Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences

If you are a studying within the biomolecular sciences (including biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology) then this book will be an indispensable companion throughout the whole of your degree programme. It provides effective support for the development of the laboratory and data analysis skills that you will draw on time and again for the practical aspects of your studies, and also gives you a solid grounding in the broader transferable skills which are increasingly necessary to achieve a high level of academic success.

Now in its fourth edition, Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences has been enhanced and updated throughout to provide a complete and easy-to-read guide to developing all of the skills you need from your first day through to graduation, establishing its reputation as the practical resource for students of the biomolecular sciences.

If you are a studying within the biomolecular sciences (including biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, genetics, microbiology and molecular biology) then this book will be an indispensable companion throughout the whole of your degree programme. It provides effective support for the development of the laboratory and data analysis skills that you will draw on time and again for the practical aspects of your studies, and also gives you a solid grounding in the broader transferable skills, which are increasingly necessary to achieve a high level of academic success.

Now in its fourth edition, Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences has been enhanced and updated throughout to provide a complete and easy-to-read guide to developing all of the skills you need from your first day through to graduation, establishing its reputation as the practical resource for students of the biomolecular sciences.

Key features:

• Provides a 'one-stop' guide to the key practical and broader skills needed in biomolecular sciences, including comprehensive coverage of: study and examination skills; fundamental laboratory and analytical skills; investigative techniques and evaluation skills; analysis and presentation of data.
• Contains numerous margin tips and hints, ‘how to’ boxes, checklists and examples.
• Key points highlight the most important features of methodology.
• Includes numerous study exercises, references and sources for further study.

New for this edition:

• New chapters on bioethics and stable isotopes.
• New material on tutorial groups, note-making, effective learning, extended matching item questions, exam skills, use of MSOffice software for academic purposes, academic reasoning, writing project proposals, use of digital photography, and collecting, isolating, identifying and naming microbes.
• Additional ‘how to’ boxes covering: carrying out a skills audit; accommodating different teaching styles; active revision; analysis of literature; carrying out agarose gel electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis.
• Guidance related to MSOffice programs updated to 2010 version throughout.
• Now supported by a Companion Website containing answers to all of the study exercises, live links to additional sources and versions of guidance related to MSOffice 2003.

Rob Reed is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at CQUniversity, Australia.

David Holmes is Assistant Dean of the Keith B.Taylor Global Scholar's Programme at Northumbria University, UK.

Jonathan Weyers is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Dundee, UK.

Allan Jones is Senior Lecturer and Chancellor’s Award Fellow in Ecology, Environmental Science and Zoology at the University of Dundee, UK.