Department of Biological Sciences, Crystallography, Birkbeck College, University of London |
Aims
For proper understanding of biological function a detailed knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules and their interactions with ligands and the aqueous environment is required. Protein crystallography (or structural molecular biology) is powerful in that it can identify the residues determining substrate specificity and interactions with other macromolecules at the atomic level, allowing the targeting of site-directed mutagenesis experiments and the design of selective inhibitors, so important in industry. Protein crystallography is no longer solely the domain of the mathematician and physicist, but that of the biologically orientated scientist. It is now a very multidisciplinary technique which has overlap with biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, biophysics and organic chemistry. The web course is therefore ideally suited for students of these disciplines who want to know in more detail (mainly non-mathematical) how structures are determined, how the quality of coordinates should be judged, and how crystallographic papers should be assessed. It will also appeal to those who envisage a further career in this exciting and rapidly expanding field, especially also in the pharmaceutical industry.
Course Organisation and Objectives
The Postgraduate Certificate in Protein Crystallography on the Web, is a tutor-assisted, university-level, accredited course, hosted by the Department of Biological Sciences, Crystallography, Birkbeck College. Successful students receive the award of an Institution Certificate.
The course consists of 3 units taught annually. All teaching material will be delivered on the Internet.
Section 1: Fundamentals of Protein Structure and X-Ray Crystallography
This unit has as general objectives
Section 2: Protein Crystallography
This unit has as general objectives
Unit 3: Project (MSc students only)
This unit has as general objective to apply, improve and test the skills learned in units 1 and 2 in a single project
Specific objectives are listed in the syllabus / timetable.
Academic Requirements
The University of London requires as minimum eligibility requirements
BSc or equivalent (for EU or non-EU overseas
students) in computing, mathematics, biology, chemistry or physics.
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for more details.
Technical Requirements
Students will be expected to have a standard PC or workstation
and access to the Internet.
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for more details.
Workload and Course Attendance
Language
The language of the course is English combined with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) for the delivery
and receipt of course material, assignments, and projects.
Course Text Books
Although the course
material is self-contained, it is a
requirement to buy one course text book to have additional support.
Registration does not give entitlement to on-line
journals.
Assessment and Qualification
The course leads to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate from
Birkbeck College, University of London. Each student is
assessed by a combination of the course work assignments submitted in Terms 1 and 2,
the projects
(if applicable) submitted in Term 3
and an unseen final written examination in Term 3.
This year, the exam has been set for the 17th of August
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for more details.
Fees
Current rates can be found on the Protein Crystallography College Website under the heading "Fees and Funding". These vary depending on whether you will be classified as a home/EU or overseas student.
Note that the rules on who qualifies as a Home/EU student are complex. If you are a UK or EU citzen but have lived outside the EU
recently or are an overseas citizen but resident in the UK then you should contact Birkbeck registry by emailing admissions@bbk.ac.uk to check your status.
Course Organiser and Admissions Tutor
Course Tutors
Course Administrator
Technical Consultant
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