APPLIED MEDICAL SCIENCES final 2024-25

UCI A M S Laboratory Handbook Overview

Student Information

  • Programme: Year 2 Applied Medical Sciences Programme (2024-2025)

Foreword

  • Gaining proficiency in fundamental laboratory techniques is vital for scientific training.

  • Key laboratory skills to master include:

    • Laboratory safety procedures

    • Record keeping

    • Liquid handling

    • Buffer preparation

    • Centrifugation

    • Spectrophotometry

    • Immunoassay

    • Microscopy

    • Cell culture

    • Nucleotide/protein extraction

    • Reverse transcription

    • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

    • Electrophoresis

    • Quantitative PCR

  • These essential skills are taught through lectures, tutorials, workshops, and practical sessions within the Wet laboratory during the first two years at UCL's Division of Medicine.

  • This handbook serves as a reference for lab sessions, promoting understanding and application of these techniques in research.

Contents

  1. Laboratory Safety: Pages 8-9

    • Understanding safety protocols in a lab environment.

  2. Laboratory Record Book: Pages 11-12

    • Importance of comprehensive lab records for tracking experiments.

  3. Solutions: Pages 14-15

    • Techniques for making and testing solutions, including practical exercises to solidify understanding.

  4. pH Meter and Buffers: Pages 17-19

    • How to use and calibrate pH meters and prepare buffers, emphasizing application in maintaining pH for reactions.

  5. Serial Dilution and Protein Assay: Pages 21-22

    • Methods for measuring protein concentration using approaches like the Bradford assay, explaining why these methods are crucial for quantification in research.

  6. The Gram Stain: Pages 24-26

    • Technique for identifying bacteria through Gram staining, highlighting its significance in microbiology.

  7. Microscope Usage and Techniques: Pages 27-28

    • Best practices for using light microscopes, focusing on effective observation techniques.

  8. Centrifugation: Pages 29-30

    • Principles of separation and sedimentation rates; practical exercises relating to hematology and sample preparation.

  9. Urinalysis: Pages 33-35

    • Diagnostic techniques, including dipstick tests; assessment of glucose levels using enzyme methods.

  10. Insulin Assay (ELISA): Pages 37-39

    • Understanding the ELISA method for quantifying insulin, including procedural steps and interpretation of results.

  11. Protein Extraction and Quantification: Pages 41-43

    • Utilizing the BCA assay; importance of these methods in protein studies.

  12. Cell Culture: Pages 45-49

    • Methods for culturing cells, focusing on aseptic techniques, and their relevance in biological research.

  13. RNA Extraction and Quantification: Pages 60-64

    • Detailed protocols for RNA extraction, discussing assessments using Nanodrop as compared to Bioanalyzer.

  14. Reverse Transcription and PCR: Pages 66-70

    • Overview of RT-PCR techniques, their applications in gene expression analysis, and significance in molecular biology studies.

  15. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Pages 73-78

    • Understanding DNA fragment separation techniques, emphasizing methods for interpreting results in genetic analysis.

  16. Quantitative PCR: Pages 81-84

    • Real-time PCR methodologies, underscoring the importance of standard curves for accurate DNA quantification in research applications.