Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
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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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles:
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||