Course: Introduction Laboratory Skills credits: 5
- Course code
- LSVX23LABVAARDIG
- Name
- Introduction Laboratory Skills
- Study year
- 2025-2026
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Language
- Dutch, with parts in English
- Coordinator
- J. Hageman
- Modes of delivery
-
- Assignment
- Practical / Training
- Tutorial
- Assessments
-
- Introduction Laboratory skills - Other assessment
Learning outcomes
You work safely and effectively according to the protocols provided from the practicals in a biological or medical laboratory on simple experiments showing how to make media and buffers;
You accurately quantify substances such as sugars or proteins from a sample in a biological or medical laboratory using regression analysis;
You amplify specific pieces of DNA from a sample in a biological or medical laboratory by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and visualise them by gel electrophoresis
You accurately quantify substances such as sugars or proteins from a sample in a biological or medical laboratory using regression analysis;
You amplify specific pieces of DNA from a sample in a biological or medical laboratory by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and visualise them by gel electrophoresis
Content
The biological laboratory has become an integral part of the biological and medical sciences. Within the laboratory, experiments are accurately performed in a controlled environment. For example, vaccines against Corona have been developed quickly and safely in a laboratory. To work safely and effectively in a biological laboratory, it is necessary to acquire knowledge about materials and equipment. You also need to develop skills to work in a laboratory, such as weighing and pipetting. You will learn these basic knowledge and basic skills during this optional module Introduction to Laboratory Skills.
After the basic skills, some key molecular techniques are performed in the lab. These include plasmid isolation from E. coli, restriction analysis, polymerase chain reaction, DNA electrophoresis.
Assessment will be based on an interim "aptitude test" where you will receive extensive feedback on your laboratory skills and logbook elaboration. This interim test counts towards the final assessment. At the end, you will be assessed again on laboratory skills, logbook elaboration, data processing and elaboration of assignments in Benchling.
Which software you use for data processing is up to you. You may use spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel/LibreOffice but also perform the data analysis in R or Python. You make XY-scatterplots and barplots of your results. You will also perform regression analysis. Do bear in mind that the tutors at the lab can mostly only give guidance for spreadsheet software and may not be able to support you well in R and Python. So if you choose R or Python, you will be a bit more on your own.
After the basic skills, some key molecular techniques are performed in the lab. These include plasmid isolation from E. coli, restriction analysis, polymerase chain reaction, DNA electrophoresis.
Assessment will be based on an interim "aptitude test" where you will receive extensive feedback on your laboratory skills and logbook elaboration. This interim test counts towards the final assessment. At the end, you will be assessed again on laboratory skills, logbook elaboration, data processing and elaboration of assignments in Benchling.
Which software you use for data processing is up to you. You may use spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel/LibreOffice but also perform the data analysis in R or Python. You make XY-scatterplots and barplots of your results. You will also perform regression analysis. Do bear in mind that the tutors at the lab can mostly only give guidance for spreadsheet software and may not be able to support you well in R and Python. So if you choose R or Python, you will be a bit more on your own.
Included in programme(s)
School(s)
- Institute for Life Science & Technology