| CODE | BIO3040 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Biotechnology 1 | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Biology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | 1. General introduction of biotechnology 2. Animal call and tissue: techniques and applications 3. Plant cell and tissue culture: techniques and applications 4. Animal models, clones, transgenic animals, monoclonal antibodies 5. Vaccines: principles, formulation and applications with particular reference to genetically engineered vaccines 6. Intellectual property, risks and regulations in Biotechnology 7. Screening of natural products for antimicrobial activity 8. Application of microbial cultures for production of high value therapeutics 9. Application of microbial cultures for biotransformation 10. Bioremediation Practicals: 1. Handling adherent and suspension cell cultures 2. Bioactivity screening using cell cultures 3. Micro Propagation possibly at Micropropagation Centre 4. Antimicrobial screening Important note: Students are to note that for assessment purpose, the practical component of this study-unit is compulsory and non-compensatable. This means that no grade will be awarded for this study-unit, unless they attend all practical sessions and unless their average mark for the practical reports is a minimum of 45%. Furthermore, students are informed that regular lecture attendance is obligatory. A grade may be awarded to a particular study-unit only if the student's attendance to lectures and practical sessions has been regular. Study-unit Aims: This study unit deals with the basic aspects of Biotechnology and intends to expose the students to the important concept of the application of the biological characteristics of the microbes which would have been comprehensively covered in the study unit Microbial Diversity in the fields of human medicine, veterinary sciences, fisheries and crop production. The aim is to give the students a sound theoretical background in these emerging technologies and more importantly to allow them to get first hand practical experience through practical sessions and industrial visits. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Describe and appreciate at an introductory level the depth and scope of different fields of biotechnology as well as their applications. • Describe and understand the underlying biology to key biotechnological processes ranging from animal cell culture and plant cell culture and how these can be applied to the production of high value products. • Describe and understand how the unique properties of microbes can be harnessed into beneficial biotechnological processes with high economic returns including single cell protein, high value therapeutics, vaccines, bioremediation and biotransformation. • Appreciate the huge potential associated with the study and screening of natural products for application in different fields including medicine. • Appreciate the complexity of risks, regulations and IP rights associated with biotechnology • Appreciate at first hand some fairly sophisticated biotechnological processes in terms of design and/or execution. • Have a good feel of the commercial biotechnology activities and the operation of some specialised firms operating in Malta and abroad. • Appreciate the relevance of this unit to future employment in this industry which is becoming a major employer for biology graduates. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (1) Critically appraise different points of view when explaining related biotechnology processes. (2) Explain complex processes by starting from the basic principles of science applied to biotechnology. (3) Identify a number of biotechnology processes that have a particular local nature and potential for application. (4) Critically appraise and interpret data in the published literature related to particular aspects of the study unit. (5) Carry out a range of core practicals that will familiarise students with the strict executions of protocols and techniques associated with this discipline. (6) Work as part of a team and apply collaborative skills to solve problems or complete laboratory exercises (7) Organise and interpret data collected from lab-based experiments or field work and communicate these findings in a written form or verbal interview. (8) Acquire the necessary handling and knowledge skills that allow students to work with competence and with a high degree of flexibility in biotechnology companies both in Malta and elsewhere Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: DEMAIN, A. L. (Editor) (2008) Biotechnology for Beginners, Elsevier, Amsterdam. RATLEDGE, C and KRISTIANSEN, B (2006) /Basic Biotechnology (3rd Edition). Cambridge University Press, UK. BARNUM, S. R. (2005) Biotechnology, An Introduction. (2 Edn),Thompson, Brooks & Cole, UK. SLATER, A., SCOTT, N. W. and FOWLER, M. R. (2008) Plant Biotechnology – the genetic manipulation of plants. (2nd edition) Oxford University Press, UK. GLICK, B.R. and PASTERNAK, J.J. (1998) Molecular Biotechnology. ASM Press 2nd Edn. ACQUAAH, G. Understanding Biotechnology. An integrated and cyber-based approach (2004) Pearson Prentice Hall. THIEMAN, W.J. and PALLADINO, M.A. Introduction to Biotechnology. (2004) Pearson Benjamin Cummings. BAINS, W. Biotechnology from A to Z. (1998) Oxford University Press. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-Requisite: B.Sc. (Hons) 1st Year and 2nd Year Study-Units or equivalent Students are to note that they will be allowed to sit for this study-unit examination and will be awarded a grade only if they have regularly attended lectures and practical classes, if they have submitted any assignments, including practical reports and if they satisfy all other study-unit requirements. Please note that a pass in the Practical component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Nana Adoma Janet Attard Claire Baluci Joseph Buhagiar Marisa Cassar Ruth Guillaumier Marco Iannaccone |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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