UNIVERSITY OF KENT
SECTION 1: MODULE SPECIFICATIONS
The title of the module
Advanced Analytical and emerging Technologies in Biotechnology and Bioengineering (30 Credits)
2. The School which will be responsible for management of the module
Biosciences
3. The Start Date of the Module
September 2012
4. The cohort of students (onwards) to which the module will be applicable
2012-2013
5. The number of students expected to take the module
12-30
6. Modules to be withdrawn on the introduction of this proposed module and consultation with other relevant Schools and Faculties regarding the withdrawal
None (This is revised version of BI821 which was previously withdrawn; Analytical Biotechnology)
7. The level of the module
M
8. The number of credits which the module represents
30 (15 ECTS)
9. Which term(s) the module is to be taught in (or other teaching pattern)
Spring
10. Prerequisite and co-requisite modules
None
11. The programmes of study to which the module contributes
MSc Biotechnology and Bioengineering
12. The intended subject specific learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationship to programme learning outcomes
a. Knowledge and understanding of key analytical technologies used in the analysis of cell based expression systems in the biotechnology and bioengineering field (Programme Outcomes A1-5, B2, C2, C3, D1)
b. Practical experience of modern analytical technologies utilised in academia and industry in the field (Programme Outcomes A1-7, B1-6, C1-3, C7, D1)
c. A fundamental understanding of the principles underlying spectroscopic, chromatographic, sequencing, microscopy and physical methods of analysis (Programme Outcomes A1-7, B1-6, C1-3)
d. Basic skills in the interpretation of data from analytical analysis of products and samples (Programme Outcomes A1, A4, B1-4, B6, C1, C3, D1)
e. Ability to design appropriate analytical experiments to answer questions to be addressed (Programme Outcomes A1, A4, B1-6, C1)
f. An appreciation of the importance of analysis for quality assurance, process monitoring and fundamental understanding of biological systems (Programme Outcomes A7, C2, C7, C8, D1)
13. The intended generic learning outcomes and, as appropriate, their relationship to programme learning outcomes
a. Communication: ability to organise information clearly, present information in oral and written form, adapt presentation for different audiences including academic and industrial (Programme Outcomes A6, B5, C5)
b. Analytical skills: interpretation of data, marshalling of information from published sources, critical evaluation of own research and that of others. An appreciation of how to utilise multiple data sets together to characterise a system or molecule. (Programme Outcomes A1, A4, B1-6, C1, C3, D1)
c. Self-motivation and independence: time and workload management in order to meet personal targets and imposed deadlines (Programme Outcomes B2, B3, C6, D3-5)
e. Information technology: use of appropriate technology to retrieve, analyse and present scientific information (Programme Outcomes A1-5, B2, C2, C3, D1)
14. A synopsis of the curriculum
This module will consider key areas of analytical technologies used for the analysis of proteins, small molecules and cells. This will include mass spectrometry techniques (GC-MS, ESI-MS, MALDI-ToF MS), crystallography and NMR, spectroscopy (UV-vis, IR, Raman, fluorescence, ESR), chromatography, DNA and RNA sequencing, bioinformatics, microscopy (AFM, EM), electrophoresis, (qRT)-PCR, ‘omics’ approachs, glycosylation profiling, cell based assays, simple fermentation control and measurements. Industrial case studies will be covered to demonstrate how different techniques and approaches are integrated in a commercial environment. Students will also be expected to design and implement a protocol aim at recovering and characterising a protein molecule from mammalian cell culture within set constraints and parameters. There will also be a visit to an industrial analytical laboratory to demonstrate such technologies in the work place. This will be delivered through workshops and seminars by specialists within the CMP and involve a number of course work assignments that will consider the most current research and thinking in these areas. This will be complemented by a one week practical where the students are asked to design a process to purify and characterise a molecule and then use this to setup a crystallisation screen.
15. Indicative Reading List
The reading list will largely be the latestreview and primary research articles in this area, which will be used to drive a case-study based approach to learning. Students will be provided with their own copies of this reading material, but in some cases they will be set tasks for receiving appropriate journal articles to which we already have access. Key Journals will be Nature Biotechnology, Analytical Chemistry, Analytical Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, and Genetic Engineering News to which the students can subscribe free of charge. Many basic biochemistry and chemistry text books within the Library also cover much of the material which will be delivered.
16. Learning and Teaching Methods, including the nature and number of contact hours and the total study hours which will be expected of students, and how these relate to achievement of the intended learning outcomes
The module will comprise a number of practical workshops and seminars to introduce the key concepts and practical techniques in each of the disciplines to be covered. These workshops will be aligned with a one week laboratory practical, whereby the students are required to design their own analytical process and procedure to purify and characterise a protein from a mammalian cell culture and then use the subsequent material to setup a crystallisation trial. The workshops and seminars will be complemented by a series of lectures that will introduce the key fundamental knowledge that underpins the different analytical techniques. We will also have several guest lectures from industrialists working in analytics to show how the various technologies are integrated into the commercial environment. The learning will be reinforced by visits to the industrial sites to see the technologies in action.
Seminars, and workshops including preparation time (40 h)
Lectures (15 h)
Laboratory practical and write up (50 h)
Industrial site visits and preparation (20 h)
Industrial gust lectures, discussions and preparation (25 h)
Self study (150 h)
17. Assessment methods and how these relate to testing achievement of the intended learning outcomes (Note: Assessments will assess the learning outcomes indicated in brackets).
Practical and writeup (40%) (all subjective specific learning outcomes 12a-f, 13a-e)
Examination (problem and essay, 60%) (12a, 12c, 12d-f, 13b)
18. Implications for learning resources, including staff, library, IT and space
This module will feature a practical, which will be undertaken in a research laboratory and require access to the Biomolecular Analysis Facility. The practical will be run after undergraduate project students are completed at the end of the spring term. This will be accompanied by small-group workshops, journal clubs and seminars alongside a number of traditional lectures, and emphasis will be placed on self directed reading and study.
19. A statement confirming that, as far as can be reasonably anticipated, the curriculum, learning and teaching methods and forms of assessment do not present any non-justifiable disadvantage to students with disabilities
The School recognises and has embedded the expectations of current disability equality legislation, and supports students with a declared disability or special educational need in its teaching. Within this module we will make reasonable adjustments wherever necessary, including additional or substitute materials, teaching modes or assessment methods for students who have declared and discussed their learning support needs. Arrangements for students with declared disabilities will be made on an individual basis, in consultation with the University’s disability/dyslexiasupport service, and specialist support will be provided where needed.Assessment of how students are able to undertake practical work would need to be undertaken for students with certain disabilities relating to mobility, for health and safety reasons. Some assessment of how students are able to undertake practical work would need to be undertaken for students with certain disabilities relating to mobility, for health and safety reasons.
New module specification approved by Faculty 28 August 2012