Biotechnology MSc

Course director Dr Lori Snyder talks about the Biotechnology MSc at Kingston University:

Using state-of-the-art molecular and genetic technology to enhance biological organisms and their products, biotechnology develops novel solutions to medical, environmental and agricultural issues. It is a rapidly developing field of research and industry, and is widely regarded as a major technology of the 21st century.

Biotechnology brings together skills from a wide range of disciplines, including biology, chemistry and computer science. These skills will provide many employment opportunities in the emerging global biotechnology industries.

What will you study?

This course is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the biotechnology sector – whether in the multi-national biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry or the smaller companies exploiting new innovations in the field. It will also prepare you to pursue a research career at a university or in industry.

If you are interested in such careers and have a good first degree in a biological science or biotechnology, with a strong emphasis on genetics and molecular biology, the course is ideal.

Many of the staff in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing are research active. This ensures they are in touch with the latest thinking and bring best practice to your studies.

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This course includes eight taught modules (two of which are option modules), plus a research project. Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

Core modules

• Biotechnology (semester I)

• Biotechnology (semester I)

  This module introduces the rapidly-expanding field of biotechnology that is underpinned by advances in molecular biological techniques. You study:

  • a range of topics relevant to biotechnology in both laboratory and industrial settings; and
  • the potential impacts of biotechnology on society.

  The module includes:

  • an introduction to the range of applications of biotechnology;
  • how biotechnology shapes and facilitates biological research;
  • the techniques used in biotechnology applications – including the limitations of different types of data, the proper and informative use of experimental controls, and the meanings of false positive and negative results;
  • the science behind the technologies – so that you better understand how key methods in biotechnology work, how they have been developed and how they can be improved upon in the future;
  • practical laboratory sessions – in which you use the technology employed in selected areas of biotechnology; and
  • current research involving biotechnology methods and protocols.

  Teaching takes place through:

  • formal lectures;
  • support material on StudySpace (our student intranet);
  • practical classes;
  • computer-aided learning; and
  • tutorials.
  
   
• Molecular Medicine (semester I)

• Molecular Medicine (semester I)

  This module develops skills in molecular biology techniques and theory in the context of medical research applications. It will familiarise you with the theoretical and practical aspects of molecular biology as used in medical research and practice. Critical evaluation of molecular data and experimental design will be coupled with experience of laboratory techniques in molecular biology.

  Lectures will provide the essential theory, with laboratory classes providing practical experience of techniques. We will also encourage you to develop your knowledge and critical thinking through case studies and problem-solving exercises.

   

  
   
• Research and Enterprise in Biotechnology (semester I)

• Research and Enterprise in Biotechnology (semester I)

  This module is designed to ensure that you are:

  • aware of safety, ethical and entrepreneurial issues relevant to biotechnology;
  • aware of the opportunities for research funding; and
  • competent in generic research skills – such as experimental design, data analysis and communication of research outputs.

  During the module, you will:

  • develop the skills required for research and communication in science;
  • learn to evaluate the principles and practice of safety and ethics in research; and
  • examine the principles relating to entrepreneurship and enterprise in the biotechnology industry.
  
   
• Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (semester II)

• Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (semester II)

  This module aims to give sound training in '-omics' technologies as the essential basis to advancing aspects of systems biology. It builds on the knowledge of gene expression and proteins covered in the semester I Molecular Medicine module by covering genomics, proteomics metabolomics and computational bioinformatics.

  Through practical sessions, you will learn to retrieve data from public databases, analyse it and interpret your findings in the context of the biology of the whole system. The module will develop your understanding of:

  • the complexity of genome coding capacity and expression variability and the scientific value of analysing this on a global scale;
  • modern approaches to genome-wide gene expression analysis, the use of natural genetic variation in populations for mapping genetic traits, and state-of-the-art high-throughput gene function analysis – which will prepare you to be able to justify a functional genomics research programme; and
  • the principles of protein separation, purification, identification and expression, together with an evaluation of the methodologies and matrices available – you will gain the skills necessary to separate and identify metabolites, and critically analyse the applications and principal component analysis of metabolomes.
  
   
• Medical Biotechnology (semester II)

• Medical Biotechnology (semester II)

  Through team-based research, student and expert-led seminars and reflective criticism, this module builds on previous study and challenges you to investigate new developments in selected medical applications of biotechnology.

  You will have the opportunity to:

  • examine current developments in biotherapy, diagnostics and personalised medicine that are emerging from biotechnological research;
  • evaluate clinical applications of biotechnology in medicine; and
  • develop critical evaluation and problem-solving abilities in relation to issues in medical biotechnology.
  
   
• Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology (semester II)

• Environmental and Agricultural Biotechnology (semester II)

  This module provides an overview of the biological technologies used to treat, monitor and prevent pollution in the environment. It examines the use of biological materials as a source of sustainable energy production, and the applications of biotechnology in agriculture.

  You will review:

  • the use of biological organisms in the detection, treatment and remediation of waste water and contaminated soils;
  • energy production from organic sources;
  • applications of biotechnology in plant and animal agriculture; and
  • the ethical and social implications of the use of biotechnology in the environment.
  
   
• Research Project (semester III)

• Research Project (semester III)

  This module forms a major part of the Biotechnology MSc. You undertake an independent research project in an area relevant to biotechnology over a ten-week period, and present your findings in the form of a 8,000 to 10,000-word report and a poster presentation.

  The aim of the research project is to develop your abilities to plan, carry out and evaluate independent scientific research. This will:

  • enhance your critical faculties in the evaluation of scientific research literature;
  • provide an understanding of research methodology and analysis, particularly as they pertain to the field of biotechnology; and
  • develop your written communication skills based on your chosen topic.
  
   

Option modules (choose two)

• Separation Science I (semester I)

• Separation Science I (semester I)

  This module introduces you to the principles of separation science and its application in the laboratory, including solvent extraction, liquid chromatography and centrifugation. You will:

  • cover the fundamental principles and typical applications of modern separation techniques;
  • extend this to more advanced practical aspects of separation techniques; and
  • study modern liquid chromatography instrumentation in detail, including interfacing of liquid chromatography separation techniques to other analytical systems.
  
   
• Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy (semester I)

• Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy (semester I)

  This module introduces the main spectroscopic techniques used in industry – UV/Vis, IR, mass apectrometry, NMR, AES, AAS and X-ray methods.

  It covers the principles, advantages and limitations of atomic spectroscopic techniques, instrumentation and applications. It will enhance your understanding of the bases for quantitative spectroscopic measurements. You will practice the interpretation of simple molecular spectra to deduce chemical structures.

  
   
• Tumour Biology (semester I)

• Tumour Biology (semester I)

  This module introduces you to the biological interactions between tumour cells and the host, and how these interactions affect tumour progression. It includes:

  • processes such as carcinogenesis, metastasis and angiogenesis;
  • tumour response to therapeutic approaches, such as the development of drug resistance;
  • the control of growth and differentiation in tumours and their interaction with the host; and
  • the concept that malignant development involves change and evolution.
  
   
• Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance (semester I)

• Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance (semester I)

  This module introduces you to the different phases and types of clinical trials, plus the legal, regulatory and ethical issues associated with them. It covers:

  • statistical data analysis and how to manage and review clinical trial data in relation to evidence-based medicine;
  • the testing of medicines and medical devices in human volunteers and patients;
  • the different types of clinical trial and how to review results from drugs under test and in therapeutic use, to make judgement of these data and to make valid recommendations or warnings where appropriate;
  • the principles of clinical data management; and
  • the role of statistical analysis of clinical findings and associated limitations.
  
   
• Separation Science II (semester II)

• Separation Science II (semester II)

  This module builds on the principles of the semester I Separation Science I module, introducing the theory and applications of gas chromatography, hyphenated techniques, gel and capillary electrophoresis.

  It will further extend your knowledge of more advanced practical aspects of separation techniques, including studying modern instrumentation relative to the appropriate techniques in depth and the interfacing of gas chromatography to other analytical systems.

  
   
• Pharmaceutical Technology (semester II)

• Pharmaceutical Technology (semester II)

  This module builds on skills and knowledge gained in the Separation Science I module from semester I to ensure that you are aware of the processes by which an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is formulated into a medicine. It examines the effect that formulation decisions have on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines, and on the pharmaceutical industry's business model.

  The module will forge an understanding of:

  • the relationship between the quality, efficacy and patient compliance of pharmaceutical delivery technologies;
  • the relationship between the in vivo disposition of pharmaceutical dosage forms and the methodologies used in the development, clinical testing and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals; and
  • the construction and deployment of advanced drug delivery technologies for optimising drug delivery.
  
   
• Development, Manufacture and Regulation of Medicines (semester II)

• Development, Manufacture and Regulation of Medicines (semester II)

  This module introduces the development of medicines, starting with identification of the clinical needs of individuals and populations through to the development of new medicines from chemicals, natural sources and biotechnology. It covers:

  • the technology and application of the manufacture of various medicine formulations;
  • the place of biotechnological products;
  • elements of medicines regulation, with particular reference to the UK and European Union - this is dealt with in terms of both a general framework and specific areas (including manufacturing, dealing with specialist products, regulation in clinical use and licensing); and
  • detailed reviews of the progress of medicinal products (from instigation to patient) and improved systems of production, testing and control of medicaments.

  The module is student-centred with the development of a resource box forming a major piece of the learning, and presentation of student work to contributing to overall student learning.

  
   
• Molecular Oncology (semester II)

• Molecular Oncology (semester II)

  This module is designed to provide you with a more detailed understanding of the molecular processes that underlie the generation of malignancies. You will study:

  • the normal control of growth and differentiation, and the consequences of changes to this regularity; and
  • the concept that malignant change is a genetically-based multi-staged process.

  The central teaching platform is four major workshop sessions that allow you to explore your own ideas and discuss them with your peers as well as the tutors. The workshops focus on:

  • oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes;
  • cell death and the importance of escape from apoptosis in cancer;
  • the role of telomerase and the maintenance of telomeres; and
  • familial cancer syndromes.

  One of these workshop sessions will provide you with the opportunity to make a PowerPoint presentation of your findings to the class.

  
   

The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing holds a number of open day events throughout the year. These are a great opportunity to find out more about this course, the Faculty itself, and the facilities we offer.

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Learn more about the facilities available to you as a student of this course.

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This course is jointly delivered by three major universities in South London – Kingston University; Royal Holloway, University of London; and St George's, University of London – which together form the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, part of the South West London Academic Network (SWan).

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