Biotechnology Program

Program Details

Program Description

Molecular biotechnology is the use of laboratory techniques to study and modify nucleic acids and proteins for applications in areas such as human and animal health, agriculture, and the environment. Molecular biotechnology results from the convergence of many areas of research, such as molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, and cell biology. The tools of molecular biotechnology can be applied to develop and improve drugs, vaccines, therapies and diagnostic tests that will improve human and animal health. Molecular biotechnology has applications in plant and animal agriculture, aquaculture, chemical and textile manufacturing, forestry, and food processing. Every aspect of our lives in the coming decades will be affected by this dynamic field. 

Program Advantages

While technology generally aims to create tools to empower man, biotechnology aims to change man himself, to better fit him into the world. Simply put, biotechnology is the application of advances made in the biological sciences, especially involving the science of genetics and its application. Biotechnology has helped improve food quality, quantity and processing. It also has applications in manufacturing, where simple cells and proteins can be manipulated to produce chemicals. But biotechnology is most important for its implications in health and medicine.

Graduate Attributes

• Transfer and apply core scientific concepts to propose solutions in the Biotechnology industry.
• Work in ways that are informed by knowledge of the legislative, regulative, commercial, scientific and social environment.
• Use critical analysis and problem-solving skills to propose innovative solutions within a diverse range of biotechnology industry sectors. 
• Synthesize information and effectively, succinctly and sensitively communicate with the scientific community, co-workers, government agencies, investors, broad public and particular cultural and Indigenous communities.
• Apply judgment and initiative to propose and prioritize work strategies in consultation with co-workers to achieve timely completion of a project.
• Work in a multidisciplinary team and incorporate the views of all stakeholders including Indigenous groups.
• Use self-awareness and consultation to understand their role within a group and how they can best contribute to the group.
• Articulate a conscious understanding of their own values and demonstrate respect for the values of others and the ability to view an ethical dilemma from multiple viewpoints.
• Inform society of impending developments and engage in a constructive debate.

Job Opportunities

• Research centres
• Pharmaceutical and vaccines companies 
• Companies responsible for the development of agriculture and water purification
• Industrial companies producing chemicals, proteins, fibres and vitamins.
• Food inspection agencies
• Manufacture of biopharmaceuticals
• Genetic testing services
• Medical Laboratories

Getting started

• Semester 1
  6 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  GES111	Physical Geology	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO131	Biology I	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  CHE111	Organic Chemistry	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  PHY111	Physics I	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  MAT111	Mathematics I	3	1	0	0	4	3	150	6
  UC1	University Requirement (1)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 2
  7 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO119	Laboratory Safety and good laboratory practice	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  CHE141	Physical Chemistry	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  MAT112	Mathematics II	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  MAT131	Statistics	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E1	Elective Course (1)	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  UC2	University Requirement (2)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4
  UC3	University Requirement (3)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 3
  6 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO241	Biology II	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  CHE221	Inorganic Chemistry	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  PHY211	Physics II	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  UC4	University Requirement (4)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4
  UC5	University Requirement (5)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4
  UE1	Elective University (1)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 4
  7 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  CSE014	Computer Programming and Computational Techniques	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO311	Introduction to biotechnology	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  E1	Elective Course (1)	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  E1	Elective Course (1)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E1	Elective Course (1)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  UC6	University Requirement (6)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4
  UE2	Elective University (2)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 5
  7 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO313	Bioinformatics	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO321	Molecular Biology I	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO322	Microbial biotechnology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E1	Elective Course (1)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E2	Elective Course (2)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E2	Elective Course (2)	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  UC7	University Requirement (7)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 6
  7 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO312	Molecular Biology II	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO341	Plant biotechnology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  ENV311	Environmental biotechnology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E2	Elective Course (2)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E2	Elective Course (2)	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  E2	Elective Course (2)	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  UE3	Elective University (3)	2	0	0	0	2	2	90	4

• Semester 7
  6 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO411	Molecular genetics	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO412	Genetic engineering	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO413	Molecular immunology	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO414	Stem cell biology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  BIO415	Computational biochemistry	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  BIO418	Practical Training and Internship	2	4	0	0	6	4	210	8

• Semester 8
  6 Courses

  Code	Course Name	LCT	LAB	TUT	OTH	CNTCT	CH	SWL	ECTS
  BIO416	Nano-Biotechnology	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO419	Graduation Project	2	4	0	0	6	4	210	8
  BIO421	Recombinant DNA technology	2	2	0	0	4	3	150	6
  BIO422	Industrial biotechnology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  BIO423	Cell culture principles and techniques	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4
  BIO431	Animal biotechnology	1	2	0	0	3	2	105	4