Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University

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Course Specification
A- Basic information:
Course title: Practical methods in biochemistry
Course cod: 521
Units: 3 Cedit hours Lecture : 2 Practical : 1 Tutorial :
Program(s) on which the course is given: Biotechnology Program (Agricultural Biochemistry)
Major or minor element of program(s): Major - Minor
Department offering (responsible) for the program(s): Agricultural Biochemistry Dept.
Department offering (teaching) the course: Agricultural Biochemistry Dept.
Academic year: 2009-2010
Date of specification approval: 27 / 6/ 2009

B- Professional Information
1-Overall Aim of Course
To insure that the students gained the basic knowledge of practical methods in biochemistry
including the theoretical basis and practical techniques used in biochemistry research. The
course covers the separation, purification and determination of high molecular weight
biological compounds e.g. proteins and nucleic acids; in addition to the identification and
determination of carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, hormones and antioxidants. Other topics e.g.
blood analysis, enzyme activity, purification and kinetics, and isozyme separation will be
covered.

2 - Intended Learning Outcomes of Course (ILOs)

a . Knowledge and Understanding:
a1. Describe the theoretical basis of various biochemical techniques.
a2. Illustrate the steps of various biochemical techniques.
a3. Describe the preparation of reagents and solutions used in biochemical methods.

b- Intellectual Skills
b1. Decide the suitable technique for each practical problem.
b2. Illustrate the scope, limitation and source of errors for each technique and method.
b3. Compare different biochemical methods.
.

c- Professional and Practical Skills

c1. Collect information on practical methods in biochemistry.
c2. Writing lab reports on practical biochemistry.
c3. Describe and perform various practical techniques in biochemistry.

d- General and Transferable Skills

d1. Writing term paper on practical methods in biochemistry.
d2. Presenting seminar on techniques in biochemistry.

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 Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University
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3 Contents
Tutorial-

Topic No of credit Lecture

practical-Term
paper-Seminar
hours Hr hr

Techniques in protein separation, purifications and

determination 3 2 2
Electrophoresis techniques 6 4 4
Nucleic acids and molecular biology techniques 6 4 4
Enzyme purification, activity determination, kinetics, and
isozymes separation 6 4 4
Blood analysis methods 6 4 4
Carbohydrate determination 3 2 2
Lipid fractionation and determination 3 2 2
Determination of vitamins, hormones, and antioxidants 3 2 2

4- Teaching and Learning Methods:

4.1- Classroom lectures
4.2- Laboratory experiments
4.3- Field based activities
4.4- Web-based literature
4.5- Case study

5- Student Assessment Methods:

5.1 Written exam to assess a1-a3, b1-b3
5.3 Oral exam to assess c1-c2, d1-d2
5.4 Lab Reports and term to assess c1-c2, d1-d2
paper

Assessment Schedule:
Assessment 1 Reports week Week 13
Assessment 2 Term paper Week 13
Assessment 3 Oral exams Week 13
Assessment 4 Written exams Week 15-16

Weighting of Assessments
Final Lab report and term 20%
paper
Final-written Exam 70%
Oral and seminar Exam 10%
Total 100%

6- List of References
6.1- Course Notes

6.2- Essential Books (Text Books)

6.3- Recommended Books

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 Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University
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Principles and Techniques of Practical Biochemistry by Keith
Wilson, John Walker, and John M. Walker , 2000

6.4- Periodicals, Web Sites, ... etc

Web Sites: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Science/Chemistry)
www.chemweb.com
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed

7- Facilities Required for Teaching and Learning

Library internet facility - electrophoresis

Course Coordinator: Prof Dr. dawlat salama

Head of Department:
Prof. Dr.
Date: 12 / 10/2014

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