BS934-7-AU-CO:
Gene Technology and Synthetic Biology
2020/21
Life Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
30
24 January 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MSC C45012 Health Genomics,
MSCIB099 Biomedical Science,
MSCIBA99 Biomedical Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIBB99 Biomedical Science (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC098 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Year Abroad),
MSCIC099 Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Including Placement Year),
MSCICZ99 Biochemistry and Biotechnology
The development of techniques to manipulate and analyse nucleic acids has revolutionised the study of biology and provided the key driver for the massive expansion in biotechnology. Subsequent to this has been the emergence of the fields of genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics that are now the focus of the most exciting new advances in biotechnology and have led to the emerging discipline of synthetic biology.
Synthetic biology is an emerging area of biotechnology research that can be broadly described as the design and construction of novel artificial biological pathways, organisms or devices, or the re-design of existing natural biological systems (Royal Society, UK).
The Basic Gene Technology part of the module consists of a series of 9 lectures and 6 linked practicals examining the isolation of DNA and RNA, gene cloning, the many applications of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the construction and screening of gene and cDNA libraries, directed mutagenesis techniques, transformation of key organisms and basic lab-based sequencing. In addition, DNA fingerprinting methodologies, selection and hybridisation methods will be studied. Finally, the use of reporter genes to measure non-invasively the expression of genes, to set up novel mutant screens and to determine the levels of small molecules in the living cell will be discussed.
The Synthetic Biology part of the module (3 lectures) will provide an introduction to the key design concepts in Synthetic Biology which underpin the methods used for rapidly building new biosynthetic pathways using advanced recombinant DNA technology, the construction of novel coding sequences and the synthesis of novel genes and the first synthetic organism. The final 3 lectures will be concerned with some of the underpinning technologies in genomics with special emphasis on next generation sequencing as applied to transcriptomics and chromatin immune precipitation techniques.
All of this is underpinned by a series of practical classes which jointly show how CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, an exciting new method, can be used to edit a gene in human cell genomes which is associated with cancer development. The practicals are designed to provide first-hand experience of key procedures and are coordinated with the first 9 lectures of the course to reinforce the theory.
This module aims for students to gain an understanding of the impact of gene technology and synthetic biology and explore the applications of genome scale methods for studying gene expression in biotechnology and molecular medicine.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. To have an understanding of how manipulation of nucleic acids has been central to the developments made in biotechnology and biology as a whole.
2. Be able to describe the major tools used in gene technology and understand how such tools are used.
3. Be able to explain how molecular techniques can be used in combination to explore biological questions.
4. To have an understanding of the importance of gene technology and of the rapidly developing field of synthetic biology.
5. To have an understanding of the applications of genome scale methods for studying gene expression in biotechnology and molecular medicine.
6. Be able to demonstrate practical competence in key gene manipulation techniques.
7. To have developed a range of key skills including information acquisition from web-based and library sources, self-directed learning, critical analysis of data, numeracy, writing and presentation of scientific reports.
Employability and Transferable Skills:
1. Understanding of classic and contemporary methods in molecular biology
2. Hands on experience in preparing, manipulating and analysing plasmid DNA
3. Principles and uses of synthetic biology
4. Principles of biosensor design and reporter gene construction
5. Setting up molecular biology reactions
6. Construction of a plasmid for CRISPR based chromosomal DNA modification
7. Theory and practical use of PCR and restriction mapping
8. Effective note taking and attention to detail
9. Troubleshooting and improvement of experimental design
10. Improved data analysis and interpretation skills
No additional information available.
Lectures: 15 x 1 hr
Practicals: 6 sessions totalling 45 hrs
Workshop: 1 x 4hr
Student managed learning: 236 hrs
Total: 300 hrs
In addition, one Mock Exam Paper will be made available on Moodle in the Autumn term for practice and revision purposes for the exam in early January.
This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non-essential items, please refer to the module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Pre-Practical Tests |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2 |
|
40% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1 |
|
40% |
| Exam |
Main exam: 180 minutes during January
|
Additional coursework information
One exam consisting of a DAI and a choice of one out of 3 structured essays (40%).
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Patrick Varga Weisz, email: patrick.varga-weisz@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Patrick Varga Weisz, Dr Metodi Metodiev
School Graduate Office, email: bsgradtaught (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create a full email address)
No
No
No
Dr Lakjaya Buluwela
Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine
Reader in Cancer Medicine
Prof Mark Wheatley
University of Birmingham
Chair of Biochemical Pharmacology
Dr Emma Denham
University of Bath
Senior Lecturer in Microbiology
Available via Moodle
Of 758 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
758 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
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