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BIOL3601: BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 3
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap
Location Durham
Department Biosciences

Prerequisites

  • Level 2 Molecular Biology (BIOL2441); Level 2 Metabolism (BIOL2491).

Corequisites

  • At least one other Level 3 Biological Sciences Module selected from the following list: Advanced Topics in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour BIOL3561, Conservation Biology BIOL3551, Ecology in the Anthropocene BIOL3541, Advanced Topics in Development BIOL3521, Stress and Responses to the Environment BIOL3491, Crops for the Future BIOL3611, Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering BIOL3531, Ageing BIOL3591, Advanced Cell Biology BIOL3481, Biology of Disease BIOL3621, Genomics BIOL3651.

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To describe systems and techniques that are relevant to industrial, pharmaceutical, and research biotechnology.
  • To describe fundamental aspects of cellular biochemistry that are relevant to biotechnology.

Content

  • Macromolecular crowding.
  • Molecular motors.
  • Nucleic acid dynamics and sequencing
  • Recombinant protein production.
  • Protein engineering and forced evolution.
  • Microbial secretion and signalling pathways.
  • Biomolecular interactions
  • The roles of metal ions in proteins.
  • Manipulating the cell biology of metals.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Familiarity with a range of techniques used in modern biotechnology.
  • An holistic knowledge of fundamental cellular biochemistry.
  • An integrated knowledge of how biochemical reactions inside the cell can be manipulated for biotechnological exploitation.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • To show an understanding of molecular and cellular scales in biology.
  • To be able to analyse and explain quantitative data related to cellular biochemistry.
  • To be able to design and analyse biochemical strategies for production of recombinant proteins.
  • To be able to analyse network of metabolic pathways in cells.
  • To be able to explain and analyse nucleic acid structure and dynamics.
  • To be able to explain and analyse mechanisms of metal homeostasis in biological systems.

Key Skills:

  • Literacy, in being able to consult and integrate information from printed and on-line research articles.
  • Data analysis, in interpretation and critical analysis of data relevant to biotechnology and biochemistry.
  • Self-motivation, in self-guided learning.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures deliver subject-specific knowledge.
  • Workshops support the development of key and subject-specific skills.
  • Self-guided learning contributes to subject-specific knowledge and self-motivation.
  • Data Handling Exercises are based on subject-specific knowledge.
  • Unseen examinations demonstrate achievement of the appropriate level of subject-specific knowledge of development, with an emphasis on understanding and communication (essay and problem-based questions).

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures24Weekly2 hours p/w24 
Workshops2Termly2 hour2Yes
Preparation & Reading174 
Total 200 

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Unseen formal exam 2 hours100No

Formative Assessment

2 formative examination exercises of 1 hr each.

More information

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