Module overview
This course is designed to illustrate the ways in which the theoretical principles of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology presented in previous courses can be applied to yield important commercial or therapeutic products or processes.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Describe how gene therapy can be used to treat human disease and how liposomes and viruses can be used to deliver the gene of interest.
- Describe how precision medicine is used in a cancer setting.
- Explain how we can predict and promote anti-tumour T cell responses at a personalised level.
- Describe the use of ScFvs in the design of human monoclonal antibodies.
- Explain the use of gene cloning to produce recombinant proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts.
- Describe how antibody engineering can be used to treat human disease.
- Describe how pre-clinical models are used to test potential new therapies.
- Explain the use of stem cells and their use in medical applications.
Syllabus
This course is designed to illustrate the ways in which the theoretical principles of biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology presented in previous courses can be applied to yield important commercial or therapeutic products or processes. It concentrates on biotechnology that involves prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It introduces students to the technologies of the “post genomic” era. It also presents examples of protein engineering, the manipulation of the characteristics of protein molecules such as antibodies and antibody-binding proteins. The course includes material on the production of therapeutic proteins, the use of gene therapy and stem cells to treat human disease, the pre-clinical models required to test them, and the precision technologies used to personalise medical care.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
This course comprises 20 lectures with 2 feedback/revision seminars. For each section of the course the student is given a comprehensive reading list of recent research and review papers.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 22 |
| Independent Study | 128 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
This course comprises 20 lectures with 2 feedback/revision seminars. For each section of the course the student is given a comprehensive reading list of recent research and review papers. Examination is by a written examination.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External