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ANSC30100

Academic Year 2024/2025

Applied Biotechnology (ANSC30100)

Subject:
Animal Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Agriculture & Food Science
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor David MacHugh
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides an overview of modern biotechnology, particularly as it applies to plant and animal agriculture.

The module covers the following topics:
* Genetic engineering and agriculture (transgenic crops and food products).
* Genome editing and agriculture (genome-edited plants and animals).
* New genomic technologies relevant to agriculture (bioinformatics, structural, functional, and comparative genomics).
* Commercial applications of genomics technologies in the agri-food industries.
* Biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity.
* Societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies.

Students taking the module will also produce a literature review on a relevant biotechnology topic of their choice. In addition, there is a laboratory practical and write-up that demonstrates basic principles of DNA-based biotechnology.

This module is a 7-week module and will be examined during the Spring Break in March.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

* Evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of transgenic plants and crops.
* Evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of genome editing.
* Discuss biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity.
* Discuss new genomic technologies and their relevance for agriculture and the food industries.
* Discuss the societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies
* Understand and describe a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) focused laboratory practical for human genetic identification and forensics.

Indicative Module Content:

This module provides an overview of modern biotechnology, particularly as it applies to plant and animal agriculture. The module covers the following topics: genetic engineering and agriculture (transgenic crops and food products); genome editing of plants and animals; biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity; new genomic technologies relevant to agriculture (bioinformatics, structural, functional, and comparative genomics); and societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies

Students taking the module will also produce a literature review on a biotechnology topic of their choice. In addition, there is a laboratory practical and write-up that demonstrates basic principles of DNA-based biotechnology.

On completion of this module students should be able to: evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of transgenic plants and crops; evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of genome editing; discuss biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity; discuss new genomic technologies and their relevance for agriculture and the food industries; discuss the societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies; and understand and describe their experience of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) focused laboratory practical for human genetic identification and forensics..

This module is a seven-week module and will be examined during the Spring Break in March.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

25
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Lectures

24
Laboratories

10
Total

109

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures.
Viewing of videos explaining key scientific and technical concepts.
In-class problem-solving exercises.
Self-directed learning using materials provided on Brightspace.
A molecular biology laboratory practical component with a write-up assessment.
A scientific literature review project assessment.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

ANSC20010 - Genetics and Biotechnology
OR
GENE20020 - Principles of Genetics

If you do not have the pre-requisite module(s) but have equivalent prior learning, please contact the module co-ordinator to approve your registration to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
ANSC20010 - Genetics and Biotechnology, BMOL20090 - Molecular Genetics and Biotech, GENE20020 - Principles of Genetics, VET20050 - Genetics & Animal Breeding

Additional Information:
Only one of the prerequisite modules required, not all of them.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): WRITTEN LITERATURE REVIEW PROJECT: Written project (approx. 4,000 words) on a biotechnology topic. Accounts for 30% of the mark/grade weighting. Week 9 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
30
 No
Report(s): LABORATORY PRACTICAL WRITE-UP: A lab practical write-up fora DNA biotechnology practical (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, population genetics). Accounts for 20% of the mark/grade weighting. Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
20
 No
Exam (In-person): IN-PERSON WRITTEN EXAM: Two-hour written examination, Spring (March) exam sitting. Accounts for 50% of the mark/grade weighting. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback provided on project ideas and drafts. Feedback provided to students on project work and end-of-semester examination results.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Angela Feechan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Patrick Lonergan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr John Browne Tutor
Dr Carolina Correia Tutor
Mr Thomas Hall Tutor
Gillian McHugo Tutor
Mr John O'Grady Tutor
James Ward Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Fri 14:00 - 16:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Wed 15:00 - 16:50
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