BIOL40515: Technology in the Biosciences

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• 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.

• 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

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

• 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 complete a lab book with coverage of lab methods and results (assignment), and a poster explaining the theory, practice and applications of a technique of their choosing. In addition lab performance (practical) will be assessed through evaluation of attendance, punctuality, teamwork, experimental planning and recording.

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

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