A course to provide students with molecular biological laboratory skills relevant to research in Food Security.

Students will attend lectures, laboratory sessions and associated computer sessions.

None

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Written Exam (2hrs) held at the end of the course 80%

Portfolio 20%

The aim of this course is to provide students with basic molecular biology lab skills and associated computer skills relevant to work in the Agri-Food sector relating to food security.

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

■ critically appraise and discuss the theory underlying several molecular biological techniques;

■ explain and critically evaluate the basis of laboratory protocols for methods in molecular biology

Skills and Other Attributes

On completion of the programme, students will be able to:

Subject-specific/practical skills

■ plan and execute molecular biology, laboratory protocols relating to food security

Intellectual skills

■ critically evaluate molecular biological data in relation to the methods used to produce them

Transferable/key skills

■ manage time effectively to conduct experiments in the laboratory;

■ use computers to search genomic and protein databases and analyse molecular biological data;

■ work effectively with others to complete a laboratory experiment.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.