BMS3062

Medical biotechnology

6 points · 3 lectures per week and 3 hours practical or equivalent · Second semester · Clayton

Objectives This subject will provide students with an advanced theoretical and practical understanding of the principles of biotechnology and their application in biomedical science. The subject provides knowledge of the field of medical biotechnology with an emphasis on the development and production of biopharmaceuticals and molecular diagnostics. Students will achieve a basic understanding of principles of biotechnology; advanced recombinant DNA technology; principles of gene expression in prokaryote and lower eukaryotes; expression of proteins in eukaryote cells; commercial production of peptides by recombinant microorganisms; site-directed mutagenesis and protein engineering; molecular diagnosis of infectious disease and inherited disease traits; vaccines and biopharmaceuticals; bioremediation of the environment; plant microbial interactions and enhancement of plant growth; genetic manipulation of plants for synthesis of antibodies, vaccines and antibiotics; transgenic animals and their application for biopharmaceutical production; legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of biotechnology; practical laboratory methods in biotechnology and molecular diagnostics.

Synopsis The subject introduces students to the principles of biotechnology and their application in the development and production of biopharmaceuticals and molecular diagnostics. The subject further develops themes described in the subjects BMS1062 (Molecular biology) in first year and BMS2042 (Human genetics) and BMS2052 (Bioinformatics and communication) in second year, and links with the proposed elective subject 'Bioinformatics and genome science' in third year. The subject describes the following topics: advanced principles of recombinant DNA techniques; application of these techniques including commercial biopharmaceutical production; genetic manipulation of proteins; DNA-based molecular diagnosis of infectious organisms and inherited genetic loci; applications of genome bioinformatics in the development of clinically and agriculturally important products; genetic manipulation of plants and animals for the expression of biopharmaceuticals; human gene therapy; future applications for the development and uses of transgenic animals and plants in medical technology; legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of biotechnology.

Assessment Theory exam: 60% · Practical exam: 20% · Laboratory reports: 20%

Prescribed texts

Glick B R and Pasternak J J Molecular biotechnology ASM Press, 1994

Back to the 1999 Medicine Handbook