Aquatic Biotechnology

Unit Code:HES2205

Duration	Contact Hours	Campus	Prerequisite	Corequisite
1 Semester	48 hours	Sarawak	150 credit points	Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Aims & Objectives:

During the unit we aim:

To introduce the basic concepts of Freshwater and Marine Ecosystems.
To introduce and analyse the major areas of Aquatic Biotechnology.
To examine the advantages and disadvantages of different organisms for Aquatic Biotechnology.
To analyse the potential of using aquatic organisms for Bioremediation.
Outline the use of aquatic organisms for the production of pharmaceuticals.

At the end of this unit of study, students will be able to:

Identify, discuss and debate benefits and deficits of different types of Aquacultures.
Contrast the use of different aquatic organisms for the production of different products.
Describe and discuss the use of marine bacteria for cleaning up of toxic spills.
Perform basic experiments in the field of Aquatic Biotechnology.

Teaching Methods:

Lectures, Laboratories, Group Projects and Field Visits

Lectures will be used to provide basic information and encourage students to carry out independent learning tasks whilst field visits will be used to illustrate the relevance of course material to real world situations. Group projects will be used to facilitate cooperative work and study within the context of team work whilst laboratory exercises will focus on specific experimental tasks.

Assessment:

Assignment (25%), Laboratory reports (30%), Examination (45%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

You will be provided with feedback during the assessment for this unit of study on your progress in attaining the following generic skills:

teamwork skills,
analysis skills,
problem solving skills,
communications skills,
ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
ability to work independently

Content:

History of Aquatic Biotechnology Research, with a focus on Malaysia and Sarawak
Aquaculture farms: Different types. Marine vs. Freshwater. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), Ponds. Products, Hazards. Case studies
Nature and source of organisms used in Aquatic Biotechnology. Their role in ecosystems and nutrient cycles
Reproduction enhancement of Prawns and Fish
Food enhancement for Prawns and Fish
Use of marine bacteria to remediate oil spills and toxic waste
Algae: Biofuels, Food, Cosmetic products
Corals and Sponges as sources of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals
Green Fluorescent Proteins (GFP’s)
Bioluminescence

Reading Materials:

Dunham, R.A., Aquaculture and Fisheries Biotechnology: Genetic Approaches. CABI 2004

Le Gal, Y. and Ulber, R., Marine Biotechnology I Springer 2005

Le Gal, Y. and Ulber, R., Marine Biotechnology II Springer 2005

Tkacz, J. S.; Lange, L., Advances in Fungal Biotechnology for Industry, Agriculture, and Medicine. Springer 2004

Wink, M., An Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology - Molecular Fundamentals, Methods and Applications in Modern Biotechnology. Wiley 2006