Module: Practical on Laboratory Techniques

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Practical on Laboratory Techniques
Module Code	BE563 (ITS) / BIO1031 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Janosch Heller
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat the module

Description

Module Aims: The purpose of this module is to prepare the students in practical laboratory techniques that are relevant to the field of biotherapeutics. The students will develop a good understanding of the theory and practice of a number of practical techniques including understanding how to perform basic techniques in molecular biology such as gene cloning, animal cell culture and cell viability assays, transfection, ELISA, and Flow cytometry. The student will develop a good understanding of the theory and practice of the biomedical techniques and be able to critically analyse and interpret data to produce biotherapeutics for diseases such as cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, nervous system or cardiovascular system diseases. Module Outcomes: LO1 To gain a systematic understanding of the theory and practice of the following practical techniques: 1. Animal Cell Culture, 2. Cell Viability Assays, 3. ELISA, 4. Flow cytometry, 5. Transfection and 6. Gene cloning. LO2 To gain critical awareness of data analysis and presentation in a professional manner. LO3 To acquire specialised tools and knowledge to write a short report in the style required by a scientific journal. Module Content: This module will deliver theoretical knowledge of important laboratory techniques in the form of in person lectures and tutorials. Additionally, students will work in teaching laboratories to produce a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell line and measure its effect on the activation of B cells. This will be done in a series of experiments: 1. Transfection of Jurkat cells by nucleofection with a plasmid encoding CD19, 2. Verifying CAR expression on the Jurkats by flow cytometry and 3. Incubation of Jurkat cells with Raji B cells, removing the supernatant and measuring IL-2 with ELISA. Module Assessment: The module will be assessed through a combination of online tests and written assignments. The online test will include multiple choice and short answer questions. The written assignment will include the preparation of a laboratory report in the form of a methods paper. Overall, this module will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of laboratory techniques used in the field of biotherapeutics, and give students the practical know how to produce a CAR cell line and to test its effect.

Learning Outcomes

1. To gain a systematic understanding of the theory and practice of the following practical techniques: 1. Animal Cell Culture, 2. Cell Viability Assays, 3. ELISA, 4. Flow cytometry, 5. Transfection and 6. Gene cloning.
2. To gain critical awareness of data analysis and presentation in a professional manner.
3. To acquire specialised tools and knowledge to write a short report in the style required by a scientific journal.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	4	There will be 4 lectures on the laboratory techniques.
Tutorial	4	There will be 4 tutorials accompanying the lectures
Laboratory	24	Laboratory on Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)
Independent Study	43	Independent study to prepare for assignments and reflect on material delivered.
Assignment Completion	50	Self-directed completion of written assignments and loop quiz
Lecture	4	No Description
Tutorial	4	No Description
Assignment Completion	50	No Description
Independent Study	43	No Description
Laboratory	24	No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Laboratory Techniques overview
Introduction to the theory and practice of a number of practical techniques including understanding how to perform basic techniques in molecular biology such as gene cloning, animal cell culture and cell viability assays, transfection, ELISA, and Flow cytometry. Overview of the theory and practice of the biomedical techniques and how they are used to produce biotherapeutics for diseases such as cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, nervous system or cardiovascular system diseases.

Laboratory
Hands on practical developing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) through 1. Transfection of Jurkat cells by electroporation with a plasmid encoding CD19, 2. Verifying CAR expression on the Jurkats by flow cytometry and 3. Incubation of Jurkat cells with Raji B cells, removing the supernatant and measuring IL-2 with ELISA.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Loop Quiz	The student must complete a series of problem- or challenge-based loop quizzes on the different laboratory techniques to address the student's critical understanding of the curriculum by questions that specifically address the student's knowledge of one specific area and use it in another area.	20%	Week 23
Report(s)	Students will write a report on the practical experiments in the form of a Nature Protocols paper. The report will include introduction, data analysis, generation of graphs with standard deviation plus statistics, results, discussion.	80%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 2

Indicative Reading List

Meah, M. S. (Mohammed Shahabu); Kebede-Westhead, E. (Elizabeth): 2012, Essential laboratory skills for biosciences,

Other Resources

None