BOTN30130 Plant Biotechnology & Entrepreneurship

Academic Year 2021/2022

This course aims to awaken in students an entrepreneurial spirit in relation to biology. The course has two themes, the first deals with molecular biology and its application in biotechnology. Topics covered will include; chloroplast transformation: secondary metabolite production in cultured cells, micropropagation techniques; vaccine production in plants; biolistics; pharmaceutical production in plants. The second theme is business oriented and involves an introduction to business studies. The structure and development of a small business enterprise is examined and production of a business plan to capitalise and exploit a business venture is developed. Students will be placed in groups of 3-5 and will propose a business venture (which does not have to be plant oriented) that they must then research. Students will benefit from workshops to help them with the marketing and finance aspects of the plan.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this course, students will:
- Have a clear understanding of the application of molecular biology in plant biotechnology.
- Have clear understanding of chloroplast transformation, microorganism interactions with plants, plants as factories and secondary metabolite production in plants.
- Have a conceptual framework of how nuclear and chloroplast genetic modification is achieved.
- Have a clear understanding of how to formulate and develop a business plan, how to undertake market research and present financial data.
- Skills of observation and interpretation, will have been advanced, along with the writing and communication skills essential for a practical scientist and entrepreneur.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

18
Tutorial

10
Practical

12
Autonomous Student Learning

85
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures,
Curiosity based learning
Task based learning
Group project learning
Invited guest facilitators for workshops 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Business plan presentation Week 11 n/a Graded No

5
Continuous Assessment: Essays on taught topics throughout course Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

60
Group Project: Business plan researched and compiled by group Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

35

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students can if they wish submit drafts of essays and will get feedback, feedback will be given on submitted essay, ongoing feedback will be given in workshops on group project

Name Role
Dr Joanna Kacprzyk Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Carl Ng Lecturer / Co-Lecturer