Undergraduate Course: Experimental Immunology (IMMU10015)
Course Outline
| School | School of Biological Sciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course covers central aspects of experimental design, analysis, and interpretation of results, as well as important immunological experimental techniques. It provides a foundation for Immunology Honours students in reading and critiquing scientific literature and so feeds into the other Immunology core courses and electives. The experimental design, analysis and interpretation aspects also provide a foundation for the Research project in semester 2. |
| Course description |
The course starts out by introducing the students to experimental design and statistical analysis, and then introduces students to commonly used techniques, such as ELISA, in vivo adoptive transfer, flow cytometry and cell sorting (FACS), and bioinformatics. The background on standard immunological techniques is provided through online videos that are on timed released over the first 3 weeks of the course. Flow cytometry and bioinformatic analysis are reinforced through hands-on data analysis workshops. This is complemented with tutorials based around the reading, analysis, and discussion of primary scientific papers. In the last three weeks of the course, the students build upon the knowledge gained and work in groups to virtually design and analyse a follow-on experiment to one of the tutorial papers, so reinforcing experimental design, understanding of immunological techniques, and statistical analysis.
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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 |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2.5,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
68 )
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| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Extensions not available for assessment due to being assessed via Class Test
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The course will be 100% assessed by a literature comprehension assessment, in which students will answer questions on a recent immunological paper. The paper will be released in week 1 of Semester 2, followed by an open-book in-class test in Week 2. The questions will only be released at the start of the test. |
| Feedback |
Through student and staff feedback at the end of the course and at the end of the academic year. Evaluation of examination and ICA marks across the class, compared to previous years. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A good understanding of current immunological techniques and development of scientific problem-solving skills.
- Attainment of advanced skills in reading and understanding the primary literature, especially in relation to experimental techniques.
- Ability to develop scientific questions and hypotheses.
- Ability to interpret results.
- Ability to summarise techniques and data
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
The course will deliver Knowledge and Understanding. The sessions are mainly workshop based involving group activities so it will also enhance student Research and Enquiry, Personal and Intellectual Autonomy, Communication, and Personal Effectiveness. |
| Special Arrangements |
This is a core course for students on the following programmes only: Biological Sciences (Immunology) (BSc Hons), Biological Sciences (Immunology) with Management (BSc Hons), Immunology (BMedSci Hons), Immunology BSc (VetSci) (Hons). |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Sessions are mainly workshop and tutorial based teaching. |
| Keywords | Immunology,Experimental Immunology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Matthew Taylor
Tel: (0131 6)51 3625
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Tim MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 7296
Email: |
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