Experimental Techniques in Biomedicine II
Code: 107964Credits: 3
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Sciences | OB | 2 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Elisenda Sanz Iglesias
- Email :
- elisenda.sanz@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Marcel Jimenez Farrerons
- Elisenda Alari Pahissa
- Teresa Anglada Pons
- Laura Tusell Padros
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Objectives
This course is taught in the Degree in Biomedical Sciences and is part of subject area 13, Methods in Biomedicine. It is a compulsory second-year course, taught in the second semester, worth 3 ECTS credits. It is taught to a group of approximately 60 students.
The course combines theoretical content and classroom practical sessions. The subject area Methods in Biomedicine aims to strengthen the experimental nature of biomedicine and its interdisciplinary approach by providing the theoretical foundations of the techniques and the criteria for their application.
An important aspect that determines the objectives and contents of the course is the existence of the previous course Experimental Techniques in Biomedicine I, taught in the first semester. The two courses are complementary and, together, cover techniques based on chemical, biological and physical principles that future researchers or professionals in the biomedical field need to know and be able to apply.
Experimental Techniques in Biomedicine II focuses on advanced techniques in cell biology, immunology, physiology and neuroscience, with particular emphasis on cellular and animal models, high-resolution technologies, the study of immune function and the functional analysis of the nervous system.
The general objective is for students to understand the principles and applications of the main experimental techniques used in current biomedical research, and to be able to select them and interpret their results according to the experimental question. This objective can be specified as follows:
- To acquire and understand the theoretical basis of cellular, immunological, physiological and neuroscientific techniques used in biomedicine.
- To understand the application of these techniques in biomedical and translational research contexts.
- To relate each technique to the type of experimental question, the biological model and the necessary controls.
- To promote students’ capacity for self-learning and critical analysis of scientific literature and experimental data.
- To increase students’ interest in the technical, methodological and interpretative aspects of biomedical science.
Learning outcomes
- CM28 (Develop personal values and interpersonal skills for working in groups and multidisciplinary teams in bioinformatics.) Develop personal values and interpersonal skills for working in groups and multidisciplinary teams in bioinformatics.
- CM29 (Interpret experimental results in a real-world laboratory or company to prepare and defend academic or professional work in the field of biomedicine.) Interpret experimental results in a real-world laboratory or company to prepare and defend academic or professional work in the field of biomedicine.
- KM36 (Describe the main research techniques used in the biomedical sciences.) Describe the main research techniques used in the biomedical sciences.
- KM37 (Describe the fundamentals of the analytical methodology used in the diagnosis of diseases.) Describe the fundamentals of the analytical methodology used in the diagnosis of diseases.
Contents
The content is structured into 3 thematic blocks:
Block 1. Techniques in Cell Biology
6 h of theory and 3 h of classroom practical sessions
-Cellular models in biomedical research.
-Advanced optical microscopy applied to cellular models.
-High-resolution cellular characterisation technologies: single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spectral cytometry, single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF), single-cell mass spectrometry applied to proteomics and metabolomics, and spatial transcriptomics.
-Use of model organisms in biomedical research: mouse (Mus musculus), zebrafish, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the chicken embryo, and Xenopus spp.
Block 2. Techniques in Immunology
4 h of theory and 2 h of classroom practical sessions.
-Isolation and culture of immune cells and in vitro assays of immune function: phagocytosis, cytokine production, proliferation, cytotoxicity and regulation.
-Study of HLA peptidomes; detection and characterisation of specific T and B lymphocytes; characterisation of T and B lymphocyte repertoires.
-In vivo models of immune function: transgenic mice for T Cell Receptor (TCR) or B Cell Receptor (BCR), knock-out models for immune genes, adoptive transfer and bone marrow chimeras.
-Immunological techniques applied to the clinic: detection of autoantibodies, immunodeficiencies and haematological diseases; study of blood groups and immunological risk in transplantation.
Block 3. Techniques in Physiology and Neuroscience
8 h of theory and 3 h of classroom practical sessions.
-Electrophysiology: patch-clamp, extracellular recordings and electroencephalography (EEG).
-Neuroimaging: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET).
-Genetically modified mouse models: transgenic, knock-in, constitutive and conditional knock-out models, Cre-Lox system, reporter animals, circuit mapping and tissue clearing techniques.
-Manipulation of neuronal circuits: optogenetics and chemogenetics.
-Study of neuronal activity in vivo: in vivo calcium imaging with GCaMPs and fiber photometry.
-Behavioural tests: motor, memory and innate behaviour tests.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory classes | 18 | 0.72 | KM36, KM37 |
| Seminars | 8 | 0.32 | CM28, CM29, KM36, KM37 |
| Study | 43 | 1.72 | CM28, CM29, KM36, KM37 |
The methodology combines lectures with classroom practical sessions (seminars).
Theory classes introduce the foundations, instrumentation, applications and limitations of each technique. In some topics, examples, problems or experimental cases will be addressed alongside the theoretical concepts in order to facilitate understanding.
Classroom practical sessions focus on the analysis and critical discussion of scientific articles, experimental data and methodological situations related to the techniques described.
Depending on the needs arising during the development of the course, tutorials will be scheduled to discuss specific aspects of the subject.
Where appropriate, active methodologies, such as case-based learning and the critical discussion of scientific articles, will be used to promote student participation and the integration of methodological knowledge.
In the selection of examples and materials, efforts will be made to incorporate the gender perspective and to highlight diverse contributions in the field of biomedical research.
Restricted use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies: For this course, the use of AI technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered a breach of academic honesty and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grade for the activity, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.
Note: 15 minutes of one class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the centre/degree programme, for students to complete the surveys evaluating the teaching staff’s performance and the course.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam of theory 2nd partial | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | KM36, KM37 |
| Exam of theory 1st partial | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | KM36, KM37 |
| PAUL assessment | 20% | 2 | 0.08 | CM28, CM29, KM36, KM37 |
This course only provides for the continuous assessment system. This course does not provide for the single assessment system.
-Continuous assessment consists of two partial multiple-choice exams assessing the contents of the entire theoretical programme of the course, and the assessment of the activities corresponding to the classroom practical sessions (PAUL).
-Each partial exam will account for 50% of the theory grade. The two partial exams may be averaged when the grade for each partial exam is equal to or higher than 4.5. This theoretical component accounts for 80% of the final grade of the course and must be passed with a grade equal to or higher than 5.0 in order to calculate the weighted average with the grade for the classroom practical sessions (PAUL). These partial exams have a retake option.
-The assessment of the classroom practical sessions (PAUL) accounts for 20% of the final grade of the course. It does not have a minimum grade and cannot be retaken.
-Students are not allowed to improve the grade of the partial theory exams if they obtain a grade equal to or higher than 5.0.
-To be eligible to take the retake of the multiple-choice tests, students must have previously been assessed in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to at least two thirds of the total grade of the course or module. Therefore, students will receive a grade of “Not assessable” when the assessment activities completed have a weighting of less than 67% of the final grade.
-To pass the course, students must obtain an overall grade equal to or higher than 5 out of 10.
-Students will receive a grade of “Not assessable” when the assessment activities completed have a weighting of less than 67% of the final grade of the course.
-The commission of any irregularity in an assessment activity, including academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course guide, that may lead to a significant change in the grade, means that this assessment activity will be graded with a 0. If the course guide establishes that, in order to pass the course, it is an essential requirement to have obtained a minimum grade in this assessment activity, or if several irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Apart from this, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against the student who commits any of these irregularities.
Bibliography
Block 1. Techniques in Cell Biology
-R.I. Freshney (2016). Culture of Animal Cells: A manual of basic technique and specialized applications. 7th ed. Wiley-Blackwell. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Free access to the 6th ed. (2010) for UAB staff: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9780470649367
-Alberts, B. (2022). Molecular biology of the cell (Seventh edition, international student edition). W. W. Norton & Company.
-Calogero, R. A., & Benes, V. (Eds.). (2023). Single Cell Transcriptomics: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology (Vol. 2584). Springer Nature https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2756-3
-Buzdin, A. (Ed.). (2025). Handbook of Translational Transcriptomics: Research, Protocols and Applications. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2022-0-00593-6
-Hartmann, F. J., & Bendall, S. C. (Eds.). (2019). Mass Cytometry: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology (Vol. 1989). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9454-0
-Ankeny, R. A., & Leonelli, S. (2020). Model Organisms. Cambridge University Press. (Cambridge Elements in the Philosophy of Biology). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108593014
-Carroll, P. M., & Fitzgerald, K. (Eds.). (2005). Model Organisms in Drug Discovery. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/0470014067
Block 2. Techniques in Immunology
-Inmunología Celular y Molecular by A.K. Abbas, A.H. Lichtman and S. Pillai. Elsevier Saunders, 10th edition, (2022). CHAPTER 24. Available online in Spanish at the UAB library (ClinicalKey Student access required).
-Immunology: Overview and Laboratory Manual by Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe, 1st edition (2021). PDF available online in English at the UAB library.
-BOOK CHAPTER: Inmunología clínica. Mancebo, M.E.; Allende, L.M.; Pleguezuelo, D.; Serrano, M.; Melero, I.; Paz-Artal, E.; Yuste, J.R.; Prieto Valtueña, Jesús M.; Yuste Ara, José R. 24th Edition. Balcells. La clínica y el laboratorio, 2024, p.103-149. Available online in Spanish at the UAB library.
Block 3. Techniques in Physiology and Neuroscience
-Carter, M. et al. Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience, 3rd ed. (2022) Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience | ScienceDirect
-Hofker, M. H. & van Deursen, J. Transgenic Mouse Methods and Protocols (2011). Transgenic Mouse Methods and Protocols | Springer Nature Link
-Wahlsten, D. Mouse Behavioral Testing: How to Use Mice in Behavioral Neuroscience (2011). Mouse Behavioral Testing | ScienceDirect
Software
There is no specific compulsory software for this course.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 52 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 521 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 522 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |