Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025
Module BIOL40515: Technology in the Biosciences
Department: Biosciences
BIOL40515: Technology in the Biosciences
| Type | Tied | Level | 4 | Credits | 15 | Availability | Available in 2024/2025 | Module Cap | None. |
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| Tied to | C2K009 |
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Prerequisites
- None
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combination of Modules
- None
Aims
- To provide an overview of recent technological developments and their application to the Biosciences.
- To develop an understanding of the theoretical aspects and practical skills underpinning technological advances in the Biosciences.
- To provide an overall appreciation of the strategies and technologies employed in the Biosciences and their translation to support plant science, plant biotechnology and agriculture.
Content
- Seminars on current advances in the Biosciences including cell transformation, gene cloning, gene expression systems, genetic modification and bioimaging.
- Laboratory workshops linked to the seminar topics to provide practical experience in these molecular technologies
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Understanding of how new technologies are being applied in basic research.
- An understanding of a range of lab-based techniques including advanced microscopy and key molecular biology skills.
Subject-specific Skills:
- To be able to carry out key molecular biology technical skills.
- To work effectively in a group to plan and design experiments.
- To accurately record experimental data, draw conclusions and present results in both lab book and poster format.
- To be able to integrate information from different sources (seminars, scientific literature, lab experiments) to understand the application of technology in the Biosciences.
- To evaluate and discuss technological advances and their application in the Biosciences.
- 8 seminars will be delivered over the 3 weeks of the module and students will have the opportunity to engage with the speakers. Students will attend 3 lab sessions per week, for 3 weeks. The lab sessions are organised as workshops where students will perform group activities in a dynamic format. Three tutorial sessions will take place at the end of each week.
Key Skills:
- Literacy, in being able to consult and extract information from printed and on-line materials.
- Critical thinking relevant to technology in the biosciences (e.g. assessment of primary literature).
- Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.
- Time management and planning.
- Teamwork
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Seminars and associated lab-based workshops deliver subject-specific knowledge and support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
- Lab-based practical sessions deliver subject-specific practical skills.
- Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
- To assess the student understanding of the theoretical and technical aspects of the technologies and their application, the students will submit a completed lab book. a poster explaining the theory, practice and applications of a technique of their choosing. In addition lab performance will be assessed.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total/Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminars | 8 | 3 per week | 2 hours | 16 | |
| Lab Practicals/Workshops | 9 | 3 days per week | 7 hours per day | 63 | ■ |
| Mentor / group feedback surgeries | 3 | Daily 3 per week | 1 hour/group | 3 | |
| Preparation and reading | 68 | ||||
| Total | 150 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Coursework | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Lab Book [Comprehensive coverage of lab methods and results. Handwritten, with illustrations and photos (as appropriate)] | Maximum 50 A4 pages | 40% | |
| Lab Performance [Attendance, punctuality, teamwork, experimental planning and recording will be assessed.] | 20% | ||
| Poster [A3 online poster to communicate visually a chosen technology; the methodology and applications.] | 40% | ||
Formative Assessment:
Formative feedback on a draft poster plan Formative verbal feedback on lab performance Formative verbal feedback on lab book presentation
■ 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