BIOS4020 – Methods in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry II
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course focus on methods in biochemistry and molecular biology. The course gives an introduction to central biochemical and biophysical methods for the study of proteins. The different methods give information about the primary, secondary and tertiary structure of proteins.
Learning outcome
After completing this course we expect your competence to include the following:
- Know about central biochemical and biophysical methods for the study of proteins.
- Know the theory for protein expression, purification, crystallisation, protein crystallography, UV-vis spectroscopy, protein NMR, proteomics and mass spectrometry for the study of proteins.
- Have knowledge about how you can use the methods described above for the study of proteins.
Master how these methods are used in practice.
Experience in presenting results both in written form and orally in a scientific way
Admission to the course
Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.
Applicants are ranked by the following criteria:
- Master students who have the course as a mandatory part of their programme
- Master students at the MN faculty who have the course as part of the approved curriculum.
- Students with admission to single courses on master’s level and exchange students
Applicants are ranked by credits in each group; all applicants within 1st rank before applicants in 2nd etc. If admission is limited to a fixed number of participants, admission will be decided by drawing lots for students who are ranked equally
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Recommended previous knowledge
Requires basic competence in biochemistry and molecular biology equivalent to a bachelor degree in Bioscience.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with MBV4020 – Methods in molecular biology and biochemistry II (continued).
Teaching
This course consists of
laboratory work with reports and presentation
lectures
colloquia including group assignements
The laboratory work consists of both wet lab. and computer lab., and is divided into three modules:
First module is a project «From gene to structure and function» which includes protein expression, purification, crystallisation, structure solving and spectroscopic characterisation (~50%).
Second module focus on protein NMR spectroscopy (~20%).
Third module focus on proteomics and mass spectrometry (~30%).
The results from the laboratory work within the three modules are handed-in/presented as a laboratory article, ordinary reports and oral presentation, respectively.
The course is taught as an intensive course over 5 week, with 95% compulsory participation.
Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture, also for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if documentation for absence is not provided to the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no prior to the first lecture
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student. A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Final written exam which counts 90 % towards the finale grade, and laboratory article which counts 10% toward the finale grade.
This course has mandatory assignments that must be approved before you can sit the finale exam.
The laboratory article must be passed, and reports from laboratory exercises, group assignments, and oral presentations must be approved in order to be eligible for the exam. It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following course: MBV4020 – Methods in molecular biology and biochemistry II (continued).
Examination support material
Approved calculator
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.