Module: Intro to Cell Biology & Biotechnology

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Intro to Cell Biology & Biotechnology
Module Code	BE538 (ITS) / BIO1026 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Biotechnology
Module Co-ordinator	Naomi Walsh
Module Teachers	Denise Harold, Janosch Heller, Michael Freeley, Paul Cahill
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination

Description

Module Aims: Students will come from a broad range of disciplines on entering the M.Sc. in Diagnostics and Precision Medicine (MDPM) and the M.Sc. in Biotherapeutics (MBT) programmes. This module is designed to ensure that students will quickly achieve the necessary background and understanding of fundamental topics in cellular and molecular biology, while also introducing the students to the field of biotechnology, and the many disciplines that contribute to biotechnology processes with particular emphasis on the biopharmaceutical and medical industries. Key developments in biotechnology enabling technologies will explain how advances in cellular and molecular biology have been exploited to produce useful products, particularly therapeutic medicines.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically compare and contrast eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells in terms of their structure, organisation and intracellular organelles.
2. Gain advanced knowledge to contrast the scientific principles underpinning cellular and molecular biology in eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.
3. Gain systematic knowledge to explain the scientific principles underpinning signal transduction pathways in mammalian cells.
4. Gain critical awareness of the multidisciplinary nature of biotechnology and role of enabling technologies in the development of biotechnology
5. Discuss and critically analyse how advances in cellular and molecular biology have been exploited by the Biotechnology industry to produce useful products from living organisms.
6. Critical awareness of some of the current issues surrounding the regulation and ethics in biotechnology and the development of future biotechnology enterprises
7. Specialised tools and techniques to use the scientific literature to source relevant information on current topics in cellular and molecular biology, signal transduction and biotechnology.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Online lectures on a variety of topics in cellular biology and biotechnology
Assignment Completion	40	Assignment
Independent Study	59	Independent study of lecture material and directed reading resources.
Tutorial	2	Tutorials to support and complement the lectures.
Lecture	24	No Description
Assignment Completion	40	No Description
Independent Study	59	No Description
Tutorial	2	No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

1. Introduction to Cell Biology - Structure, Function and Organisation of the Cell.
A tour of the cell and its organelles; Gene structure and function; DNA, RNA and proteins (transcription and translation); Introduction to Proteins and Enzymology; Introduction to Signal Transduction

2. Signals and Receptors
Communication between cells in a multicellular organism occurs by the production of ligands (proteins, peptides, fatty acids, steroids, gases, and other low-molecular-weight compounds) that are either secreted by cells or presented on their surface, and act on receptors on, or in, other target cells. Such signals control cell growth, migration, survival, and differentiation. Signaling receptors can be single-span plasma membrane receptors associated with tyrosine or serine/threonine kinase activities, proteins with seven transmembrane domains, or intracellular receptors. Ligand-activated receptors convey signals into the cell by activating signaling pathways that ultimately affect cytosolic machineries or nuclear transcriptional programs or by directly translocating to the nucleus to regulate transcription.

3. Introduction to the Biotechnology Industry
Historical perspective of the modern biotechnology industry; Review of drug discovery and manufactoring of biopharmaceuticals. Bioprocess Engineering including purification of biotherapeutics; Recombinant DNA technology; Choice of host cells for production of biotherapeutics and cell culture; Medical and healthcare biotechnology; regulations and ethics

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
In Class Test	A series of challenge-based short questions will be used to address the students' critical understanding of the curriculum that specifically address the students' knowledge of one specific area and use it in another area.	50%	Week 7
Assignment	This is a written essay type CA whereby the students will prepare an assignment based on a topic prescribed by the lecturer. Using their knowledge gained from the course, the students will address the topic and refer to scientific published papers based on biotherapeutic medicine methodologies produced by the biotechnology industry. This allows for reflection and critical review of scientific studies (1500 words).	50%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Campbell: 0, Biology,
Ho, Rodney: 2013, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals: transforming genes and proteins into drugs,
William J. Thieman and Michael A Palladino: 0, Introduction to Biotechnology, 4th, Pearson International,

Other Resources

None