Advanced Instrumental Techniques
Code: 100880 ECTS Credits: 3| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Biochemistry | OB | 2 |
Contact
- Name:
- Natalia Sánchez Groot
- Email:
- natalia.sanchez@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this subject.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This subject is taught in the Degree of Biotechnology and within the topic of Experimental Methods. Corresponds to a compulsory subject of the third year (3 ECTS). It is taught to a group of about 80 students.
Advanced Instrumental Techniques, with exclusively theoretical content, is part of a topic where most of the subjects are eminently practical. Experimental Methods aims to enhance the eminently experimental nature of Biotechnology, accentuating its interdisciplinary nature. Hence, it is necessary to know the theoretical bases of the techniques, as well as their application. It is in this context, where the subject of Advanced Instrumental Techniques, defines its training objectives.
Another important aspect that determines the objectives, and especially the contents of this subject, is the existence of a previous one named Basic Instrumental Techniques, which is taught in the first year. Both subjects are complementary and with both, we aim to cover the set of techniques based on chemistry, biology and physics that a biotechnologist student needs to understand.
The general objective is to know the main advanced instrumental techniques that are used in the laboratory and that the student may need throughout their studies and professional activity. This objective can be further detailed in:
-To acquire and understand the theoretical basis of the main advanced instrumental techniques.
-To understand how to apply these techniques in the field of Biotechnology.
-To enhance the student's self-learning capacity. The student must learn to obtain information and acquire the habit of using this information critically.
-To increase the student's interest in the technical aspects of science.
Learning Outcomes
- CM22 (Competence) Clearly and concisely describe experimental results in the field of biochemistry, considering options for improvement.
- CM23 (Competence) Work as a team when performing experiments and analysing their results.
- KM27 (Knowledge) Describe the theoretical foundations and instrumentation used in basic and advanced biochemistry.
- SM25 (Skill) Use digital resources to search for information, study biomolecules and calculate key parameters.
- SM26 (Skill) Interpret experimental results obtained using the main techniques of biochemistry.
- SM27 (Skill) Apply the techniques and methods for addressing cell culture techniques, classical genetics, immunological detection, recombinant DNA, separation, purification and analysis of biomolecules in the biochemical field.
Content
1. Microscopy
Introduction to optical and confocal microscopy: physical foundations, microscopes and sample preparation. Energy transfer by resonance. Photobleaching. Evanescent field. Image analysis techniques.
2. Electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter
Interaction of radiation with matter: absorption, emission and dispersion. Electronic absorption spectroscopy: spectroscopic analysis of biopolymers and effects of conformation on absorption. Infrared spectroscopy and its application to biological molecules. Fluorescence emission spectroscopy: basic principles and application to the analysis of biomolecules.
3. Flow cytometry
Basic principles of flow cytometry. Compensation of fluorescence. Cell separation Flow cytometry by image.
4. Techniques for the study of molecular interactions
Determination of binding constants between biomolecules. Isothermal calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. Resonance of superficial plasmons. Microscale thermophoresis.
5. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Basic principles. Spectrum measurement. One-dimensional NMR of macromolecules. Two-dimensional NMR.
6. X-ray crystallography.
Crystals. Growth of crystals Principles of X-ray diffraction by crystals. Determination of macromolecular structures by X-ray diffraction.
7. Experimental design and data analysis
Importance of experimental design. Use of control samples. Treatment of experimental errors. Statistical significance and hypothesis validation. Linear and non-linear regression.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Theoretical classes | 22 | 0.88 | KM27, SM26, KM27 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Discussion about subject topics | 6 | 0.24 | CM22, CM22 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study | 43 | 1.72 | CM23, SM25, SM27, CM23 |
Master classes. In some topics, problems interspersed with theoretical concepts will be solved to facilitate their understanding.
Depending on the needs of the development of the subject will be scheduled tutorials for the discussion of specific aspects of the subject.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in the Moodle virtual class | 10 | 1 | 0.04 | CM23, SM25 |
| Tests | 90 | 3 | 0.12 | CM22, KM27, SM26, SM27 |
This subject provides for two individual evaluation systems.
Continuous assessment:
Continuous assessment consists of one tests in the Moodle classroom and two multiple-choice tests in which the contents of the entire theory program of the subject will be evaluated.
- The multiple-choice tests have a retake option and a weight of 9 (5+4) out of 10 of the overall grade. It does not have a minimum grade.
- The participation in the Moodle classroom weight of 1 out of 10 in the overall grade. It has no minimum grade and no retake assessment.
- The review of the final grade will be carried out through the Moodle classroom.
-In the event that you want to improve your grade of the multiple-choice tests, this will be done on the day on which the retake is called. However, retaking the test implies the waiver of the previously obtained qualification.
- To participate in the retake of the multiple-choice tests, students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to a minimum of two-thirds of the total grade of the subject or module. Therefore, students will obtain the grade of "Not Assessed" when the evaluation activities carried out have a weighting of less than 67% in the final grade.
- To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain an overall grade equal to or greater than 5 points out of 10.
Single assessment:
- The single assessment consists of a single multiple-choice test in which the contents of the entire theory program will be evaluated. The grade obtained in this final exam will account for 100% of the final grade of the subject.
- To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain an overall grade equal to or greater than 5 points out of 10.
- The single assessment test will be held on the same day, time and place as the multiple-choice test of the continuous assessment of the subject.
- The review of the final grade follows the same procedure as for continuous assessment.
- The retake consists of a single multiple-choice test in which the contents of the entire theory program will be evaluated. The retake of the single assessment will be carried out on the same day, time and place as the retake of the continuous assessment.
- The same "Not Assessed" criteria as for continuous assessment will be applied.
Bibliography
Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Andreas Hofmann and Samuel Clokie. Cambridge University Press, 8th Edition (2018)
Biophysical techniques in drug Discovery. Angeles Canales et al. Royal Society of Chemistry, 1st Edition (2017)
Principios de análisis instrumental. Douglas A. Skoog et al. Cengage Learning Editores S.A. de C.V., Sexta edición revisada (2008)
Técnicas de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular. David Freifelder. Editorial Reverté. (2010)
Fluorescence Microscopy: From principles to Biological Applications. Ulrich Kubitscheck. Wiley-Blackwell, 2nd Edition (2017)
Software
There is no software for this course.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 32 | Catalan | first semester | afternoon |