University of the
West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: USSJJW-20-3 Title: Molecular and Microbial Biotechnology Version:
Level: UWE credit rating: ECTS credit rating:
Owning Faculty: Health and Life Sciences Field:
Faculty Committee approval: Q&S Committee (School of Life Sciences) Date: Summer 2009
Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:
Pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Entry Requirements:
Excluded Combinations:
Learning Outcomes:
The student will be able to:
• review the scientific literature relevant to molecular biotechnology;
• gain an understanding of the fundamentals of molecular biotechnology;
• critically appraise the potential of microbes in the biotechnology sector in diagnostics, disease prevention, and therapy; and in deriving commercial products;
• discuss the techniques associated with the generation of transgenic plants and animals and their applications; as well as non-transgenic approaches in animal and plant breeding;
• understand the development and potential applications of biosensing devices;
• understand the potential of biotechnology to impact positively on the environment;
• understand the processes involved in setting up companies in the biotechnology sector; their regulation in the marketplace, and the process of patenting inventions;
• critically discuss bioethical issues associated with modern biotechnology.
Syllabus Outline:
• Fundamentals of Molecular Biotechnology. An introduction to molecular biotechnology. Biological systems in molecular biotechnology. Overview of standard techniques.
• Molecular Biotechnology of Microbial Systems. Molecular diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutic agents. Synthesis of commercial products via natural and recombinant microorganisms. Microbial insecticides. Principles of fermentation.
• Molecular Biotechnology of Eukaryotic Systems. Genetic engineering of plants. Development of transgenic plants and their potential in the agricultural sector. Non-transgenic approaches: marker-assisted plant breeding and QTLs. Genetic engineering of animals. Development of transgenic animals. Biotechnology in biomedicine: drug targeting and gene therapy.
• Biosensors. The structure and development of biosensing devices and the identification of Biomarkers in the biomedical and environmental sectors.
• Enzyme biotechnology. Genetic and protein engineering, development and production of enzymes for use in the biomedical setting, as a molecular biology tool, and in environmental treatment processes.
• Environmental biotechnology. Biofuels and their application. Development of second and third generation biofuels. Bioremediation: the development of microorganisms for remediating contamination.
• Developing, regulating and patenting Molecular Biotechnology. Company foundation and market opportunities. Regulating and patenting biotechnology.
• Biotechnology and bioethics. Ethical issues associated with the ‘exploitation of nature’ in general and with the development of transgenic animals and plants.
Teaching and Learning Methods:
Delivery of the material in this module will involve a mixture of lectures, tutorials and student-centred skill development exercises. The emphasis throughout will be on the acquisition and development of the knowledge and skills required in a research scientist interested in molecular biotechnology.
The Oral Presentation will be an assessed seminar and will take place in Semester one. The detailed Case Study (2000 words) will take place in the Second Semester – when the students have received the full complement of lectures and tutorials and are best positioned to apply their knowledge.
Reading Strategy:
All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify such resources effectively.
Any essential reading will be indicated clearly, along with the method for accessing it, e.g. students may be expected to purchase a set text, be given or sold a print study pack or be referred to texts that are available electronically, etc. This guidance will be available either in the module handbook, via the module information on Blackboard or through any other vehicle deemed appropriate by the module/programme leaders.
If further reading is expected, this will be indicated clearly. If specific texts are listed, a clear indication will be given regarding how to access them and, if appropriate, students will be given guidance on how to identify relevant sources for themselves, e.g. through use of bibliographical databases.
Indicative Reading List:
Periodicals; e.g. Nature Biotechnology; The Economist, New Scientist;
The internet: various appropriate websites.
Molecular Biotechnology: Principles & Applications for Recombinant DNA, 3rd Ed. Glick & Pasternak,ASM Press, 3rd Ed 2003.
Molecular Biotechnology: Principles & Practices. Channarayappa. Lavoisier 2007.
An Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology: Molecular Fundamentals, Methods and Applications in Modern Biotechnology. Wink (Editor). Wiley 2006.
Molecular Biotechnology. Primrose. Blackwell 2006.
Genomics – Applications in Human Biology. Primrose & Twyman. Blackwell Publishing 2004.
Bioethics – an Introduction for the Biosciences. Ben Mepham 2nd Ed, Oxford University Press 2008.
Introduction to Bioethics. Bryant, Baggot la Velle & Searle. Wiley 2005.
Assessment:
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 60% B: 40%
FIRST ATTEMPT
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)
Description of each element (within Component)
Component B Element Wt (Ratio)
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Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes )
Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)
Description of each element (within Component)
EX3 |
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Component B Element Wt (Ratio)
Description of each element (within Component)
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SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes .
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)