Module Details
| Module Code: |
CHEM8008 |
| Title: |
Specialist Topics
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Long Title:
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Specialist Topics : Immunoassays, Philosophy of Science
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| NFQ Level: |
Advanced |
| Valid From: |
Semester 1 - 2019/20 ( September 2019 ) |
| Field of Study: |
4421 - Chemistry
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| Module Description: |
This module presents material in two sections: Immunoassays, and The Philosophy of Science. The Immunoassay component deals with the working of the immune system and its use for the measurement of various analytes, with particular reference to the analytical use of antibodies and the precision of these methods. The Philosophy of Science component describes and evaluates the scientific method and the origins and development of science from early times, and addresses theories of ethics relating to moral aspects of science.
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| Learning Outcomes |
| On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to: |
| # |
Learning Outcome Description |
| LO1 |
Outline how antibodies produced by the immune system can be used in diagnostic screening assays for the measurement and monitoring of various analytes |
| LO2 |
Design and validate an immunoassay method for the measurement of a particular analyte in an environmental or clinical sample |
| LO3 |
Identify the key historical periods in the intellectual development of western science |
| LO4 |
Compare and contrast differing accounts of the scientific method |
| LO5 |
Recognise and apply a range of ethical principles as they relate to various controversial issues in science |
| Dependencies |
Module Recommendations
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
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Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
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| No incompatible modules listed |
Co-requisite Modules
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| No Co-requisite modules listed |
Requirements
This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
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| No requirements listed |
| Indicative Content |
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Immunoassays Component
n/a
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Antigens and Antibodies.
Detail of structure, composition and production.
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Immunoassay Design and Optimisation.
n/a
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Evaluation and Validation of Immunoassays.
Measurement of the Precision and Accuracy of newly designed method.
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Immunoassay Types.
Enzyme-Immunoassays, Radio-Immunoassays, Fluro-Immunoassays and Chemiluminescent Immunoassays.
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Philosophy of Science Component
n/a
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History of science
Axial period in world history; transition from myth to logos; Pre-Socratics - Pythagoras, Hereclitus, Atomism; Plato and Aristotle; the scientific revolution in the 17c; empiricism and rationalism; the contributions of Francis Bacon, Galileo, Descartes, Newton.
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Scientific method
Common sense view of science; inductivism; demarcation of science from non-science; scientific knowledge as cumulative; observation and experiment as foundation of science; the problem of induction; the observation/theory distinction; Popper's Conjecture and Refutation; Kuhn's theory of scientific revolutions.
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Ethics
Two major ethical systems outlined - deontology and utilitarianism; duties; rights; responsibilities; conflicts between rights and between rights and utility; applying ethical principles to issues such as: stem-cell research; cloning; genetic engineering.
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Module Content & Assessment
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| Assessment Breakdown | % |
|---|
| Coursework | 40.00% |
| End of Module Formal Examination | 60.00% |
Assessments
| End of Module Formal Examination |
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| Reassessment Requirement |
Repeat examination
Reassessment of this module will consist of a repeat examination. It is possible that there will also be a requirement to be reassessed in a coursework element.
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The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment
Module Workload
| Workload: Full Time |
| Workload Type |
Contact Type |
Workload Description |
Frequency |
Average Weekly Learner Workload |
Hours |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Philosophy of Science |
Every Week |
2.00 |
2 |
| Lecture |
Contact |
Immunoassays |
Every Week |
1.25 |
1.25 |
| Lab |
Contact |
Immunoassays Practical (3 x 3hr) |
Every Month |
0.75 |
3 |
| Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) |
Non Contact |
Personal study |
Every Week |
3.00 |
3 |
| Total Hours |
9.25 |
| Total Weekly Learner Workload |
7.00 |
| Total Weekly Contact Hours |
4.00 |
| This module has no Part Time workload. |
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Module Resources
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| Recommended Book Resources |
|---|
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A. F. Chalmers. (1999), What is this thing called science?, Third edition. University of Queensland Press, St. Lucia, Qld., [ISBN: 978 0 7022 3093 6].
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David Wild. (2005), Immunoassay handbook, Third Edition. Elsevier, [ISBN: 9780080445267].
| | Supplementary Book Resources |
|---|
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Thomas S. Kuhn. (1996), The structure of scientific revolutions, Third Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL, [ISBN: 978-0226458083].
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Karl Popper. (2002), The logic of scientific discovery, Second Edition. Routledge, [ISBN: 0-415-27844-9].
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John Losee. (2001), A historical introduction to the philosophy of science, Fourth Edition. Oxford University Press, [ISBN: 978-0198700555].
| | This module does not have any article/paper resources |
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| This module does not have any other resources |
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