Page 86 - FULL FINAL HANDBOOK 20232024

Faculty of Science Handbook, Academic Session 2023/2024
Faculty of Science Handbook, Academic Session 2023/2024

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE PROGRAMME
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
The Institute of Biological Sciences (ISB) offers degrees in PROGRAMME
BSc for 5 programmes (132-134): Biochemistry,
Biotechnology, Ecology and Biodiversity, Environmental
Management. Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Career Prospects
Students are accepted into one of these programmes on Upon graduation, graduates with BSc in Biotechnology can
the following criteria: (1) merit; (2) capacity; (3) completion occupy positions such as scientist, research officer, product
of all pre-requisites for year 1 courses. content strategist, marketing officer, business development
officer, QA/QC assistant, research assistant, QA executive
RESEARCH AREAS in pharmaceutical industry, research associate officer and
operation executive in Government Agencies, Private
Researchers in ISB carry out research in many different Agencies (Local / Multinational), Non-Governmental
areas. Examples include biodiversity and plant Organisations (NGO) and International Bodies.
conservation, plant and environmental ecology, genetics
(human and biochemical), plant and animal breeding,
cytogenetics, immunology, biohealth sciences, bioassays, SIO 1001 BASIC PHYSICS
cancer studies, genetic engineering and recombinant DNA
technology, animal and plant virology, bacteriology, Introduction to physical concepts present in Biosciences.
microbiology (industrial, food, medical, environmental), Physical principles that are used to understand the
animal biotechnology, neurobiology, biosystematics, biological systems.
applied entomology, pest control, fresh and marine water
management, applied toxicology. Assessment Methods:
Continuous Assessment: 60%
Final Examination: 40%
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Our BSc graduates are employed in the education, SIO 1002 FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUES
business, management, administration sectors. Some IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
choose to further their studies either locally or abroad, and
may one day return to ISB to become academicians or Introduction to the basic techniques that are used in the
researchers. Others are gainfully employed in local or field of biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology.
overseas research institutes.
Assessment Methods:
COURSE SYNOPSES Continuous Assessment: 100%

LEVEL 1 COURSES
SIO 1003 BIOINFORMATICS CONCEPTS
SIX 1015 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
This course aims to introduce the fundamental concepts in
This course examines the interaction between science, bioinformatic such as genome sequencing, pairwise and
technology and society from various perspectives. It multiple molecular sequence alignment, database similarity
provides discussion on the impacts of science and search, molecular phylogenetic and structural
technology (S&T) progress on society, and vice versa. The bioinformatics. It also covers the utilization of internet
discussions comprise the various main aspects of S&T biological databases to extract and analyse genomic,
proteomic and protein structural data. The importance of
Studies, namely scientific research and development, ontology in bioinformatics will also be emphasized. Various
sustainable development, ethics and values, history and
philosophy, economics, policy and management. Such bioinformatics problems and issues will be discussed on
combination encourages communication of diverse bioinformatics data analysis and applications.
diciplines and students will better appreciate the complex Assessment Methods:
ways in which science, technology and society interact.
Based on this understanding, students will debate on the Continuous Assessment: 60%
status, issues and challenges of selected S&T activities in Final Examination: 40%
the local context.
Assessment Methods: SIO 1004 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
Continuous Assessment: 60% PROGRAMMING IN BIOINFORMATICS
Final Examination: 40%
This course provides an introduction to computer
programming with an emphasis on bioinformatics data. In
this course, students will learn the fundamental aspects of
SIX 1016 STATISTICS
computer programming including analysis, design, coding
Introduction to statistics; Experimental and observational using the C++ programming language and testing. This
studies; Display and organisation of data; Descriptive course will address the topics such as flow chart, data
statistics; Population and samples; Sampling methods; structures, data types, variables, Boolean logic, control
flows and functions. By the end of the course, students will
Basic probability theory; Useful probability distributions:
binomial, Poisson and normal; Sampling distributions; be able to write and develop computer programs for solving
Central Limit Theorem; Point estimation and confidence common bioinformatics tasks using a procedural
interval; Hypothesis testing for mean and proportion in one programming style.
and two populations; Chi-square tests; Simple linear
regression and correlation analysis. Assessment Methods:
Continuous Assessment: 60%
Assessment Methods: Final Examination: 40%
Continuous Assessment: 100%

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