Fall 2025 - MBB 309W D100
Biochemistry Laboratory (4)
Class Number: 4679
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Mon, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 11, 2025
Thu, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Irina Kovalyova
ikovalyo@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
MBB 231 with a minimum grade of C.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Contemporary techniques in biochemistry including protein purification, immunochemical methods, and lipid characterization. Writing.
COURSE DETAILS:
The purpose of this W (writing) intensive laboratory course is to introduce students to fundamental techniques used in modern biochemistry and to teach them how to be effective writers. The students will learn the correct format of scientific writing and submit four laboratory reports. In addition to the practical learning in the laboratory, the students will review two current research papers. The lecture component of the course will present background to laboratory experiments and provide additional writing guidance.
2 lecture hours/week; 4 lab hours/for the total of 10 in-person laboratory experiments for the term.
Laboratory Schedule:
- week 1 Buffer preparation
- week 2 Bradford protein assay
- week 3 Immunoprecipitation/SDS-PAGE
- week 4 Western blotting
- week 5 Western blotting (continued) and fluorescence microscopy
- week 6 Protein purification (centrifugation/salting out)
- week 7 Protein purification (gel filtration chromatography)
- week 8 Protein purification (ion-exchange chromatography)
- week 9 Enzyme kinetics
- week 10 Affinity chromatography (part 1)
- week 11 Affinity chromatography (part 2)
- week 12 MALDI-TOF/bioinformatics
The instructor reserves the right to change laboratory schedule without advanced notice.
Grading
- Weekly Quizzes 15%
- Lab Reports 30%
- Critical Reviews 20%
- Lab Work and Notebook 15%
- Final Quiz 20%
NOTES:
To receive credit for this course, students must complete all requirements
Materials
MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:
- Lab coat (required)
- Safety goggles (optional)
- Face mask (required)
RECOMMENDED READING:
Boyer, Rodney. Biochemistry Laboratory: Modern Theory and Techniques. 2nd Ed. Benjamin Cummings: 2012.
Pinker, Steven. The Sense of Style. The thinking person's guide to writing in the 21st century. Viking: 2014.
ISBN: 978-0-670-02585-5
Hacker, Diana, Douglas P. Downs, and Barbara Fister. Canadian Writer’s Reference. Bedford/St. Martins: 2011.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
- For help with writing, learning and study strategies please contact the Student Learning Commons at
http://learningcommons.sfu.ca/ - Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability, must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (778-782-3112 or e-mail: caladmin@sfu.ca)
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.