NES8305 : Biotechnology: Advanced Topics
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Thomas Howard
- Lecturer: Dr James Stach, Dr Maxim Kapralov
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module provides participants with an understanding of contemporary biotechnology. It covers both current topics and the methods that underpin work in this field. It provides opportunities for participants to actively learn through the application of taught methods to biotechnological problems. In this respect in particular, the module emphasises the importance of computational analysis to biotechnology. Finally, the module requires participants to develop their own detailed knowledge, critical analysis skills and understanding of the latest developments in the field.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module covers the following:
• Engineering principles in biotechnology,
• Design and assembly of gene constructs,
• Design and assembly of synthetic genomes,
• Metabolic engineering,
• Genome engineering,
• Protein engineering,
• Methods and applications of statistical Design of Experiments in biotechnology,
• Methods and applications of mathematical modelling in biotechnology.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 80:00 | 80:00 | Coursework prep - requires mastering a new skill as well as preparing for the coursework. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 5 | 2:00 | 10:00 | Lecture material covers theory and introduces topics and research papers. |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 25:00 | 25:00 | Detailed examination of the studies (i.e. major contemporary biotechnology projects and theories) highlighted in the lectures/seminars. |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 22:00 | 22:00 | Reviewing notes from seminars. Includes review time for DoE workshop material (modelling workshop is covered by time to prep for coursework). |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Theory/activities ahead of three of the modelling workshops. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | One session covers introduction to DoE and the other covers the final module session. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | PC Clusters: COPASI and JMP Pro required on the machines |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 40:00 | 40:00 | Additional self-identified contemporary research papers going beyond the directed reading (covers all taught content). |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The module uses two primary teaching methods:
(i) Lectures and seminars that provide knowledge and context for directed reading material - these activities support the knowledge, understanding and skills outcomes; and
(ii) Workshops that allow skill development in computational aspects of biotechnology.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 100 | Coursework Assessment - 5 page maximum |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observ of prof pract | 1 | M | Formative assessment for the coursework is provided continuously throughout the module in the following ways: 1. in person during the workshops and 2. asynchronously, through the use of Canvas discussion boards. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The coursework requires students to bring together their knowledge of contemporary applications of biotechnology with their understanding of the importance of the design-build-test cycle for engineering biology. Specifically, the coursework assesses participants ability to design their own biotechnological system (e.g., a biochemical pathways or synthetic gene network) that meets a particular design challenge, and to construct and analyse a mathematical models of their proposed system.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NES8305's Timetable