A laboratory skills module is pivotal in equipping students with the essential competencies required for success in the field of biomolecular sciences. The rationale behind this module lies in the ever-evolving and intricate nature of life sciences, which demand hands-on expertise to conduct experiments, analyse data, and draw meaningful conclusions. This module's purpose is twofold: firstly, to cultivate a deep understanding of basic techniques and instrumentation commonly used in research and diagnostics. Secondly, it aims to foster critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and precision in experimental work, thereby nurturing a cohort of professionals who can contribute meaningfully to advancing our understanding of life's intricate mechanisms and developing novel solutions to pressing biological challenges. 

A series of laboratory-based practicals and tutorials will support development of practical skills and technical understanding in the following areas: • Working in a regulated environment. • Foundational lab skills - pipetting; pH analysis, molar solution generation; bench organisation. • Aseptic cell culture techniques. • Growth of human cell lines in adhesion and in suspension. • Microscopic techniques. • Cytotoxicity analysis. • Flow cytometry. • Isolation of nucleic acids and proteins from cells. • Nucleic acid and protein quantification methods. • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Realtime PCR. • Plasmid cloning techniques. • Purification of plasmid DNA from competent bacteria. • Immunoassays including Western Blotting and ELISAs. • Nanopore DNA sequencing. • Excel for data handling. • Statistics for biological data handling. • Pre-intermediate coding for biological data analysis - R, Python. The module will also include transferable skills training in the following aspects: • Technical report writing. • Use and development of SOPs. • Regulatory considerations for laboratory work - Risk assessments, ethical considerations. • Experimental troubleshooting. • Transformation of raw data into professional figures. • Statistical analysis of data. • Collaborative teamwork and team management.  

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to: • Demonstrate proficiency in essential laboratory methods, including molecular biology, proteomics, cell culture, and next-generation sequencing techniques. • Design, conduct, and troubleshoot scientific experiments, including risk assessments, while accurately recording, analysing, and interpreting data using statistical tools and visualisation techniques. • Critically assess experimental performance, identify challenges, and apply effective troubleshooting strategies to optimise lab results. • Utilize advanced technologies, such as Oxford Nanopore, PCR, and cloning techniques, to address bioscience research questions. • Maintain ethical and safe laboratory practices, demonstrating competency in scientific reporting and data presentation for professional and academic audiences.

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to: • Demonstrate effective collaboration skills, professionalism, and respect for team members in achieving shared scientific goals. • Apply ethical principles and health and safety protocols in laboratory settings. • Adhere to precise scientific procedures, demonstrating attention to detail in experimental design, execution, and data analysis. • Analyse and interpret experimental data objectively and critically, free from bias.

On completion of this module students will be able to: • Display competency in the use of a variety of scientific equipment. • Conduct themselves to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) competency. • Execute cell culture experimentation with good aseptic technique. • Display the necessary organizational skills to correctly set-up and implement a successful scientific experiment.

The core design concept of this module is to instigate a move away from traditional approaches to teaching and learning where less emphasis will be placed on the measurement of memorized decontextualized content but on the attainment of practical competencies and application of knowledge in a laboratory environment. A blended delivery approach will be applied to this module. A series of research-based, enquiry-based and flipped learning approaches will be used to induce student engagement and create an environment where student cognitive and practical skills can be developed and refined. Students will be assigned weekly "flipped" asynchronous tasks to complete prior to face-to-face tutorials. These asynchronous tasks will be designed to introduce the key concepts underlying each molecular biology technique. Face-to-face tutorials will be used to generate a "community of learning" where various techniques and scientific data will be analysed and discussed. State-of-the-art research findings in the areas of cancer biology, immunology, neuroscience and drug discovery will be introduced in order to provide context and demonstrate how these experimental techniques are applied to answer complex biological questions. Practical sessions will allow students to apply and perfect the practical knowledge generated through self-directed learning and tutorials. This module will be assessed along two main pathways. Firstly, students will generate a electronic practical skills portfolio containing the following: • Background technical information on each technique. • Detailed SOPs and any SOP amendments. • Risk assessments for each technique. • Technical report including data analysis and figures. • Troubleshooting steps. Secondly, students will be evaluated for practical competency in a face-to-face lab session where a number of practical assessment stations will be set-up that cover different technical skills and abilities.