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 the course 'Experimental Cellular and Molecular Biology' (or ECMB) is to introduce the students to research methods that are important in current biomedical research. During this course, students will learn to integrate the different methods, starting from a scientific question, and to apply the principles of scientific thinking. ECMB will enable students to critically compare different methods and gain insight into the advantages and disadvantages of each method. ECMB consists of three different courses, namely ECMBI-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 recent technologies. This will allow students to correctly interpret and assess contemporary scientific literature/studies. ECMB is a good preparation for attending 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 tissues and different methods will be discussed to isolate, purify, culture, visualize and fractionate cells. In addition, cellular functions such as adhesion, migration, proliferation and cell death will be addressed. Cancer will be used as a model to illustrate how to study specific processes within this disease using certain techniques. During the practical lessons (WPOs), some of these techniques will be performed by the students themselves. In addition, various techniques for cell visualization will be demonstrated.
Participation in the practical lessons (WPOs) described above is compulsory. This mandatory presence will lead to the achievement of the intended learning objectives. Absence is only legitimate with a doctor's certificate. In the event of unauthorized absence, the student receives a 0/20 for that practical lesson (including tests, exercises, reports). Regardless of whether the absences were legitimate or not, no overtaking times are possible for the missed practical lessons. Moreover, a student who has only attended 70% or fewer of the practical lessons (regardless of whether the absences were legitimate or not) is excluded from the exam.
For more information about the concrete structure of the course: see Canvas.
Course specific learning outcomes:
The student knows:
• The principles of the scientific method
• The basic 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 safety in a scientific laboratory
• The basic techniques and methodology for studying the basic cellular functions (adhesion, migration, proliferation, cell death, ...) with attention to 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
• Consult fluent and critical English scientific literature, and collect, interpret and assess data from it
• Perform common cellular laboratory techniques independently, correctly and safely
• Communicate clearly and report on own results and team results and on 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 exam is a written exam and tests the knowledge of and insight into research methods and techniques in biomedical research. Students should be able to compare these methods. Students should also know that the applied method depends on the question and the biological material used, and how the results obtained should be interpreted in the context of a given question.
During the academic year, the performances in the WPO are assessed based on the commitment, lab attitude, group work, practical skills, reporting, exercises and unannounced tests. The deadline for submitting the report will be announced during the WPO. Submitting the report late or not will result in a score of 0/20 for the report in question. It is not possible to resit the WPO within the same academic year. The marks for the written exam and the WPO are weighted as follows: 80% written exam, 20% WPO. If less than an 8/20 is achieved for the WPO, the final score will be a maximum of 9/20. In the second exam period, it is only possible to resit for the written exam. A partial exemption is granted for both the written exam and the WPO with a score of at least 10/20. This exemption applies to the second exam period and the following 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)