BIOTECH 1000 - Introduction to Biotechnology I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

The course deal with the major elements of the global significance of biotechnology, the categories of biotechnology processes and products, and in the context of "traditional" vs "modern" biotechnology processes. Also, the key developments in the history of biotechnology and the enabling technologies - fermentation, downstream processing; recombinant methods, antibody monoclonals, analysis and automation, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics. Specific aspects of the biotechnology enterprises in South Australia and Australia are highlighted and then the broader issues dealing with biotechnology and society; considerations in the genesis of the typical biotechnology process/product/enterprise: development costs, venture capital, patenting, product safety, legislation and marketing. Case studies on the interdisciplinary nature of biotechnology and factors favouring local/regional development of a biotechnology industry will also be included.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code BIOTECH 1000
    Course Introduction to Biotechnology I
    Coordinating Unit School of Biological Sciences
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to BSc(Biotech) students only
    Course Description The course deal with the major elements of the global significance of biotechnology, the categories of biotechnology processes and products, and in the context of "traditional" vs "modern" biotechnology processes. Also, the key developments in the history of biotechnology and the enabling technologies - fermentation, downstream processing; recombinant methods, antibody monoclonals, analysis and automation, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics. Specific aspects of the biotechnology enterprises in South Australia and Australia are highlighted and then the broader issues dealing with biotechnology and society; considerations in the genesis of the typical biotechnology process/product/enterprise: development costs, venture capital, patenting, product safety, legislation and marketing. Case studies on the interdisciplinary nature of biotechnology and factors favouring local/regional development of a biotechnology industry will also be included.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Stephen Kidd

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    The anticipated knowledge, skills and/or attitude to be developed by the student are:
    1. Be able to define the term “biotechnology” and appreciate its scope
    2. Have an awareness of the global significance of biotechnology and its resultant industries, and a broad knowledge of which are represented nationally and locally
    3. Be familiar with the key events in the development of biotechnology
    4. Be able to state the broad categories of biotechnological processes based on the products formed and/or the process or substrates used, and have detailed knowledge of examples of each of these
    5. Have an understanding of the multidisciplinary nature of biotechnology and the associated role that has been played by enabling technologies in the development of biotechnology
    6. Have an awareness of some of the current and future issues surrounding the relationship between biotechnology and government, investors, the environment and consumers and the impact of these on the development of future biotechnology enterprises.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 4, 6
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    4, 5, 6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 3, 4
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    2, 3, 4, 6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    2, 3, 6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 4, 6
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    The course contains two 50-minute lectures and a four hour practical session each week for 12 weeks. These timeslots involve lectures, tutorials, field trips and associated workshops.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision). In addition to attendance at lectures, tutorials and field trips as outlined in the course timetable students will be required to work in groups to prepare presentations as well as other tasks associated with practicals. Students are expected to attend all planned teaching activities to maximise their chances of success. In addition students are expected to spend ~ 2 hour per lecture and 1 hour per tutorial/practical in revision and preparation respectively. Sudents should spend a minimum of 5 hours (in addition to the time outlined above) in preparation of assignments, and a minimum of 10 hours (in addition to the time outlined above) in revision for the end of semester exam.
    Learning Activities Summary

    Week 1          Lecture: What is Biotechnology?
                  Practical: Oral presentation workshop  
    Week 2          Lecture: Recombinant technology
                  Practical: BioSA visit
    Week 3          Lecture: Recombinant technology
                  Practical: Project work
    Week 4          Lecture: Developing technologies, legal aspects.
                  Practical: Oral presentations
    Week 5          Lecture and Practical:  Plant biotechnology (with Waite Campus visit) 
    Week 6          Lecture :   Plant biotechnology
                         Practical: GMO debate
    Week 7          Lecture: Guest lecture 
                         Tutorial: questions and answer session
    Week 8          Lecture: Microbial Biotech 
                         Practical: Hospira field trip 
    Week 9          Lecture: Microbial Biotech
                         Practical: Field trip discussion 
    Week 10        Lecture: Biotech/Pharma
                         Practical: Job application project 
    Week 11        Lecture: Bioprocessing 
                        Practical: Biochemical Engineering project 
    Week 12        Lecture: Downstream processing
                         Practical: Biochemical engineering project work
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment task              Type of assessment      Percent total assessment       Outcomes being  
                                                                                                                                      assessed

    Oral presentation                    Formative                           14.5                                    1-6
    Job Application                       Summative                           8.5                                     1-6
    Essay                                     Formative                            8.5                                     1-6 Debate/essay                         Formative/Summative           8.5                                     1-6
    Exam                                    Summative                            60                                     1-6
    Assessment Detail

    Oral presentation will require students working within groups to orally present information on a given topic. The students select a topic from a long list or have the opportunity to design their own topic (under consultation with lecturer). The presentation is as a group, 15 min. and includes a questions session on the topic. 
     
    The Job application is directly related with the student linking information they would have been provided within the lectures/tutorials. Aspects are directly in line with the overall theme of the course, what is a biotechnologist and then what areas of this broad definition students are interested in. This is a 3-4 page written job application for a biotechnologist and is due after the workshop on this topic. 

    The essay directly relates to the lectures on chemical engineering and biotechnology and then further reading that has been directed. There is a selection of topics and these require the students to informatively discuss issues relating to this interface between chemical engineering, industry and biotechnology (1500-2000 words).
     
    The debate/essay has taken the form of a written argument on a question on GM foods. There is a discussion during the associated workshop on the questions and the students need to identify the key issues and controversies and make an argument that answers the question (750-1000 words). 

    End of Semester Exam: This summative assessment activity will comprehensively address the learning outcomes. This assessment uses a mix of questions and short answer questions to test student comprehension of specific theory relating to the course. In particular, the ability to apply the theory to solve practical problems, and development of logical thought within the framework of the scientific method.
     

    Submission
    If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment. The examiner may elect not to accept any assignment that a student wants to submit after the assignments for the rest of the class have been marked and feedback provided.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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