Module Information
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Other | 2 x 3 hour student oral presentations |
Lecture | 1 x 1 hour lecture per week |
Practical | 3 x 2 hour laboratory practicals |
Other | 1 x 2 hour visit to external laboratories |
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | Assessed Laboratory practical | 20% |
Semester Assessment | Seminar presentation Outcome assessed: 3 | 30% |
Semester Exam | 2 Hours Written examination Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3 | 50% |
Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours Written examination Single examination, to assess all outcomes | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Understand the principles of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics
2. Evaluate how such technologies might be used in animal science
3. Discuss and evaluate the role and public acceptability of such technologies in the continued development of animal agriculture.
Aims
The module aims to introduce final year animal science students to recent innovations in biological science and to integrate these into discussions of current research projects, both within and outwith IRS, relevant to animal science.
Brief description
This module aims to explore how recent technical innovations in biological research in regards to the various 'omic' technologies (eg, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics etc) might be applied to research in the animal sciences and what the consequences of such research for animal agriculture might be.
Content
a. Technical advances in biological research will be introduced through the discussion of key current publications. The basis and background of the techniques will be presented as will interpretation of the data generated. Initially this will focus on the recent advances in genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, however the flexibility to integrate new technologies as they become available will be retained. This will be backed up by a series of visits to genomic, proteomic, metabolomic and bioinformatic resources at IRS, IBS and IGER.
b. Research staff at IRS and IGER will present a series of tutorials indicating how these technologies are being integrated into their own research area. It is intended that ongoing projects in digestive microbiology, reproduction, cellular metabolism, animal breading, diet evaluation and development of novel forages will be discussed.
c. The consequences of 'omic' driven research and the public acceptability of the products of such research will be addressed in a series of student driven seminars.
Primary literature in :
Nature
Trends in Biotechnology
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
Journal of Animal Science
Journal of Dairy Science
British Journal of Nutrition
Theriogenology
Reports produced by Friends of the Earth, the Food Standards Agency, the USDA, the EU commission etc
Module Skills
Skills Type | Skills details |
---|---|
Communication | Oral communication in seminars, written in exams |
Improving own Learning and Performance | Developed for seminars and exam |
Information Technology | Use of web resources for seminar presentation |
Research skills | Use of the primary literature in preparation of seminar material |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6