Molecular Pharming and Biotechnology
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS2029 | Biosciences | 2 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- BIOS2029
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
Transgenic research and 'Synthetic Biology' approaches have the potential to enable plants to serve as 'green factories' for the production of novel products. Additionally, the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is having a significant impact on modern agriculture. The course will provide theoretical and practical knowledge on how transgenic organisms are engineered. We will assess the technologies used to generate transgenic plants then describe examples currently being developed for commercial uses. Following this comprehensive briefing on the 'nuts and bolts' of generating GMOs, ethical, commercial and environmental concerns will be debated with invited experts.
Target Students
Students in the Schools of Biosciences.
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Short answer open book questions on a selected primary research article related to the practical class. Short answer questions related to the practical. ExamSys format
- 60% Exam 1 (2-hour): Two long answer questions
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
This module provides a detailed analysis of the applications of technologies for the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It describes how transgenic plants are generated; provides practical examples of commercial products created using GM technologies; and addresses the regulatory and societal issues raised by GMOs. In addition, various non-transgenic approaches for crop improvement are also discussed. The course benefits from the input of a range of experts based at Nottingham and other leading UK research organisations.Learning Outcomes
On Successful completion of the module, students will be able to;
- Explain the key technologies and approaches used for generating transgenic plants.
- Critically analyse and summarise information drawn from a variety of sources, including original published research papers.
- Discuss examples of GM-plant derived novel products
- Compare different methods for regulating or disrupting endogenous plant genes.