Course 2024-2025

Ultracentrifugation [MBIMB301]

  • 2 credits
  • 15h+5h
  • 2nd quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

Within the study program in biomedical sciences, the ultracentrifugation course contrbutes to learning how :

  • to master the elements of biology, chemistry and physics essential to acquire an interdisciplinary knowledge of the human organism;
  • to use the basic techniques associated with biomedical research;
  • to master the use of analysis and measurement equipment;
  • to acquire and demonstrate autonomy and critical thinking skills;
  • to master the scientific aspect of disease;
  • to analyze concrete questions with rigor;
  • to acquire scientific knowledge by following a teaching in English (at least partly) and to master specific vocabulary in English;
  • to participate, in future research projects, to the developement of new diagnostic, therapeutic and/or preventive approaches.
Learning outcomes specific to the Ultracentrifugation course:

The student will

- understand the theoretical concepts of centrifugation protocols used in the field of biomedical sciences

- know how to use these theoretical concepts to set up or adapt a centrifugation protocol

- be able to interpret the behavior of different types of biological material subjected to a centrifugation protocol

 

Objectives

At the end of the teaching unit, the student will be able to
- state, describe, present, summarize and apply the main principles of analytical centrifugation
- identify the parameters that control particle sedimentation when a centrifugal field is applied under various experimental conditions, and use these parameters to establish a centrifugation protocol, as well as to extrapolate and compare changes in particle behavior
- analyze and interpret the behavior of proteins, protein complexes, lipids, vesicles, organelles or cells under various centrifugal conditions and in physiological or pathological situations.
- calculate the centrifugal speeds and forces required to separate mixtures of cells, organelles or molecules.
- select, with arguments, optimal centrifugation conditions for a given application
- adapt a centrifugation protocol to obtain unchanged sedimentation behavior, when constraints require modification of a parameter (time, speed, rotor type, etc.)
- be able to express the results of analytical centrifugation, particularly graphically
- understand and manipulate scientific concepts taught in English
- be able to write an answer to a scientific question in English (students are encouraged to achieve this objective by being awarded a bonus point for answering in English a question written in English during assessments; see "Assessment methods" section).
 
 

Content

Ultracentrifugation is one of the most widely used research techniques in the life sciences, including biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology and medical diagnostics. In this course, we'll look at the main principles governing the use of centrifugation, through theoretical concepts and the study of certain practical applications, particularly in the analytical field. We'll see that ultracentrifugation can contribute to obtaining results that go far beyond the simple separation of a pellet from a supernatant.


Prerequisites

Cytologie [SVETB112]

Teaching methods

- Ex-cathedra lessons, power points, blackboard and exercises. Part of the course will be taught in English.
- One practical session 
 
 

Evaluations

Written examination with open questions.
Subject of assessment: material taught during the course and during the practical session. The assessment may include one or more exercises.
The assessment will include questions in French and one or more questions in English. The latter will relate to the part of the course taught in English. The student will have the choice of answering them in French or in English. A bonus will be awarded if the answer is judged to be correct and clearly and comprehensibly written in English. The bonus will correspond to 1/4 of the points awarded for the student's answer to the question in English. For example, the bonus will be 1 point if the question is marked out of 4 and the answer is judged to be correct, complete and correctly written in English. If the answer is incomplete and a mark of 2/4 is awarded for its content, the "language" bonus will correspond to 0.5 points (1/4 of the mark). If the answer is incorrect (0/4), no bonus will be awarded.

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de médecine
rue de Bruxelles
61
5000 NAMUR
P. 081724347
F. 081724327
administration-medecine@unamur.be

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree