Biotechnology MSc
1 Year Full-Time | September Start

This module will provide you with an opportunity to develop your skills in the use and understanding of relevant literature and in both quantitative and qualitative methods. You will learn how to evaluate and contribute to the scientific literature and to interpret and disseminate scientific information. You will appreciate the desirable properties of research design and be able to select an experimental design appropriate to a given system and create the design matrix. You will learn how to assess the kinds of scientific data and tests of hypotheses and will be able to select, apply, and interpret the output from statistical methods of data analysis, and to evaluate the results of statistical analyses as applied to a given data set. Using contemporary science stories, you will develop scientific communication skills in systematic searching, summary writing and critical analysis of the underpinning primary research.

You will learn to evaluate recent developments in molecular biology in the context of the new techniques that have been developed, which will be assessed by an online test, demonstrate an ability to perform skilled laboratory techniques in a competent and safe manner, which is assessed by practical report, and evaluate laboratory results in the form of a scientific paper, which is assessed by practical report. You will also learn to demonstrate an awareness of the wider social and political implications of the topics covered in the module.

You will learn the fundamental importance of bioinformatics to 21st century biology and how it is applied to the investigation of bacterial sequences. Topics include:
•Utilisation of databases for the analysis of nucleotide and amino-acid sequences, including introduction to the algorithms used in sequence alignment and sequence searching
•Practical experience of sequence analysis using freely available bioinformatics tools, looking at nucleotide, protein, and genome databases. These tools include BLAST, SWISS-Prot, PubMed, UCSC Genome Browser
•Microbial DNA sequencing and next-generation sequencing
•Genome annotation and analysis of SNPs.
•The importance of molecular phylogeny
•Genome editing using CRISPR-Cas
•Proteomics, covering protein structure analysis and identification of common motifs

This module allows you to explore a topic related to your Masters programme of your own choosing to an advanced level developing a critical appreciation of the methodologies, recent advances and future potential in that field. In doing so, you will develop and refine your research skills including information retrieval, evaluative, analytical, and problem solving skills together with group-based written and oral communication skills.

You will explore various aspects of industrial microbial biotechnology and see how it contributes to the global goal of sustainable industrial development, using easily obtainable renewable feed-stocks to generate a wide range of useful (often biodegradable) products while avoiding the use of environment-damaging materials like petrochemicals. You will explore the development of traditional biotechnology industries such as the production of amino acids as food additives and the treatment of waste waters and the bioreactors they use. You will also learn about the use of enzymes in industry and explore the production of a complex enzyme preparation using bioreactors in the laboratory. You will learn how production strains of microorganisms were isolated and traditionally improved using biochemical principles. You will learn how the advent of genomic analyses facilitates analysis of hyper-producing strains to understand their productivity and how they can now be rationally designed using the genomic information in the future. Throughout the module you will consider the practicalities of operating at an industrial scale.

Biotechnology is a fast moving and growing field of science, that impacts on our society and our lives. In this module, you will explore several areas of biotechnology.
You will learn about genetically modified plants and animals. What is the scientific background of genetic modification – how is it done, what are the implications, why do we need genetically modified organisms – do we actually need them? You will learn about the different methodologies of transferring DNA into plants and animals, about the selection mechanisms involved, and about the ectopic expression of the transgenes, and about the effects (wanted and unwanted) on both the host species and the natural or agricultural environment. You will study a number of case studies in depth, looking at all aspects of the problem and its supposed biotechnological solution.
Biotechnology is of growing importance in the medical world as well. How can we apply our biotechnological and molecular genetic knowledge in the fight against disease? You will learn about the role of cell therapies in creating “future cures”, with a focus on stem cell technologies and the production and handling of cell based products.
You will also explore the controversy around biotechnological methods and applications. You will learn about the ethical, legal and social issues surrounding genetic modification and stem cell research, and get insight into the regulatory bodies, commercial, governmental and social pressures that drive medical biotechnology product development.

This module provides you with a vehicle for developing, refining and applying your research skills in an independent project. Guided by a staff member, you will plan, carry out and report the outcomes of an independent research project to professional standards. You will identify stakeholders in your research and describe the projected impact your research holds for them. In order to prepare you for life as a research professional, assessments emulate authentic professional documentary formats aimed at securing project resources and disseminating your findings to ensure they develop real world impact.

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.
• Discussing ethical issues in research, and analysing results.
• Describing bias and limitations of research.