BIOTECHNOLOGY

Credit Points

10

Course Coordinator

Dr H M Wallace / Professor AJR Porter

Pre-requisites

Only available to students in the College of Life Sciences and Medicine.

Notes

This course will be additional to the 120 credits required for the current degree programme. Although a level 1 course this will be available to level 2 students also.

Overview

A series of lectures and tutorials will cover the "language" of bio-business using a number of real case studies from companies in the medical sciences space. E.G. What is a company? What is management? How do markets work? Decision making process.

Assessment 1: Students will prepare a presentation in small groups that describes a medical science technology company of their choice. The emphasis within the presentation will be to "sell" the commercial entity concentrating on explaining the business model of the chosen business.

Assessment 2: One 2,000 word essay. Title will be in the area of competitor analysis of a particular clinical indication.

Assessment 3: Students will prepare a presentation that describes a life science technology of their choice. The emphasis within the presentation will be to "sell" the commercial opportunity offered by the chosen technology rather than simply a delivery of the science.

Structure

Lectures 10 x 1 hour; Tutorials (to be arranged) 5 x 1 hour; group working - 5 hours.

Assessment

1st Attempt: continuous assessment 100%: group presentation (30% + 30%), essay (40%).

Resit: 2 hour examination.

Credit Points

5

Course Coordinator

Dr A Carrington

Pre-requisites

Only available to Programme Year 3 students taking one of the School of Medical Sciences' Degree Programmes.

Overview

The course extols the benefits of the industrial placement year and the importance of career planning. Workshops focus on CV construction, covering letter preparation, completing standard application forms and good interview technique. The course will prepare students for the workplace by developing general employment skills and by helping students identify their own transferable skills. The course is a pre-requisite for all students wishing to undertake an industrial placement year and is strongly recommended as part of career development for all other Medical Science students.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture or workshop per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Completing a standard application form (60%), writing a covering letter (40%).

Resit: Completing a standard application form (60%), writing a covering letter (40%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr K Shennan

Pre-requisites

BI 2002, BI 20M3 and BI 25M5. BI 25M1 strongly recommended.

Overview

This course describes and explains the theory and practice of the ‘tool kit’ that modern molecular biology uses to derive information about how biological systems function and interact. Detailing a wide and comprehensive range of molecular techniques, the material leads from basic molecular biology and the manipulation of DNA and RNA, through gene cloning and gene expression analysis, to studies of the function of genes and their protein products. This is followed by a consideration of the study of proteins themselves, together with their properties. Finally, the use of antibodies as molecular tools is considered.

Structure

4 one-hour lectures, 6 three-hour practicals and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of a laboratory report and a laboratory-related exercise. Oral examination for borderline candidates. Students must pass both the coursework and examination parts of the course.

Resit: 1 three-hour examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%) consisting of a laboratory report and a laboratory-related exercise. Oral examination for borderline candidates. Students must pass both the coursework and examination parts of the course.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor A Porter / Dr HM Wallace

Pre-requisites

Passes in all courses at level 2.

Notes

None.

Overview

A series of lectures and tutorials together with "guest" lectures from industry professionals, which will cover the key aspects of different business models in the bio-business sector.

Assessment 1: one 1,500 word essay relating to intellectual property portfolio management.

Assessment 2: following appropriate guidance through tutorials the students will prepare a presentation that describes a medical sciences company of their choice. The emphasis within the presentation will be to "sell" the commercial entity concentrating on explaining the business model of the chosen business.

Assessment 3: One 2,000 word essay. Title will be in the area of competitor analysis of a particular clinical area e.g. cancer therapy.

Structure

10 x 1 hour lectures; 10 x 1 hour tutorial during the course.

Assessment

1st attempt: continuous assessment - two essays (35% each) and one presentation 30%.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Berndt Mueller

Pre-requisites

BT 3007, MB 3003, BC 3804 and GN 3502 or MC 3504.

Co-requisites

BT 4505, MB 4050.

Overview

The formal teaching comprises two options each 15h contact time. Each option will cover seperate areas of either Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology or Immunology.

Structure

Two essays will be written and examined. All students are required to prepare for, and to attend, a reading party in the week prior to term. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of School.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 elements (33.3%), in-course assessment in the form of two essays, 4 elements (66.6%) in the form of a single three hour exam paper.

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Professor A Porter / Dr HM Wallace

Pre-requisites

Passes in all subjects up to level 3.

Notes

None.

Overview

A series of lectures and tutorials that will challenge the students to apply what they know (on their own or as part of a business team) to a "real" company.

Assessment 1: Essay on company governance, structure and the roles of the director.

Assessment 2: Following appropriate guidance through lectures and tutorials the students will prepare, together, a presentation that describes a "virtual" medical sciences company of which they are the founders and directors (each student will take on the role of a different director). The emphasis within the presentation will be to "sell" the commercial concern to a panel of potential investors.

Assessment 3: Prepare a 2,000 word executive summary of their virtual business.

Structure

10 x 1 hour lectures, 20 x 1 hour tutorials during the course.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment 100% - two essays (35% each) and one presentation (30%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Professor K Docherty

Pre-requisites

BT 3007, MB 3003, BC 3804 and GN 3502 or MC 3504.

Co-requisites

BT 4005, MB4050

Overview

The core element of the course is a research project that involves 10 weeks, laboratory work and production of a thesis. Assessment is on the basis of the performance in the laboratory, the thesis, and the project seminar. Two research tutorials will be organised by academic staff and will be assessed by examination at the end of the Semester. Tutorials will be held at regular intervals with the tutor appointed by the Head of School.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour examinations (2 elements each) and 1 four-hour examination (3 elements) (63.6%); in-course assessment (36.4%).

Credit Points

120

Course Coordinator

Dr A Carrington

Pre-requisites

Students may only undertake an Industrial Placement once they have obtained the necessary passes at levels 1, 2 and 3 to allow them entry into the Honours year for their particular degree, and they have obtained a median of CAS 15 at levels 1, 2 and 3, in addition to successfully completing BT 3006. Placements are not guaranteed and are at the discretion of the Head of School of Medical Sciences.

Notes

This course is a pre-requisite prescription for part of any degree programme within the School of Medical Sciences incorporating an industrial placement and comprises one year’s practical experience in industry (usually laboratory based, approx 40 hours laboratory work per week). The industrial placement must be relevant to the aims of the degree programme.

Overview

One year’s practical (usually laboratory) experience in industry. The industrial placement must be relevant to the aims of the degree programme.

Structure

39-40 hours laboratory work per week.

Assessment

In-course assessment:- Interim Reports (10%), Essay (20%). Placement Thesis (40%), Viva (15%), Presentation (5%), assessment by industrial supervisor (10%).