Introductory description

This module will demonstrate how life science discoveries can be exploited for the benefit of humans and the environment. There is a huge range of such translational research, much of which contributes to the concept of ‘One Health’ which aims to sustainably balance and optimise the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Plant and microbe biology, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and modelling are all fundamental areas of life science being used for this purpose which will be explored in this module. Real world examples will be used to examine how these areas of research can reduce the burden of plant, animal and human diseases and support more sustainable and environmentally conscious approaches to crop and livestock production by reducing the need for chemical fertilisers, pesticides and antibiotics and decreasing the risk of pathogen resistance. Microbial communities in plant, animal and human microbiomes have critically important functions relating to immune responses, protection against disease and metabolic well-being and provides a common thread between different aspects of this module, linking the different areas of One Health. These new innovations in life science and associated technologies do however raise issues associated with intellectual property, patents and ethics and these business and social aspects will also be explored in this module.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• Microbial inoculants to enhance crop plant heath and yield
• Exploiting plant diversity, breeding and genetic technologies for improved crop plant varieties
• Manipulating microbiomes to enhance plant and human health
• Exploiting bacteriophages to combat plant and human diseases
• New approaches for control of insect-borne planta and animal diseases
• New tools and approaches to discover novel antibiotics and drugs
• Modelling to combat human and animal disease pandemics
• Exploiting research in relation to intellectual property, patents and ethics
• Developing / designing a novel product based on scientific evidence for exploitation

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate the principles, practice, and underlying genomics, biology and microbiology of key areas of biological science exploitation
• Analyse how microorganisms and microbiomes can be exploited for human and plant health
• Examine how plant genetic diversity and technologies can be used to enhance crop yields
• Analyse the benefits of modelling approaches to predict human and animal diseases
• Evaluate how new therapies, antibiotics and drugs are discovered to treat human diseases and mitigate pathogen resistance
• Comment on ethical aspects of biological innovation, such as the use of GM organisms and gene editing
• Summarise the mechanisms by which a patent is obtained, and intellectual property protected
• Design a proposal for an innovative product based on an area of life science research with consideration and knowledge of supporting evidence in the literature, market potential, intellectual property and ethics

Subject specific skills

Examine the global challenges that can be addressed by life science research
Demonstrate a clear understanding of the research and evidence behind different life science innovations
Assess the importance of science evidence, market potential, intellectual property, ethics and other factors that influence the success of life science innovations
Critically evaluate and synthesise the scientific literature
Ability to design and provide a reasoned argument for developing a life science innovation

Transferable skills

Communication - technical writing, presentation, active listening
Critical thinking - evaluation, synthesis and analysis of ideas and evidence-based literature
Intercultural awareness - understanding, adaptation, communication
Organisation - research programme organisation, commercial, market and stakeholder awareness
Problem solving - rational / intuitive solutions, co-creation, innovation, logical processing and reasoning, decision making, learning from constructive comments and feedback
Professionalism - accountability and responsibility, time management, operating autonomously, working under pressure, attention to detail, creative thinking
Self awareness - self-reflection, critical reflection, learning adaptability, personal worldview
Sustainability - systems thinking, future thinking, sustainable systems, accountability
Teamwork - collaboration, building/managing rapport, inclusive practices, overcoming and negotiating obstacles, creativity, leadership and management within a team