ANSC30100
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Academic Year 2025/2026
Applied Biotechnology (ANSC30100)
Subject: : Animal Science
College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences
School: : Agriculture & Food Science
Level: : 3 (Degree)
Credits: : 5
Module Coordinator: : Professor David MacHugh
Trimester: : Spring
Mode of Delivery: : On Campus
Internship Module: : No
How will I be graded? : Letter grades
Curricular information is subject to change.
This module provides an overview of modern biotechnology, particularly as it applies to plant and animal agriculture.\ \ The module covers the following topics:\ * Genetic engineering and agriculture (transgenic crops and food products).\ * Genome editing and agriculture (genome-edited plants and animals).\ * New genomic technologies relevant to agriculture (bioinformatics, structural, functional, and comparative genomics).\ * Commercial applications of genomics technologies in the agri-food industries.\ * Biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity.\ * Societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies.\ \ Students taking the module will also produce a literature review on a relevant biotechnology topic of their choice. In addition, there is a laboratory practical and write-up that demonstrates basic principles of DNA-based biotechnology. \ \ This module is a 7-week module and will be examined during the Spring Break in March.
About this Module
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What will I learn?
Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this module students should be able to:\ \ * Evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of transgenic plants and crops.\ * Evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of genome editing.\ * Discuss biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity.\ * Discuss new genomic technologies and their relevance for agriculture and the food industries.\ * Discuss the societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies\ * Understand and describe a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) focused laboratory practical for human genetic identification and forensics.
Indicative Module Content:
This module provides an overview of modern biotechnology, particularly as it applies to plant and animal agriculture. The module covers the following topics: genetic engineering and agriculture (transgenic crops and food products); genome editing of plants and animals; biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity; new genomic technologies relevant to agriculture (bioinformatics, structural, functional, and comparative genomics); and societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies\ \ Students taking the module will also produce a literature review on a biotechnology topic of their choice. In addition, there is a laboratory practical and write-up that demonstrates basic principles of DNA-based biotechnology. \ \ On completion of this module students should be able to: evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of transgenic plants and crops; evaluate the agricultural benefits and consequences of genome editing; discuss biotechnology and agricultural biodiversity; discuss new genomic technologies and their relevance for agriculture and the food industries; discuss the societal, economic, and environmental implications of agricultural biotechnologies; and understand and describe their experience of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) focused laboratory practical for human genetic identification and forensics..\ \ This module is a seven-week module and will be examined during the Spring Break in March.\
How will I learn?
Student Effort Hours:
| Student Effort Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 24 |
| Laboratories | 10 |
| Specified Learning Activities | 25 |
| Autonomous Student Learning | 50 |
| --- | --- |
| Total | 109 |
\
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures.\ Viewing of videos explaining key scientific and technical concepts.\ In-class problem-solving exercises.\ Self-directed learning using materials provided on Brightspace.\ A molecular biology laboratory practical component with a write-up assessment.\ A scientific literature review project assessment.
Am I eligible to take this module?
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:\
ANSC20010 - Genetics and Biotechnology\ OR\ GENE20020 - Principles of Genetics\ \ If you do not have the pre-requisite module(s) but have equivalent prior learning, please contact the module co-ordinator to approve your registration to this module.
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Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:\ ANSC20010 - Genetics and Biotechnology, BMOL20090 - Molecular Genetics and Biotech, GENE20020 - Principles of Genetics, VET20050 - Genetics & Animal Breeding\ \ Additional Information:\ Only one of the prerequisite modules required, not all of them.\ \ \ \
How will I be assessed?
Assessment Strategy
| Description | Timing | Component Scale | Must Pass Component | % of Final Grade | In Module Component Repeat Offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment(Including Essay): IN-PERSON WRITTEN EXAM: Two-hour written examination, Spring (March) exam sitting. Accounts for 50% of the mark/grade weighting. | Week 8, Week 9 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 50 | No |
| Assignment(Including Essay): WRITTEN LITERATURE REVIEW PROJECT: Written project (approx. 4,000 words) on a biotechnology topic. Accounts for 30% of the mark/grade weighting. | Week 9 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 30 | No |
| Report(s): LABORATORY PRACTICAL WRITE-UP: A lab practical write-up fora DNA biotechnology practical (DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, population genetics). Accounts for 20% of the mark/grade weighting. | Week 10 | Standard conversion grade scale 40% | No | 20 | No |
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Carry forward of passed components
Yes
\
What happens if I fail?
| Resit In | Terminal Exam |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Yes - 2 Hour |
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \
Assessment feedback
Feedback Strategy/Strategies
• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment\ • Feedback individually to students, post-assessment\ • Self-assessment activities\
How will my Feedback be Delivered?
Feedback provided on project ideas and drafts. Feedback provided to students on project work and end-of-semester examination results.
Associated Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Dr John Browne | Tutor |
| Mr Thomas Hall | Tutor |
| Gillian McHugo | Tutor |
| Mr John O'Grady | Tutor |
| James Ward | Tutor |
When is this module offered?
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 | Fri 14:00 - 16:50 |
| Spring | Lecture | Offering 1 | Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 | Wed 15:00 - 16:50 |