Courses :: Module, BIOETHICS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

	Overview
	Bioethics component includes: Identification of ethical questions; major bioethical principles; stakeholders and values; elements of a strong justification; processes for tackling ethical issues; basic Western ethical ideas including classical utilitarianism and Kantian theory, rights approaches; application to issues in biology, biotechnology, medicine and environment. Current cases histories with stakeholder analyses: these may include clinical trials, genetic engineering, cloning, patenting of biological material. Detailed knowledge of relevant biotechnological science will form a central part of the bioethics component of this module. Biotechnological component comprises: Fungi are amazing reservoirs of bioactive molecules, such as penicillin and statins, which are used to treat human diseases. Collectively, these molecules are known as natural products (NP) or secondary metabolites (SM) and are made by fungi, and bacteria, using processes known as non-ribosomal peptide synthesis or polyketide synthesis. This course will provide the student with a thorough understanding of these biosynthetic processes at the molecular and proteomic level. This topic is of special relevance as many microbial genome mining programmes are identifying ever more genes involved in NP biosynthesis. Consequently, research in this area is beginning to reveal a range of new molecules with biomedical potential.

Overview

Bioethics component includes: Identification of ethical questions; major bioethical principles; stakeholders and values; elements of a strong justification; processes for tackling ethical issues; basic Western ethical ideas including classical utilitarianism and Kantian theory, rights approaches; application to issues in biology, biotechnology, medicine and environment. Current cases histories with stakeholder analyses: these may include clinical trials, genetic engineering, cloning, patenting of biological material. Detailed knowledge of relevant biotechnological science will form a central part of the bioethics component of this module. Biotechnological component comprises: Fungi are amazing reservoirs of bioactive molecules, such as penicillin and statins, which are used to treat human diseases. Collectively, these molecules are known as natural products (NP) or secondary metabolites (SM) and are made by fungi, and bacteria, using processes known as non-ribosomal peptide synthesis or polyketide synthesis.

This course will provide the student with a thorough understanding of these biosynthetic processes at the molecular and proteomic level. This topic is of special relevance as many microbial genome mining programmes are identifying ever more genes involved in NP biosynthesis. Consequently, research in this area is beginning to reveal a range of new molecules with biomedical potential.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Identify where ethical issues are likely to arise in biotechnology and biobusiness. Discuss pervasive Western ethical positions and interpret their likely implications. Carry out case-history analyses. Use the language of ethicists on ethics committees and such bodies. Describe the concepts of non-ribosomal peptide synthesis and polyketide synthesis, and understand the differences between both pathways. Describe the nature of non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, and associated enzymes, and assess how the interplay between both leads to NP formation. Evaluate the importance of modern biological and chemical techniques (e.g., fungal proteomics) for revealing the intricacies of non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis. Assess the relative role of various evolutionary pressures in the acquisition of NP biosynthetic capabilities by fungi and bacteria.

Learning Outcomes

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes University scheduled written examination (Autumn): 120 minutes, On-campus

Autumn Supplementals/Resits

	Pre-Requisites
	BI201 or equivalent

Pre-Requisites

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Courses / Module

BIOETHICS & BIOTECHNOLOGY

Semester 1

Semester 2