Postgraduate Course: Bioanalytical Chemistry PGT (CHEM11078)
Course Outline
| School | School of Chemistry |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course of lectures describes the chemistry, structure, and function of biological molecules and discussed the analytical techniques used for the separation, detection, identification, and quantification of biomolecules. The course covers the characterisation of protein folding, dynamics and interactions; structural biology techniques; and latest advances in biological imaging. The course will emphasise the physical basis of each technique and how this relates to its limitations leading to an appreciation of why several experimental and computational techniques, applied in combination, provide the most robust information.
This course is a semester 2 optional course for students enrolled on the PGT MSc Analytical Chemistry course and builds on the material delivered in the semester 1 course on Foundations in Analytical Chemistry. |
| Course description |
The course will consist of 30 lectures (or equivalent), with the following topics.
1. An introduction to Biomolecules. This module introduces the fundamental chemistry of biomolecules including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.
2. Biomolecular Characterisation Methods. This module will cover topics including electrophoretic methods, assays, biothermodynamic methods (SPR, ITC) and biomolecular mass spectrometry. It will also include in silico methods such as structure prediction and molecular dynamics.
3. Biomolecular Structural Determination. This topic will cover spectroscopic techniques for structural characterisation of biological systems. including CD, vibrational, and NMR, as well as X-ray methods and CryoEM.
4. Biophotonics and Bioimaging. This topic will cover the application of visible and ultra-violet light to studies of native biomolecules or biomolecules conjugated with chromophores or fluorophores. Fluorescence microscopy and imaging techniques will be described as well as complementary bioimaging techniques such as mass spectrometry imaging.
Each lecture module will be supported by small group tutorial class sessions where problems arising from the content can be discussed.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 30,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 6,
Formative Assessment Hours 40,
Summative Assessment Hours 3,
Revision Session Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
102 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
75 %,
Coursework
25 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 75% and Coursework 25% |
| Feedback |
Each lecture module has an associated small-group tutorial. This will provide students with practice at problem-solving and tackling exam-like questions. It is also an opportunity for students to discuss any issues pertaining to the lecture course. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Bioanalytical Chemistry PGT | 3:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Bioanalytical Chemistry PGT | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Show knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts underlying the structure, function and dynamics of proteins and nucleic acids, and the extent to which they are supported or otherwise by available experimental data demonstrating an informed and critical judgement of the data supplied.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles underlying the interplay between various physical phenomena and the physical properties of biomolecules, along with an awareness of the limitations of current understanding.
- Apply this knowledge and understanding to achieve a critical and nuanced appreciation of how the information needed to determine macromolecular structures and properties is acquired, processed, synthesised and assembled.
- Review the theory and practices of a range of biophysical characterisation techniques and bioimaging techniques. Demonstrate an ability to assess the robustness of the hypothetical models and mechanisms that are inferred from the data they generate, exercising an informed and critical judgement of the available data.
- In workshops and small-group work collaborate in self-learning exercises and share with peers findings and informed judgements on the methods and techniques in advanced biological chemistry.
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Reading List
Any good biological chemistry textbook; e.g. Stryer.
Reading lists pertaining to each course unit will be provided by the lecturers.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Note-taking skills.
2. Numerical data interpretation and analysis.
3. Unseen problem solving skills.
4. Presentation skills. |
| Keywords | analytical chemistry,biological chemistry,bioanalytical chemistry,biophysical chemistry |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | Ms Zoe Burger
Tel: (0131 6)50 7546
Email: |
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