307548 (v.1) Engineering in the Biotech Century 100

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Area:	Department of First Year Engineering Studies
Credits:	12.5
Contact Hours:	3.0
Lecture:	1 x 2 Hours Weekly
Tutorial:	1 x 1 Hours Weekly
Syllabus:	An overview of biotechnologies and their role in modern economic development, structure of cells and life, bacteria and virus, DNA and RNA, genetic engineering, mutation, yeasts, life and environment, effect of environmental and processing conditions on behaviour of organisms, bio-reactors and control, process design and scaling, fermentation, aerobic and anaerobic digestions, wastewater treatment and contaminated soil remediation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, bio-processing and economy, bio-processing and ecology, biological contamination and biological weapons, ethics in bio-tech, bio-safety and bio-security.
Unit Outcomes:	On completion of this unit students will know the brief history of biology and its evolution, in particular, in combination with engineering to give rise to bio-technology; achieve a basic understanding of principles in biology, and the way of lives suchas how cells work and the influence of environment; understand in the context of large-scale commercial production how the engineering design and operation principles are applied in bio-processing, such as pharmaceutical manufacturing, brewing and wine-making, food processing, and agricultural production; be able to undertake conceptual design of simple bio-processes to appreciate the need for design tools and standards, taking into account of special requirements associated with dealing with living cells and organisms; develop an appreciation of the role of bio-tech in the new economic development; appreciate the need for ethic consideration in bio-tech development and practice; appreciate the impact of bio-processing on the environment; be alerted for bio-safety and bio-security.
Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.
Unit References:	Pollack, G.H. (2001). "Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life", Seattle, Ebner and Sons Publishers. Silver, B.L. (1998). "The Ascent of Science", Oxford, Oxford University Press. Rifkin, J. (1998). "The Biotech Century", New York, Tarcher/Putnam.
Unit Texts:	No prescribed texts.
Unit Assessment Breakdown:	Assignment 30%, Design Project 20%, Final Examination 50%. This is by grade/mark assessment.