Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)
Module BIOL3511: Biotechnology
Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
BIOL3511: Biotechnology
| Type | Tied | Level | 3 | Credits | 20 | Availability | Available in 2010/11 | Module Cap | None. | Location | Durham |
|---|
| Tied to | CC77 |
|---|---|
| Tied to | C701 |
| Tied to | FGC0 |
Prerequisites
- Biochemistry AND Molecular Biology.
Corequisites
- At least one other Level 3 Biology module.
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None.
Aims
- To understand the processes of recombinant protein production on an industrial scale.
- To understand concepts of plant genetic engineering.
- To realise the potential of metabolic engineering of key pathways in microbes and eukaryotes.
Content
- Expression systems and protein engineering.
- Plant transformation and applications.
- Crop biotechnology (disease protection herbicides, biofuels)
- Bacterial transporters and signalling pathways: targets for antimicrobial drugs and use as biosensors.i.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Ability to explain the strategies used for recombinant protein production.
- Describe the techniques used in plant transformation and understand their application.
- Evaluate metabolic pathways as potential targets for biotechnological intervention.
- Evaluate components of bacterial transporters and signalling pathways for use as biosensors or targets for atimicrobial agents.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Students will learn the basis of transformation.
- Production of recombinant proteins.
- Appreciation of the steps needed to use biotechnology to improve plants and microbes for industrial application.
Key Skills:
- Extract, compile and review relevant scientific information from various sources and evaluate them critically.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures, Unseen exam and Data handling.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 40 | Weekly | 1 hour | 40 | |
| Preparation & reading | 160 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Examination | Component Weighting: 90% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Unseen formal examination | 3 hours | 100% | |
| Component: Continuous Assessment | Component Weighting: 10% | ||
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Data handling | 100% | ||
Formative Assessment:
None.
■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University