AP0517 - Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, IT workshops and practical classes. The theoretical basis of principles and supporting molecular biology technologies will be explained in lectures and illustrated with contemporary examples of research applications. The IT workshops and practical sessions will give you hands-on experience of key bioinformatics tools and molecular biology techniques. In all sessions the generic principles associated with the research processes will be reinforced.

You will be supported by a team of staff associated with the module in a number of ways. Staff will deal with your questions and queries in lecture and practical sessions on issues of module content and also to provide guidance on interpretation of the coursework briefs and the development of the core skills necessary to retrieve, evaluate, discuss and apply the research findings of others. Staff can be contacted outside of sessions via a variety of channels to deal with your queries. Supporting information will also be distributed by the eLP (Blackboard Ultra).

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

• Bernard R. Glick (Author), Jack J. Pasternak (Author), Cheryl L. Patten (Author). Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA.
• Lesk AM. Introduction to Bioinformatics. Oxford University Press.
• Hodgman TC, French A & Westhead DR. Bioinformatics. BIOS Instant Notes series. Taylor and Francis Group
• Attwood TK & Parry-Smith DJ. Introduction to bioinformatics. Addison Wesley Longman Ltd.
• Bishop MJ and Rawlings CJ (Editors) DNA and Protein Sequence Analysis - A Practical Approach [CD-ROM]. Oxford University Press
• Brown TA Genomes. BIOS Scientific Publishers Ltd.
• Klug WS & Cummings MR Essentials of Genetics. Prentice Hall

URLs
• http://www.ebi.ac.uk
• http://www.expasy.org/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/SignalP/
• http://www.genome.jp/kegg/
• http://www.novagen.com
• http://www.firstmarket.com/cutter/cut2.html
• http://www.mwg-biotech.com/html/all/index.php

Electronic Journals (Northumbria University)

• Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
• Bioseparation - International Journal of Separation Science in Biotechnology
• Biotechnology Advances
• Biotechnology and Bioengineering
• Biotechnology Letters
• Biotechnology Techniques
• Current Opinion in Biotechnology
• Journal of Biotechnology
• Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
• Journal of commercial biotechnology

Reading list can be found at http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk/search.html?q=AP0517

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Understand the fundamental principles of bioinformatics tools and molecular biology technologies.
2. Evaluate the application of these tools and technologies in biotechnology and research.
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Carryout laboratory procedures with due regard for risk assessment/health & safety to obtain, record, collate, interpret, analyse and evaluate data.
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. Identify and explore the impact of biotechnological research on stakeholders.

Specific knowledge and understanding of bioinformatics and molecular biology will be assessed by an online (eLP) test involving multiple choice and short answer questions (weighting 40%). (MLO 1, 2, 3)
The main assessment for the module will be a formal written report emulating submission of a research paper (1000 words ±10%) constituting 60% of the module score. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4

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Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology is a module that will be of interest to students wishing to acquire the theoretical and practical knowledge required to begin using bioinformatic tools and molecular biology techniques and to apply them within biotechnology. Bioinformatics topics will be introduced by lecture, but most emphasis will be given to experiential learning using guided exercises, directed learning and independent learning. Molecular biology topics will be introduced by lecture and supported by practical sessions. There is an emphasis, within the module, on laboratory-based practical exercises to provide you with relevant 'hands-on' experience of appropriate molecular biology techniques. Theoretical aspects of the syllabus will be assessed by an online test and the practical aspects will be assessed by written report assignment. Thus this module will equip you with important key skills that will be invaluable in your future career.