6 ECTS credits
180 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1018075BNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
The aim of 'Experimental Cellular and Molecular Biology' (in short ECMB) is to introduce the students to research methods that are important in today’s biomedical research. During the courses, the students will learn to integrate the different methods starting from a scientific question and to apply the principles of scientific thinking. ECMB also aims to enable students to critically compare the different methods and gain insights into the advantages and disadvantages of each method. ECMB consists of three main parts, namely ECMBI, ECMBII and ECMBIII. During ECMBI, the emphasis is mainly on teaching cellular techniques, whereas ECMBII focuses primarily on molecular techniques. In the third and last part, the knowledge and skills obtained in the first two parts are integrated and further supplemented with the most recent technologies. This will allow the students to correctly interpret and assess contemporary scientific literature/studies. As such, ECMB will lay the necessary foundation for the Medical Seminars, Laboratory internship and Research internship.
Experimental Cellular and Molecular Biology Part I (ECMBI) will focus on the different methodologies used to study cells. The course starts from the organization of cells in the tissues. Different methods will be discussed to isolate, purify, culture, visualize and fractionate cells. In addition, techniques to study the cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, proliferation and cell death will be discussed. The disease cancer will be used throughout the courses as a model to illustrate how one can study specific processes within this disease using appropriate techniques. During the practical courses and seminars (WPOs), a number of these techniques will be performed by the students themselves. In addition, more advanced techniques for the visualization and purification of cells will be demonstrated. The full learning content of this OO can be found on Canvas.
Participation in the practical courses and seminars (the WPOs) described above is compulsory. This compulsory participation will lead to the successful achievement of the intended learning objectives. Absence is only justified with a doctor's certificate. In the event of a non-legitimate absence, the student will receive a 0/20 for that practical course/seminar (including all tests, exercises and reports related to that practical course/seminar). No catching-up moments are possible for the missed WPOs, regardless of whether the absence was legitimate or not. A student who has performed/participated in only 70% or less of the WPOs, regardless of whether the absences were legitimate or not, will be excluded from the exam and can therefore not pass ECMBI.For more information about the concrete structure of the course: see Canvas.The course specific learning outcomes are the following:
The student knows:
• The principles of the scientific method.
• The basic cellular properties of cancer cells and the underlying molecular processes.
• The different methods of isolating cells from tissues and subsequently purifying, storing, culturing, visualizing and fractionating them.
• The principles of working safely in a laboratory that is carrying out biomedial research.
• The basic techniques and methodology for studying basic cellular functions (adhesion, migration, proliferation, cell death, ...), with attention for new technological developments.
The student is able to:
• Apply the principles of the scientific method.
• Critically compare the different basic cellular techniques and methodologies and formulate the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
• Integrate the various basic cellular techniques and methodologies starting from a (simple) scientific question.
• Fluently and critically consult English scientific literature, and collect, interpret and assess data from it.
• Perform common cellular laboratory techniques independently, correctly and safely.
• Communicate and report clearly about own/team results and about literature studies, both orally and in writing.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 80% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 20% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
The performance during the WPOs is assessed during the academic year based on effort, attitude, group work, practical skills, reporting, exercises and unannounced tests. The deadline for submitting the reports will be announced during the practical courses and/or via Canvas. Late or non-submission of a report will result in a score of 0/20 for that report. It is not possible to redo/retake the WPOs.The scores for the written exam and practical exam are weighted as follows: 80% for the written exam and 20% for the practical exam. If less than a 8/20 is obtained for the written exam or practical exam, the final total score will be no higher than 9/20. In the second exam period, it is only possible to retake the written exam. A partial exemption is given for both the written exam and the practical exam (the WPOs) if a score of at least 10/20 has been obtained. This exemption applies to the second exam period and the subsequent academic year. It is not possible to waive partial scores.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences: Abridged (only offered in Dutch)