526-301 Biotechnology 1: Microbial Genetics and Physiology

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Microbiology (526-201 or 526-203); Biochemistry 521-211 and 521-212 (or 521-201) and 521-221 and 521-222 (or 521-202).

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

By the end of the subject students should:

• understand those fundamental principles of microbial genetics and physiology that underpin the new developments in biotechnology, such as those that enable genetic material to be cloned and transferred between cells and those that allow molecules to move through cell membranes and act as substrates for carbon and energy sources.
• be able to describe the ways in which microorganisms function and interact with their environment and each other and regulate their genetic and metabolic potential to ensure their continued existence.
• appreciate how microbial behaviour can be modified by changes to genotype or environment to facilitate their use in biotechnological processes.
• have developed the skills necessary to read and comprehend scientific papers.

Assessment

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination.