MSc Biotechnology

Applications of Biotechnology in biopharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. The module provides a description and demonstration of how the application of the principles of microbial and biochemical sciences can be used in the discovery, production, and manufacture of commercially important products for the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, with examples and case studies and an experimental section. The principles of genetic and physiological deregulation and overexpression of metabolic products that are discussed in the module build upon the analysis of metabolic pathways (studied at UG level Biochemistry and Metabolism modules) and the study of microbial diversity, metabolism and function (studied at UG level in Microbiology modules). Complementary concepts would have been covered at UG level in modules discussing systems biology, genomics, etc. The principles of discovery and production of products of biopharmaceutical and biotechnological interest, such as food, bioenergy, and (bio)chemical industries are discussed applying a quantitative approach.

The module is directed to the discussion of non-conventional Biotechnological processes and approaches, and the investigation of future directions for the area.

The module is directed to the study of large-scale bioprocessing and bioprocesses, from foundations to real industrial cases. The module shows how the principles studied in the previous module are applied in scales typical of pilot plant or industry, in particular the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries.

The module is directed to the discussion and analysis of the technical aspects of industrial cases and their administrative, legal, and regulatory characteristics. Module aims: specialised study on the principles involved in the development and operation of biological processes, and the problems specific to the use of biological agents; the legal and regulatory requirements for the development of a novel compound with potential application in health or environment; IP protection and patenting; business development and management; ethical issues, controversies and public understanding. (Programme/Module Catalogue 2027/8)

In this module, the students will be able to demonstrate the understanding and knowledge of the basic principles they 've learnt in the modules. The students will work individually on in small groups in projects associated to existing research projects, or in projects proposed by them (subject to the available material and supervisor). In the first case, the students will have to choose a project from a given list of potential projects, and they will have to justify their choice. In the second case, the students will propose a subject and explain and justify the subject and its relevance.The research plan must be designed by the student, including a time-plan and the costs involved. They will have to perform a literature search on the subject under study, and propose a logical sequence of experiments to solve a scientific problem, making use of the materials, equipment and facilities available to them. The plan will be discussed the supervisors, who will oversee the execution of the project and will provide advise on the different experimental aspects involved. Finally, the students will report the results of their project in a dissertation.The objective of the module is to stimulate scientific learning and develop the student's ability to design, conduct and evaluate independent research. The project and the report must fulfil the standards required for an MSc degree, demonstrating critical analysis and scientific reasoning, based on the literature and the experimental work.