Advanced Topics in Biological Sciences

Overview

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: to be confirmed
• Assessment: two annotated bibliographies (10% each), a group oral presentation and reflections on teamwork (40%) and a 1500-word research summary assignment (40%)

Module description

In this module you will have an opportunity to apply the considerable background knowledge of chemical, molecular and cell biology, protein science and enzymology and genetics, acquired in earlier modules, and expand upon this. You will also have the chance to complete an assessment of innovation built across a number of modules.

In groups you will present a Dragon's Den-style business proposal to raise money for a stage of development of a new protein or biological system aimed at tackling a current problem in biochemistry or a related area.

Indicative syllabus

• The development of drug and vaccine delivery systems
• Tissue engineering to repair damaged organs
• Engineering yeasts to produce more sustainable foodstuffs

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• summarise examples where protein engineering, synthetic biology and/or related biotechnology approaches have been used to tackle problems related to, for example, health, financial or environmental concerns
• closely examine current primary literature of relevance to the understanding and/or application of selected approaches using protein engineering, synthetic biology and/or biotechnology, and provide coherent analyses of this literature in writing
• critically evaluate ethical issues relevant to case studies and report in writing on the findings
• understand the bioscience industry and stages and path(s)to a commercial product.