Topics in Biotechnology - LIFE95016
Aims
Topics in Biotechnology provides a theoretical and practical grounding in modern biotechnology. Biotechnology is introduced in a historical context, and by comparison with synthetic chemistry as the main ‘competing technology’. Although biotechnology is an applied discipline, it depends upon the underpinning sciences of biochemistry and molecular biology. This principle is apparent in the 'Exploiting Metabolism' lecture series, which through several examples links fundamental understanding of metabolic systems to their exploitation in applications. In biotechnology, the design and troubleshooting of studies and experiments is arguably more open-ended than in other biological sciences, and more similar to engineering, as biotechnology principally involves the development and optimisation of non-natural biological systems rather than elucidating the function of natural biological systems. The course introduces this style of research, and provides students with the opportunity to experience it first-hand through a mini-project including laboratory practicals and associated workshops.
Role
Lecturer
Applied Molecular Biochemistry - LIFE95001
Aims
This module is based on the first year biochemistry module, in which the general metabolic pathways and enzyme mechanisms were presented. The goal of this module in the second year is to focus on the most important energy converting pathways in plants, animals and bacteria and to put these pathways in the context of bioenergetics.
Role
Lecturer
Structural Biology and Drug Design - LIFE96019
Aims
This course has been designed to develop an in depth understanding of the principles of macromolecular structure determination. Furthermore, the impact that structural information can have on functional interpretation is emphasised. Finally, students should be in a position to follow strategies and conclusions from articles published in Nature Structure Biology.
Role
Lecturer
Plant Biotechnology and Development - LIFE96027
Aims
The aim of this course is to provide an account of how plant molecular biology is being used to unravel how plants grow, develop and also how they they can be utilised in selected biotechnological applications.
Role
Lecturer