BL4279 The CRISPR system for Antiviral Defence and Genome Engineering

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr S A Young

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The discovery of the CRISPR system, which provides adaptive antiviral immunity in prokaryotes, has made facile genome engineering a reality. This has resulted in an ongoing revolution in molecular biology and opened the door to a wide variety of applications in healthcare, agriculture and biotechnology. It also raises many ethical considerations. In this module, students will study the molecular biology of the CRISPR system in prokaryotes in depth, touching on the history of discovery, biological mechanisms and the context of antiviral defence systems. Building on this, students will gain an appreciation of the potential applications of this technology in biotechnology and healthcare, and develop a proposal for a novel application, taking into account the practical and ethical considerations.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS BL3302

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

Across the semester: 6 x 1h lectures, 4 x 1h tutorials, 3 x 3h seminars

Scheduled learning hours

19

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

132

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Display an understanding of the basic science underlying the recent advances in genome engineering technology
  • Access, interpret and communicate research ideas, data and analysis from the primary literature
  • Write a fully referenced review essay on an assigned topic
  • Display familiarity with the range of applications arising from CRISPR technology, including their respective strengths and limitations
  • Understand the ethical issues surrounding genetic modification technologies
  • Work as part of a team over an extended period to develop and deliver a project