Course coordinator
Professor Joanne Blanchfield
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Chemistry & Molec Biosciences
Explore foundational concepts in modern biotechnology through real-world examples across medical, agricultural, and industrial biotechnology. Learn about innovation, intellectual property and bioentrepreneurship while developing practical skills in patent searching and data sourcing. Consider the ethical and social issues influencing research and product development. Engage with local biotech leaders to discover emerging innovations shaping the global biotechnology landscape.
Welcome to the Issues in Biotechnology, part of the UQ Biotechnology Program. In this course you will be taught by leading experts from academia and industry about topical issues in biotechnology. You will gain a strong understanding of how broad-reaching the field of biotechnology is and how innovations in this field are changing the future of agricultural, medical and industrial biotechnology.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students will be expected to have completed at least one semester of first year science courses.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
BIOT2001, BIOT3001, BIOT7033 (co-taught)
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Professor Joanne Blanchfield
Dr Lisette Pregelj
Associate Professor Richard Clark
Associate Professor Anna Jenkins
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Check your online timetable regularly.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to:
a) introduce students to the scope and impact of biotechnology across medical, agricultural, and industrial sectors,
b) provide foundational knowledge of intellectual property (IP), patents, and information sourcing, and
c) develop understanding of core biotechnology concepts, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Explain the relevance of intellectual property concepts in varied biotechnological contexts;
LO2.
Identify, search, and analyse patent and scientific databases using tools employed by biotechnology professionals;
LO3.
Interrogate the underpinning science of various medical, agricultural, and industrial biotechnologies;
LO4.
Describe the therapeutic drug development pipeline and clinical trials process.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination |
Examination - Biotechnology Concepts Module 1
|
40% |
In-semester Saturday 6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025 |
| Quiz |
Online Quiz - Module 2
|
20% |
17/09/2025 2:00 pm |
| Quiz |
Paper Quiz - Module 3
|
40% |
27/10/2025 2:00 pm
Assessment will be undertaken during class time with in-person submission due by the end of class. Detailed instructions on how to complete this task are provided on Blackboard. |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Examination - Biotechnology Concepts Module 1
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
In-semester Saturday
6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
The on-campus, invigilated in semester examination will sample your knowledge of topics covered in Module 1.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Online Quiz - Module 2
- Hurdle
- Online
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
17/09/2025 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04
Task description
This blackboard quiz will sample your knowledge and understanding of topics covered in Module 2. You may need to use online search tools during this quiz. It is your responsibility to ensure you have reliable internet access throughout.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submission is via Blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
For submissions:
- less than 5 minutes late: 5% penalty
- between 5 minutes to less than 15 minutes late: 20% penalty
- more than 15 minutes late: 100% penalty
Paper Quiz - Module 3
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
27/10/2025 2:00 pm
Assessment will be undertaken during class time with in-person submission due by the end of class. Detailed instructions on how to complete this task are provided on Blackboard.
- Learning outcomes
- L03
Task description
This in-person, invigilated, closed-book, paper-based assessment will sample your knowledge and understanding of topics covered in Module 3. It is your responsibility to bring your student ID card and writing materials (e.g., pens/pencils) for this assessment.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT)
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle/s relating to this assessment item.Submission guidelines
Submit your Paper Quiz to the lecturer before leaving the assessment venue. Before submitting your assessment item in person, name each page of your assessment with your full name and student ID number. Unnamed assessments will not be marked. Assessments submitted electronically will not be marked.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Some engagement with the assessment tasks; however no demonstrated evidence of understanding of the concepts in the field of study The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Inability to apply knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Emerging ability to apply knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Acceptable application of knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Effective application of knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Extensive application of knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Original, novel and/or creative application of knowledge and skills The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Assessment Hurdles
1. If you achieve less than 40% for the in-semester exam, the maximum grade you will receive is a 4.
In order to pass this course, you must meet ALL of the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):
2. You must complete and submit an examinable attempt* on 100% of the assessable items in the course.
* An examinable attempt is a submission that demonstrates genuine engagement with the task as evidenced by addressing the task, shows effort, meets basic requirements, is of a coherent structure and demonstrates academic integrity.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Assessment Submission
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the on time, correct and complete submission of all assessment items.
Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (for example, screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
In the case of a Blackboard outage, contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible to confirm the outage with ITS.
Assessment/Attendance
Notify your Course Coordinator as soon as you become aware of any issue that may affect your ability to meet the assessment/attendance requirements of the course. The my.UQ website and the Course Profile (CP) for your course provide information about your course requirements, the rules associated with your courses and services offered by the University.
A note for repeating students in this course
Only learning activities and/or assessment items completed during the study period of enrolment, including any approved extensions, may contribute to your grade in this course. The whole or partial use of assessment items previously submitted for the same course, for a course at any institution, or for published material, is not permitted without written permission of the Course Coordinator.
Important Note
Turnitin is to be used for assignments/laboratory reports to check for plagiarism. Penalties can be severe for plagiarism.
The University has adopted the following definition of plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of misrepresenting as one's own original work the ideas, interpretations, words or creative works of another either intentionally or unintentionally. These include published and unpublished documents, designs, music, sounds, images, photographs, computer codes and ideas gained through working in a group. These ideas, interpretations, words or works may be found in print and/or electronic media.
Students should read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Blackboard
Additional supplementary material may be posted on the Blackboard site for the course at learn.uq.edu.auﾠ
Check the Announcements section of the Blackboard site regularly for information updates. ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 5 |
Lecture |
Module 1 - Biotechnology Concepts Focus on Biotechnology Concepts Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
Biotechnology Workshops Biotechnology Focussed Workshops Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 7 |
Lecture |
Module 2 - Medical Biotechnology Focus on Medical Biotechnology Learning outcomes: L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 8 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Module 3 - Industrial & Agricultural Biotechnology Focus on Industrial & Agricultural Biotechnology Learning outcomes: L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.