(A) Biotechnology
Introduction(B) Semiconductor Technology
Brief Description of Modules
Introduction
Brief Description of Modules
Biotechnology is the use of whole or parts of organisms, such as cells, genetic materials or enzymes, to make or modify products, to improve valuable traits in plants or animals, or to develop organisms for specific applications. It also encompasses research and development of natural products from organisms for agricultural, biomedical and industrials uses. Biotechnology is a very wide field that offers particularly promising opportunities for both developing and developed countries. It requires the co-operation of multinational scientific communities, and draws strength from various disciplines of science including environmental biotechnology, marine biology to cell and molecular biology. Within the constraints of the scope and coverage of this minor, this programme aims to introduce students to some general aspects of Biotechnology and practices of genetic engineering principles. It is recommended as a starter package for students who aim to attain an exposure to biotechnology.
To be awarded a minor in Biotechnology, a student must pass 8 MC each
at Levels 1000, 2000 and 3000 from the following. For Levels 2000 and 3000,
at least one module each must be of cell and molecular biology nature.
One module is 4 MC, unless indicated otherwise.
| Code | Title | Sem | Prerequisites | Modular Credits |
| BL1102 | Biochemistry & Organization of Cells | I & II | AO level in Biology or equivalent | 4 |
| BL1104 | Genetics | I & II | AO level in Biology or equivalent | 4 |
| BL1105 | Agrobiology & Biotechnology | II | AO level in Biology or equivalent | 4 |
| BL2102 | Molecular Biology Techniques | I & II | BL1104 or 1105 | 6 |
| BL2165 | Proteins and Enzymes | II | Preferably BL1102 or 1104 | 3 |
| BL2201 | Biostatitics & Population Genetics | II | BL1104 | 4 |
| BL2241 | Plant Metabolism & Function | I | Preferably BL1102 | 4 |
| BL2263 | Biology of Microbes | II | Preferably BL1102 or 1104 | 2 |
| BL2264 | Virology | II | Preferably BL1102 or 1104 | 2 |
| BL3102 | Biochemical Techniques | I & II | BL1102 preferred | 6 |
| BL3206 | Host-Pathogen Interactions | II | BL1102 and BL1104 preferred | 4 |
| BL3225 | Immunology | II | BL1103 and preferably BL2221 | 4 |
| BL3203 | Histology & Microscopy | I | BL2262 preferred | 4 |
| BL3244 | Plant Morphogenesis & Tissue Culture | II | BL1102 and preferably BL2241 or 2242 | 4 |
BL1102 Biochemistry and Organization of Cells
Prerequisites: Pass in ‘A’, ‘O’ or ‘AO’ biology, or pass in BL1306
(SB1302)
Workload: 26 lecture hrs + 6 tutorial hrs + 18 hrs of laboratory
This module provides an overall view on biochemical processes in living
systems. Topics will include the cellular and subcellular structures, biochemistry
of macromolecules, concepts of energy flow and applications of biological
processes.
BL1104 Genetics
Prerequisites: Pass in ‘A’, ‘O’ or ‘AO’ biology, or pass in BL1306
(SB1302)
Workload: 26 lecture hrs + 6 tutorial hrs + 18 hrs of laboratory
This is a comprehensive course which provides a basic foundation for
understanding inheritance in organisms including prokaryotes and eukaryotes
(plants and animals). The following aspects are covered: genetic material
consisting of cell structure, organization, chromosomes and chromatin and
cell cycles; principles of Mendelian genetics in plants and animals, sex-linkage,
and epistasis and pedigree analysis in plants and animals; molecular genetics
in prokaryotes and eukaryotes involving DNA replication and synthesis,
transcription, RNA splicing and translation; genetic analysis of fungal
mutation involving crossing-over and recombination, genetics of bacteria
and phages.
BL1105 Agrobiolgy & Biotechnology
Prerequisites: Pass in ‘A’, ‘O’ or ‘AO’ biology, or pass in BL1306
Workload: 26 lecture hrs + 8 tutorial hrs + 16 hrs of laboratory/industrial
visits
This module introduces the classical modes of agricultural production,
animal husbandry and fermentation and underscores their importance to human
societies. The lectures will then focus on the revolution in cloning technology
and its impact upon agrobiology and biotechnology with numerous key examples
from industries as well as from the forefront of scientific research.
BL2102 Molecular Biology Techniques
Prerequisites:BL1104 or BL1105
Workload: 12 hours of lectures + 3 hours of tutorials + 60 hours
of laboratory exercise.
This open-ended laboratory-based module covers many popular techniques
in molecular biology, including polymerase chain reaction and gene cloning;
gene transfer; gene expression analysis; mutations and mutagenesis; applications
of transposable elements; gene therapy; and molecular diagnosis. Students
will have hands on experience on transposable element, gene transfer by
electroporation, polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing and sequence
analysis. Recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering will
be highlighted. It covers cloning vectors, oligonucleotide synthesis, cDNA
cloning, genomic DNA cloning, DNA sequencing and restriction mapping. Students
will be asked to select one of the several organisms from the animal, plant
or bacterial kingdoms for their laboratory experiments.
BL2165 Proteins & Enzymes
Prerequisites : BL1102 or BL1104 preferred
Workload :26h lecture hours + 2 tutorial hours + 12 h laboratory
This module deals with: (1) amino acids: structure, properties, biosynthesis
and biotechnology applications, (2) protein structure, primary, secondary,
tertiary structure of proteins, molecular chaperones and protein folding,
the biochemical and molecular evolution of proteins; (3) enzyme classifications
and regulation (e.g. proteases and their inhibitors); (4) stability of
enzymes and their uses to the industry; (5) the biomedical applications
of proteins and enzymes, e.g.: control & regulation of defense mechanisms,
coagulation factors, detoxicants, defensins and lysozymes. Selected topics
on the structure, function and applications of proteins and enzymes to
the biotechnology and biomedical industries will be covered in this module.
The practicals will augment lectures and provide further insights into
the qualitative and quantitative nature of proteins and enzymes.
BL2201 Biostatistics and Population Genetics
Prerequisites: BL1104
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 4 tutorial hours + 18 laboratory hours
+ 2 CA hours.
This module deals with the application of statistical methods and experimental
design to biological data. The use of statistical software packages will
be introduced and exercised. The study of population genetics includes
genetic structure of populations, force affecting gene frequencies and
genetics of quantitative characters. The aim is to give students an insight
into analyses of quantitative data and analysis of the genetic structure
in populations.
BL2241 Plant Metabolism and Function
Prerequisite: Preferably read BL1102
Overlap: BY2103
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 laboratory hours
The module covers enzyme kinetics, the mechanism and control of enzyme
activity and intermediary metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and
lipids. It includes aspects of photosynthesis and respiration. The regulation
and integration of metabolic pathways and their physiological significance
will be emphasized.
BL2263 Biology of Microbes
Prerequisites : BL1102 or BL1104 preferred
Workload : 15l ecture hours + 2 tutorial hours + 8 hours of laboratory
This module deals with the basic biology of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic
microbes, with some reference also to their use as tools of cell and molecular
biology. The growth, cell cycle and molecular genetics of bacteriophage,
bacteria and yeast systems will be examined, as well as their use as hosts
for recombinant DNA.
BL2264 Virology
Prerequisites : BL1102 or BL1104 preferred
Workload :20 lecture hours +5 tutorial hours
Interesting viruses from plants and animals, their life cycles, genome
organization, interaction with host cells, and their usefulness as vectors
and model organisms in the molecular biology revolution will be examined
in detail.
BL3102 Biochemical Techniques
Prerequisites : BL1102
Workload: 13 lecture hours + 70 hours laboratory
This open-ended laboratory-based module will deal with principles and
practice of protein purification and characterization. Different techniques
of protein separation will be discussed in a concerted manner. Recent techniques
such as capillary electrophoresis, FPLC and HPLC will be introduced and
analyses of protein structure will be discussed. The use of radioisotopes
will also be covered. Students will have a flow-through experience in the
employment of various protein biochemical techniques.
BL3203 Histology and Microscopy
Prerequisites: Preferably BL2262
Workload: 26 lecture hrs + 6 tutorial hrs + 18 hrs of laboratory
The beginning of the course will touch on the organization of cells
to form more complex biological structures. A single organ contains several
different tissues, and its functional properties are determined primarily
by the nature of the tissues involved and their relationships. The major
types of tissues and their functions will be discussed. The second part
will cover microscopic techniques. This includes the theory and practice
of histological techniques. Various topics will be taught, including fixation
and fixatives, tissue-processing, microtomy and paraffin sections, frozen
and related sections, immunofluorescence and autoradiography. The course
also covers the principles and applications of confocal microscopy and
electron microscopy (EM). In addition to conventional protocols for imaging
sectioned or bulk specimens in the transmission or scanning electron microscopes,
special techniques such as negative staining, immunological labelling,
decoration, X-ray microanalytical and low temperature EM methods, including
membrane freeze fracture, will be covered. Practical sessions will include
hands-on sessions for many techniques.
BL3206 Host-pathogen Interactions
Prerequisites: BL1102, BL1104 and BL2161 preferred
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 4 tutorials + 20 hours of laboratory
This module will address the basic principles and concepts in host-pathogen
interactions at the molecular level, as well as the novel approaches to
identify and characterize the genes involved in host-pathogen interactions
in plants and animals, including humans. The topics include the determinants
of host-parasite specificity, gene-for-gene hypothesis, host response,
virulence and infection factors and their quorum regulation, protein secretion
systems shared by both plant and human pathogenic bacteria, and in vivo
expression technology and two- and three-hybrid systems. Models such as
Agrobacterium-eukaryote DNA transfer, Rhizobium-legume symbiosis
and Salmonella pathogenesis will be highlighted.
BL3225 Immunology
Prerequisites: BL1103 and preferably BL2221
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 hours of laboratory
The first part of the course will cover cells and tissues of the immune
system, inflammation, antigens, immunoglobulins, detection and measurement
of antigen and antibody, complements and types of immune response and immunization.
The second part will cover the monoclonal antibody technology for research
and clinical treatment, the challenges of immunotherapy and vaccination,
the development of second and third generation vaccines.
BL3244 Plant Morphogenesis and Tissue Culture
Prerequisite: BL1102 and preferably read BL2241 or BL2242
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 18 laboratory hours
This module deals with the principles and applications of plant morphogenesis
and tissue culture. It includes topics on the totipotency of plant cells,
control of morphogenesis; and cell, tissue, organ, haploid, embryo and
protoplast cultures. Techniques for transformation of plants and their
applications in biotechnology will be discussed. Candidates will be introduced
to the practical aspects of various types of culture, micropropagation
and transformation techniques during the practical sessions.
This minor comprises modules related to the current wafer fabrication technology and is aimed at familiarising students with the physics in semiconductor devices and processing. It would be especially useful for preparing students for employment in the microelectronics industry.
This minor will not be awarded together with the major in Physics in
Technology. To be awarded a minor in Semiconductor Technology, a student
must pass the following SIX modules.
| Code | Module name | Sem | Prerequisites | Modular Credits |
| PC1132 | Physics II | 2 | AO level pass in Physics or equivalent | 4 |
| PC1133 | Physics III | 2 | AO level pass in Physics or equivalent | 4 |
| PC2133 | Applied Solid State Physics | 2 | PC1133 | 4 |
| PC2240 | Electronics for Scientists I | 1 | PC1132 | 4 |
| PC3241 | Solid State Devices | 1 | PC2133 or PC3235 or ML2104 | 4 |
| PC3242 | Physics of Semiconductor Processing | 1 | PC2133 or PC3235 or ML2104 | 4 |
Students who matriculated before 1999 may use the following equivalent modules:
PC1103 and PC1204 in place of PC1133 and PC1132 respectively;
PC2204 and PC2205 (or PC2215) in place of PC2133 and PC2240 respectively; and
PC3205 and PC3204 in place of PC3241 and PC3242 respectively.
Students can major (or double major) with a minor in Semiconductor
Technology, provided no more than 3 modules are double-counted in both
the requirements of the major (or double major) and the minor in Semiconductor
Technology.
PC1132 Physics II
Prerequisite: A O level pass in Physics or equivalent, or PC 1221
& PC1222
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 15 laboratory hours
Basic interactions in nature; concept of fields; Newton´s
law of universal gravitation; Kepler´s laws. Coulomb´s law;
static electric field; Gauss´ law; electric potential; direct current;
magnetic field of a current; Ampere´s law; motion of a charge in
an EM field; induced electromotive force; Faraday´s law; ac currents
and simple ac circuits. Waves; the principle of superposition; standing
waves and beats; interference and diffraction; Doppler effect.
PC1133 Physics III
Prerequisite: A O level pass in Physics or equivalent, or PC 1221
& PC1222
Workload: 26 lecture hours + 6 tutorial hours + 15 laboratory hours
Michelson-Morley experiment; Einstein´s postulates; Lorentz
transformation; simultaneity; length contraction and time dilation; momentum
and energy in special relativity. Black-body radiation; photoelectric effect;
Compton scattering; angular momentum quantisation. Bohr´s model of
an atom; energy levels and atomic transitions; atomic spectra. Diffraction
of electrons; wave-particle duality; de Broglie hypothesis; the uncertainty
principle; basic concepts of quantum mechanics. The nuclei; radioactivity;
radiation detectors; decay process; nuclear interaction; nuclear binding;
fission and fusion; elementary particles and their classification.
PC2133 Applied Solid State Physics
Prerequisite: PC1133
Workload: 33 lecture hours + 18 tutorial hours
Structure of solids, practical determination of structure, elasticity,
phonons and lattice vibration; thermal properties of insulators, free electron
gas; semiconductor crystals. Transport properties.
PC2240 Electronics for Scientists I
Prerequisite: PC1132
Workload: 33 lecture hours + 18 tutorial hours
Circuit analysis techniques, characteristics and circuits of semiconductor
diodes, bipolar junction transistor, field effect transistor, biasing,
small-signal analysis, power amplifiers, oscillator circuits.
PC3241/PC3205 Solid State Devices
Prerequisite: PC2133 or PC3235 or ML2104
Workload: 33 lecture hours + 18 tutorials hours
Crystal properties and growth of semiconductors, charge carrier
concentrations, drift of carriers in electric and magnetic fields, diffusion
and recombination of excess carriers, p-n junction physics, junction diodes,
tunnel diodes, photodiodes, light emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers,
bipolar junction transistors, junction field effect transistors (JFET),
metal-semiconductor contacts metal-insulator-semiconductor interfaces,
MOSFET.
PC3242/PC3204 Physics of Semiconductor Processing
Prerequisite: PC2133 or PC3235, or ML2104
Workload: 33 lecture hours + 18 tutorial hours
Physics of diffusion, ion implantation, oxidation; lithography
semiconductor wafer fabrication – process flow and integration,
process characterization, thin film technology (sputter deposition, CVD
techniques), etching, dielectric layers, vacuum technology.