Biochemical Analysis

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Philip Lowden
• Tutors: Philip Lowden, Jonathan Slater, Katherine Thompson, Marianne Odlyha
• Assessment: a 1.5-hour examination (50%) and 10 items of coursework (50%)

The overall aim of this module is to provide a solid foundation in the detection, separation, purification and quantitation of molecules, with a particular focus on applications in biomolecular research and clinical analysis. Topics covered include chromatography, electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, protein and nucleic acid analysis, and toxicology. There is a significant focus on practical application of these techniques; about a third of the teaching sessions are lab classes.

Indicative module syllabus

• The nature of clinical and biomedical samples
• Sample collection, handling and preparation; assay validation
• The application and development of separation techniques in the clinical context including TLC, GLC, HPLC and CE
• The theoretical basis for these separation techniques
• Electrophoresis in clinical practice and detection methods applied to chromatographic separations in biomedicine
• Mass spectrometry - fundamental principles, instrument design and application in structural analysis of small molecules and proteins
• Proteomics, free radicals in disease and their measurement
• Enzymes and enzyme assays
• Fluorescence and its uses in analysis
• Amino acids, peptides and protein analysis
• Immunoassay
• Drug analysis
• Analytical toxicology
• Clinical measurement technology and instrumentation
• Micro and nano techniques applied to clinical samples

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• explain the fundamental principles of a range of analytical techniques - immunoassay, fluorescence labelling, hybridisation, PCR, DNA sequencing and RFLP, electrophoresis (slab/gel and capillary), gas and liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry
• explain the molecular properties and molecular interactions involved in extraction and chromatography methods
• describe the range of instrument designs for these techniques, and select the most appropriate instrumentation for a particular application
• explain the theoretical basis for extraction techniques and chromatographic separations, and perform calculations using these theoretical models
• evaluate the properties of specific analytical targets and select appropriate analytical procedures
• explain the influence that the appropriate choice of analytical protocols and instrumentation can have on results and clinical interpretations, and the utility of near-patient and centralised measurement methods
• carry out practical work and maintain laboratory records in a professional manner
• analyse numerical data to accurately determine analyte concentrations
• analyse mass spectrometry data to determine structural details of small molecules and proteins.