Module BIOL40515: Technology in the Biosciences

Department: Biosciences

BIOL40515: Technology in the Biosciences

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	4	15	Available in 2026/2027	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

None

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combinations

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 experiments 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.

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 deliver subject-specific knowledge and support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
Lab-based practical sessions deliver subject-specific practical skills.
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. During the lab sessions, students will perform group activities in a dynamic format. A tutorial will take place at the end of each week.
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 complete a lab book journal with coverage of lab methods and results, and a poster explaining the theory, practice and applications of a technique of their choosing. In addition lab performance will be assessed through teacher review of attendance, punctuality, teamwork, experimental planning and recording.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Seminars	8	3 per week	2 hours	16
Practicals	9	3 days per week	7 hours per day	63	Yes
Tutorials	3	Daily 3 per week	1 hour/group	3
Preparation and Reading				68
Total				150

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting
Coursework	100%	Notebook Journal	Maximum 50 A4 pages	40%
		Teacher-Supervisor Review		20%
		Poster		40%

Formative Assessment

Formative feedback on a draft poster plan Formative verbal feedback on lab performance Formative verbal feedback on lab book presentation

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.