Course Title: Applied Biochemical Methods

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Applied Biochemical Methods

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: A/Prof Terrence Piva

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6503

Course Coordinator Email: terry.piva@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.04.14

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email to arrange a time to meet


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study

You should have satisfactorily completed the following courses before you commence this course.

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course.

For information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage.


Course Description

This course will examine modern methods and technologies that are used in biochemical analysis with emphasis on instrumentation, underlying principles, aims, strategies and current applications.  The instrumental techniques covered include the separation and purification of molecules from biological samples, functional genomic assays, mass spectrometry, proteomics, chromatography (including gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography), electrophoresis, as well as an introduction to bioinformatics and enzyme kinetics.  Advances in biochemical research have largely depended on parallel advances in the technology of measuring and observing devices. Knowledge of these devices, new instrumentation methods and the basic principles behind analytical and industrial procedures will assist in general understanding of the equipment selection and an appreciation of good quality assurance and research procedures. 

The theory learned during the semester will be applied in practical classes where these techniques will be used for the analysis of biochemical samples in a laboratory setting.  The combination of learning activities offered in this course is designed to equip graduates with a range of attributes that will give the student strong potential and ability to work equally well in analytical or research laboratories. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for MC111 Master of Biotechnology:  

  • PLO 1: Understanding science; 
  • PLO 2: Advanced skills to critically analyse and solve problems in biotechnology; 
  • PLO 3: Application of knowledge and skills 

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.  


On the successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Critically evaluate the methods and techniques used in the separation, purification, analysis and quantification of molecules (nucleic acids and proteins) in biological samples
  2. Critically review principles that underpin Bioinformatics analyses, and apply these when analysing biological data
  3. Interpret and analyse the biological activity of enzymes
  4. Differentiate instrumentation in the detection and analysis of biological material in a laboratory setting
  5. Analyse and evaluate experimentally derived data and present those results in the form of a rigorous scientific report


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1:Practical reports 
Weighting 40% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3, 4 & 5 

Assessment Task 2:In class timed short answer question assessment task 
Weighting 20% 
This assessment task supports CLO 1 & 4 

Assessment Task 3:Invigilated Timed end of semester short answer question assessment task 
Weighting 40% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 3 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.