NKEA06015U Crystallography - MSc
MSc Programme in Chemistry
MSc Programme in Biochemistry
MSC Programme in Nanoscience
Crystallography is the main technique by which the three-dimensional structures of molecules are determined. One advantage of crystallography is that similar methods can be used to determine the structure of molecules ranging in size from just a few atoms to the size of ribosomal particle (in the MDa range).
The aim of this course is to provide the student with fundamental knowledge about the crystallographic methods used to determine the structure of crystalline materials, especially single crystals of bio-macromolecules and small molecules, covering the main aspects of chemical and macromolecular crystallography from crystallization to structure validation.
Considerable weight is given to the practical part, in which the students will gain experience in structure determination and the use of structural databases, through laboratory and computer-based practical classes and an individual research-based project. The students will be trained in critical reading of original articles and written presentation of own results on structure determination by X-ray crystallography, in particular through writing of a report on their individual project.
Competencies
The students must be able to
- Plan and carry out a small crystallographic project within given constraints of time and resources
- Analyze standard crystallographic data
- Evaluate structural models derived from crystallographic data (e.g. from structural databases)
- Evaluate and discuss the quality of crystallographic data and the derived structural information from literature and scientific databases
Skills
The student must be able to:
- plan and set up crystallization experiments
- process and determine crystallographic space groups from diffraction data
- determine crystallographic structures
- read and critically evaluate original articles and literature in the field
- make use of crystal structure databases for structural comparison and to evaluate structure quality
- undertake, with some guidance, their own small crystallographic project, including design, performance, interpretation of experiments and written communication of used methods, results and discussion of significance
Knowledge
The students must demonstrate knowledge of:
- Crystallization and diffraction theory
- Crystal symmetry
- Crystallographic structure determination methods
- Structure validation
In 2015 we have used the following textbooks – however they may be subject to change so please check with the responsible teacher or on Absalon before buying: W. Massa, Crystal structure determination 2nd edition 2004 (chemical crystallography), Springer-Verlag ISBN: 3-540-20644-2; D. Blow, Outline of Crystallography for Biologists, 2002, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 0-19-851051-9. Additional notes, reviews and articles will be available on Absalon.
It's not possible to take this course if you already have taken Crystallography-BSc
- Category
- Hours
- Colloquia
- 8
- Exam
- 25
- Excursions
- 6
- Guidance
- 3
- Lectures
- 24
- Practical exercises
- 18
- Preparation
- 100
- Project work
- 12
- Theory exercises
- 10
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignment, A report on the project is submitted on a given date towards the end of the courseOral examination, 20-30 min under invigilationThe course will be evaluated through a written report on the individual project (with a weight of 30%) and an oral exam covering the content of the course (with a weight of 70 %)
- Exam registration requirements
The students must have actively participated in the practical classes (80% compulsory attendance) and written in groups short reports describing the results from their experiments. Up to five group reports must be satisfactorily completed before the final exam.
- Aid
- Only certain aids allowed
The students are allowed to look briefly at short lists of key points they may have prepared at home, once they find out what main topics are to be covered in their oral examination (lottery drawn). They are also allowed to look up information in appropriate tables in the textbooks or International tables provided at the oral exam. No other aids are allowed.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
- Exam period
several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Re-examination takes the same form of the ordinary exam. A new project report can be handed it.
All practical reports must be handed in. If the student has not participated in 80% of practical classes, they will have to complete the practical work primarily as self-study. If the student has not completed the practical project work, this will have to be primarily completed as self-study. Only minimal supervision can be expected and only when justified by safety considerations.
Criteria for exam assesment
See 'målbeskrivelser'
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NKEA06015U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2
- Schedule
- CA few hours of the course may be scheduled outside group C after agreement with the students
- Course capacity
- 15
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Physics, Chemistry and Nanoscience
Contracting department
- Department of Chemistry
Course responsibles
- Leila Lo Leggio (5-726b6f726746696e6b7334717b346a71)
Lecturers
Leila Lo Leggio, leila@chem.ku.dk
Anders Kadziola, kadziola@chem.ku.dk
Anders Ø Madsen, madsen@chem.ku.dk