BB539: Experimental methods (5 ECTS)

STADS: 04016701

Level
Bachelor course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: mortenl@biology.sdu.dk

Timetable
Show entire timetable
Show personal time table for this course.

Prerequisites:
None, however, this course can only be taken if it:

1. is a constituent part of your programme 
2. is a specified recommendation for elective ECTS in your programme
3. is part of a specified transitional arrangement ('overgangsordning') for a course you have not yet passed

Academic preconditions:
None

Course introduction
The course aims to enable the student to independently perform basic laboratory work in a biological/chemistry lab.
This is important in terms of future experimental work throughout the study and research in general.

The course builds on the knowledge acquired at FF 500, and the knowledge gained in the first-year course in biology and biochemistry.
The course contributes to the scientific basis for the many experimentally based courses later in the studio.

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

• Provide competence to engage in collaboration and structure their own learning
• Provide skills to independently and safely plan and carry out laboratory work and analysis data
• Provide knowledge of scientific experimental methods and knowledge of general laboratory equipment

Expected learning outcome
The learning objectives of the course are that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Perform laboratory exercises on the basis of written instructions
• Perform quality control on basic laboratory equipment and calibrate measuring equipment
• Independently make chemical solutions of from the Materials and Methods section of an article
• Plan and carry out quantitative measurements by;  standard curves, dilutions and standard addition
• Work as required in a sterile laboratory
• Work by the safety regulations in the laboratory, including proper labeling and disposal of chemical waste
• Report results using basic statistical methods
• Preparation of laboratory journal
• Reporting of the data collected

Subject overview
The following main topics are contained in the course:

• Good laboratory practice, quality assurance and measurement uncertainty
• Calibration, linearity, extinction coefficients, concentration and molarity calculations
• Use of electrodes and spectroscopy
• Quantification, standard curves, standard addition, calibration curves
• Sterile work
• Laboratory safety
• Data Sheets, labeling and registration of chemicals
• Disposal of chemical waste and biohazardous waste
• Lab notebook keeping and report writing

Literature
There isn't any litterature for the course at the moment.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam

1. Participation in the laboratory exercises. Pass/fail, internal marking by teacher. (04016712).

Assessment and marking:

1. Approval of report. Pass/fail, internal marking by teacher. All exam aids allowed. (5 ECTS). (04016702).

The mode of exam at the re-examination may differ from the mode of exam at the ordinary exam.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 5 hours
Skills training phase: 45 hours, hereof:
 - Laboratory exercises: 40 hours

Educational activities Study phase: 50 hours
Educational form
In the study phase, the students are expected to work with self-study of educational material as well as preparation for tutorials. The students are also expected to use a part of the study phase to follow up on the task from the training phase and to reserve a small part of the preparation of the final report

The course topics are introduced through 5 lectures of 1 hour, which presents the students to the course topics and the way to achieve the course competence goals. Skills within the course key parts are primarily achieved through 10 laboratory exercises of 4 hours duration. Here, the different skills use in experimental laboratory work, are trained. 

Language
This course is taught in English, if international students participate. Otherwise the course is taught in Danish.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.