics data.
• Understand the structure of a cell and the flow of information in the cell, including the central dogma.
• Understand how different experimental methods can be used to analyze a cell's response to extracellular stimuli.
• Relate theoretical knowledge to practical experiments and observations.
• Clarify and analyze a scientific problem in a ready-made form and communicate about both the solution process and its results.

SDGs

• Understand the SDGs and their relationship with academic education
• Understand issues and dilemmas related to achieving the SDGs
• Work academically, critically reflected and interdisciplinary with the SDGs
• Reflect on the relevance of the SDGs to biochemistry, molecular biology and biomedicine, as well as in relation to other disciplines

The following main topics are contained in the course:

Study technique

• Study group: Work in collaborative groups, communication, planning, conflict management, group forming and constitution and study group contract
• The student’s learning: Introduction to e-learning, laboratory security, study and learning strategies, harmonization of expectations, ethical standards in academia and the student’s personal learning plan.
• Problem solving anchored in topics from the student’s introductory courses.

Physical concepts

• Physical quantities and units.
• Movement and kinematics.
• Newton’s laws, forces and momentum.
• Movement and rotation of rigid bodies.
• Basic electromagnetism.
• Properties of light including refraction and absorption.

Molecular biology techniques

• Buffer calculation and manufacturing.
• Standard curves.
• Organelle purification using centrifugations.
• Introduction to selected molecular biology techniques and analyses, e.g.
•        1. Western blotting.
•        2. Fluorescence microscopy.
•        3. cDNA synthesis and qPCR.
•        4. Analysis of mass spectrometry/proteomics data.
•        5. Analysis of quantitative data.

SDGs (self-study, online)

• A research-based introduction to sustainability world goals and their relevance to academic studies
• Introduction to the SDGs and their historical and political context
• Specific problems associated with the SDGs
• Dilemmas as the work to achieve the SDGs arises
• Providing a cross disciplinary platform to work with the SDGs
• Experience with working critically and reflected with the SDGs.

• Intro phase: 42 hours
• Training phase: 68 hours, hereof tutorials: 32 hours and laboratory exercises: 36 hours

The intro phase is two-part consisting of physics lectures, where an introduction is given to various physical subjects, after which a biological lecture explains different laboratory techniques based on the introduction of the physical subjects. In addition, subsequent laboratory or tutorial exercises are also introduced in selected techniques.

The training phase consists of physics tutorials and biology laboratory exercises and tutorials in smaller teams. Priority is given to "active learning" in tutorials, where students are involved and encouraged to participate actively in the teaching to the highest possible extent, e.g. when solving tasks in groups or other work in groups or independent work. For laboratory exercises, students work in pairs or smaller groups with practical exercises within the subject areas of the course.

During the study phase, the aim is to ensure that the students work with the subjects in a different way than regular tutorials. The study phase may be used for preparation for tutorials or work may be directly reported from the study phase in tutorials. Cooperative learning is thought of as part of the study phase.

Activities in the study phase:

• Work in study groups (planned study phase), including the use of cooperative learning
• Preparation for tutorials
• Preparation of presentation and laboratory report