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SL30046: Biological ethics

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Life Sciences
Credits: 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 120
Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework (CW 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
SL30046 Re-assessment Essay (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: After taking this course the student should be able to:
* discuss some of the bio-ethical dilemmas challenging modern society;
* demonstrate a detailed knowledge base;
* apply critical thinking skills relating to a variety of ethical issues.


Aims: To introduce students to moral and ethical issues relating to contemporary biology.

Skills: Learning and studying T/F/A, Written communication T/F/A, Oral communication T/F/A, Information handling & retrieval T/F/A, Working independently T/F.

Content: This course will consider ethical issues selected from a range of biology-linked subject areas including: transgenics and GMOs, embryo research, pesticide use, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity, biopiracy (IPR), gene therapy, biology in the media, factory farming, animal biotechnology etc.

Course availability:

SL30046 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Life Sciences
  • USSL-AFB02 : BSc(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
  • USSL-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSL-AFB03 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 3)
  • USSL-AKB03 : BSc(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSL-AFM02 : MBiol(Hons) Biology (Year 3)
  • USSL-AKM02 : MBiol(Hons) Biology with Professional Placement (Year 4)
  • USSL-AFM03 : MBioMed(Hons) Biomedical Sciences (Year 3)
  • USSL-AKM03 : MBioMed(Hons) Biomedical Sciences with Professional Placement (Year 4)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.