Swinburne University of Technology - Melbourne Australia
Future Students - Courses
Duration
Contact Hours
Campus
Prerequisite
Corequisite
1 semester
48 hours
Hawthorn
Nil
Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points
A core subject in the Master of Science (Biotechnology) and a Group B unit in the Master of Science (Biotechnology) Global Leadership Program.
* To develop an appreciation of the need for and role of governance policies and procedures related to biotechnology experimentation, industrialisation, intellectual property, commercialisation, and patenting * To develop an appreciation of developments such as transgenic foods, human genetic testing, environmental technologies. * To introduce the diverse types of biotechnology industries and trends worldwide. After successfully completing this unit, the students would be able to: * Demonstrate an understanding of the regulatory procedures related to creation of transgenic organisms. * Demonstrate an understanding of the procedures related to commercialisation, ownership and patenting. * Identify major biotechnology industries, their activities, future developments and opportunities. * Perform literature searches, analyse published literature, submit written reports, assignments or presentation summarising the literature available on a given topic.
Lectures/tutorials, Internet-based resources, library tools and specialised databases.
Indicative weightings: Assignments/seminars (30-35%), tests (30-35%), final examination (30-40%).
Students will be provided with feedback during the assessment for this unit of study on their progress in attaining the following generic skills: * teamwork skills, * analysis skills, * communications skills, * ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, * ability to work independently
Specialised lectures, seminars and/or assignments varying from year to year and covering specialised aspects in different areas of biotechnology, such as: Introduction to regulating frameworks, policies and procedures, and safety considerations related to areas of biotechnology such as creation of transgenic organisms, genetically modified foods. Introduction to IP and commercialisation issues, patenting procedures and governance. Introduction to human genetic testing, molecular basis and methods, its applications Ethical, legal, social considerations of areas of biotechnology such as GM food or genetic testing. Biomaterials and nanotechnology and diverse applications of these. Literature search, assignments/written reports, or group projects, to investigate the developments or governance in biotechnology, such as the areas described above. Introduction to the biotechnology industry worldwide, and professional careers and pathways in biotechnology. Topics of relevance to the country of origin of the students, so the students develop an understanding of the relevance of their training in biotechnology towards addressing the priority areas of that country.
Specialised lectures, seminars and/or assignments varying from year to year and covering specialised aspects in different areas of biotechnology, such as:
Glick, BR & Pasternak, JJ, Molecular Biotechnology, 3rd edn, ASM Press, 2003. Additional materials: vary based on the topics. These will be generally comprised of journal articles, book chapters and specific websites. Resources for literature: available through library databases and various internet search engines.
