Integrated Laboratory Practicals I

Objectives

The aim of this course is that students improve the following key skills:

• Follow safety rules and regulations in the laboratory.
• Handle properly standard laboratory equipment.
• Apply laboratory rules and follow microbiology and molecular biology protocols.
• Produce an ordered and intelligible record of the activities performed in the laboratory.
• Apply extraction, amplification and nucleic acid analysis protocols.
• Apply protocols for the construction of an expression vector.
• Implement the transformation and cultivation of a microorganism.

Learning outcomes

1. Perform the practice tasks collaboratively as a part of a team and improve their degree of autonomy and initiative in the work in the laboratory.
2. Use equipment in a molecular biology laboratory, following safety and waste disposal regulations.
3. Produce an activity record and write reports that justify and analyse the tasks and experiments performed.
4. Interpret correctly the experiment results and draw conclusions.
5. Demonstrate comprehension of spoken and written messages of different types in Catalan, Spanish, and English.

Competencies

General skills

• Combine scientific knowledge with technical skills and technological resources to deal with problems in professional practice.
• Endeavour to combine independence and personal initiative with teamwork in multidisciplinary activities.

Specific skills

• Have oral and written skills in English for communicating results, conclusions and processes deriving from biotechnology research and process management.
• Interpret results obtained in biotechnology laboratories on the basis of correct application of laboratory protocols and basic techniques, making appropriate use of suitable instruments, with due regard for established safety standards.
• Work properly in a laboratory, individually and in groups, with due regard for safety, sterilisation, handling, quality control, elimination of biological and chemical residues and annotated records of activities.

Basic skills

• Students have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of independent learning.
• Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific and ethical issues.

Core skills

• Use oral, written and audiovisual forms of communication, in one's own language and in foreign languages, with a high standard of use, form and content.

Content

1. Introduction to laboratory work
• Basic laboratory regulations
• Laboratory waste disposal
• Record of activities in the laboratory book
• Group work
2. Cloning of a cDNA fragment
• Amplification of a particular cDNA using PCR
• Purification of a vector plasmid
• Cloning of the cDNA in the vector plasmid using restriction enzymes and DNA ligase
3. Isolation of the clone of interest
• Transformation and cultivation of a microorganism with the recombinant vector
• Identification of the correct clones

Evaluation

Assessed activities that represent 100% of the final course grade (NF):

• Activity 1: Written test (40%). Minimum pass mark 4/10 (may be retaken).
• Activity 2: Group work presentation (20%).
• Activity 3: Final report (20%). (Late submission penalisation: 20%)
• Activity 4: Exercices, quizes and attitude in the lab (20%)

Attendance to all sessions is compulsory.

Methodology

This subject is developed through several guided laboratory sessions. Students are given a series of lab protocols that they must follow to achieve partial goals in the development of a broader project. The generation of reagents by the student is necessary to proceed from one step to another.

There are also group discussions on the need for certain steps in the development of the project and the discussion of particular questions given to small groups of 2-3 students to work on. These questions are presented to the rest of the class.

There are 7 class sessions with the whole group to introduce new concepts and to prepare the written exam.

Bibliography

Key references

• Ausubel, F.M., Brent, R., Kingston, R.E., Moore, D.D., Seidman, J.G., Smith, J.A, Struhl, K. (2002). Short Protocols in Molecular Biology (5 ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
• Maddocks, S. & Jenkins, R. (2017). Understanding PCR : a practical bench-top guide. Retrieved from https://ucercatot.uvic-ucc.cat/permalink/34CSUC_UVIC/qq5d82/alma991001156422006718

Further reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.