Biochemistry Lab Sessions

This course unit enables students to consolidate and deepen their understanding of the practical management of large amounts of experimental data collected during a one-week block of lab work (5 consecutive days). This data is collected through the implementation of numerous different protocols, with a focus on ensuring the best possible reproducibility of the experiments and maximizing efficiency in the preparation, execution, and analysis of the various experiments. A high degree of autonomy in setting up the protocols will be encouraged, ultimately leading to experimental proficiency and independence. These lab sessions also provide opportunities for group work (in pairs or groups of three, depending on facility capacity and class size) and for writing a report that thoroughly documents the protocols carried out, all experimental data obtained, and their analyses in order to determine a wide range of biochemical parameters. A significant portion of the evaluation will be based on the students’ ability to generate, manage, utilize, and analyze raw experimental data with the utmost rigor.

- Knowledge:

-The ability to quickly set up and develop a reliable experimental protocol.

-Master the methods for preparing reagents and setting up experiments to ensure the highest level of experimental reproducibility.

-Analyze, interpret, and maintain an objective perspective on the relevance of the raw data obtained.

-Be able to link the results obtained to potential practical shortcomings in order to make relevant improvements to subsequent experiments.

-Develop greater independence in conducting experiments.

-Be able to write a clear, precise, rigorous, analytical, and critical experimental report.

 -Expertise:

-Understand the experimental and practical constraints involved in obtaining a set of raw data that must be analyzed over a relatively long period (several consecutive days).

-Apply the utmost rigor to the creation and analysis of a diverse and varied dataset.

-Take an objective and critical look at your results and conclusions.

-Be able to work as part of a team.

 -Interpersonal skills:

-Be able to independently develop a clear and rigorous experimental protocol.

-Be able to handle a wide range of experimental results by approaching them objectively.