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BIOC30030

Academic Year 2026/2027

Biochemist's Toolkit (BIOC30030)

Subject:
Biochemistry
College:
Science
School:
Biomolecular & Biomed Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Yan Yan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Introduction to the techniques and methods required for a modern biochemical approach to the problems of biology. These include biochemical assays, separation techniques and biomolecule analysis. The theory and practice of: spectrophotometry and fluorescence techniques, clinical biochemistry analysis, centrifugation, protein and nucleic acid isolation and chromatographic separation techniques. Analytical techniques such as SDS-electrophoresis, immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. The application of recombinant DNA technology with an emphasis on the generation of fusion and epitope-tagged proteins to help in the identification and purification of the expressed proteins. Molecular biology and cell biology techniques including cloning, gene silencing, flow cytometry and cell imaging.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:1. Analyse biological systems at the molecular, cellular levels as well as organs and whole animals. 3. Use spectrophotometric and fluorescence techniques to analyse and quantify biomolecules. 4. Develop strategies for protein purification and analyse biomolecules by electrophoretic techniques. 5.Utilize radioisotope methods for examining biological systems. 6.Understand how electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, light and fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to study biological tissues. 7.Know how to use preparative and analytical centrifugation procedures. 8. Understand the basis for a range of clinical biochemistry tests. 8. Explain how gene silencing techniques are used to deplete proteins in cell and animal studies.

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

18
Practical

12
Specified Learning Activities

8
Autonomous Student Learning

75
Total

113

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; reflective learning; labwork; enquiry & problem-based learning

Generative AI: You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your engagement with AI stops when you begin to create your submission. Your submissions should therefore be authored entirely by yourself and should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. You should keep a comprehensive record of all outputs generated by AI, and may be required to document these as part of the activities, or present them on demand. An appropriate AI tool may be used to correct grammatical errors and improve the language of text you alone have authored. You must not allow the AI tool to alter the sense of any text, offer a critique of or modify any arguments.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

It is recommended that students taking this module have successfully completed BMOL20110 and BIOC20060.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Report(s): The average grade of the lab reports associated with the wet lab practicals. Week 2, Week 5, Week 7, Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Exam (In-person): 2 hour close book exam
 End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
70
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Dr Patrick Caffrey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Luke Johnson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Yan Yan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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