Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology

Study plan Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology

Basic skills

  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethic relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.

Specific skills

  • Describe the molecular, cellular and physiological bases of the organisation, functioning and integration of living organisms in the framework of their application to biotechnological processes.
  • Use the fundamental principles of mathematics, physics and chemistry to understand, develop and evaluate a biotechnological process.
  • Apply the principal techniques for the use of biological systems: recombinant DNA and cloning, cell cultures, manipulation of viruses, bacteria and animal and plant cells, immunological techniques, microscopy techniques, recombinant proteins and methods of separation and characterisation of biomolecules.
  • Use analytical methodologies for assaying the biological activity of cellular components, especially enzymes, both in vitro and in vivo.
  • Obtain information from databases and use the software necessary to establish correlations between the structure, function and evolution of macromolecules.
  • Identify the genetic, physiological and metabolic properties of microorganisms with potential for application to biotechnological processes and the possibility of manipulating microorganisms.
  • Identify the structural and functional elements of viruses and other useful microorganisms for the design of new strategies for molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases.
  • Describe the principles behind the design and functioning of bioreactors and calculate, interpret and rationalise the main parameters in transport phenomena and the matter and energy balances in bioindustrial processes.
  • Design and implement a complete protocol for obtaining and purifying a biotechnological product.
  • Identify the strategies for producing and improving products in different sectors using biotechnological methods and display an integrated vision of the R&D&I process.
  • Comply with ethical principles and legislation in the manipulation of biological systems.
  • Understand the legislation that regulates intellectual property in the area of knowledge and application of biotechnology.
  • Apply the criteria for evaluating biotechnological risks.
  • Display an integrated vision of an R&D&I process, from the discovery of the basic knowledge and the development of applications to market launch, and apply the main concepts of organisation and management to a biotechnological process.
  • Apply general laboratory security and operational standards and specific regulations for the manipulation of different biological systems.
  • Search for, obtain and interpret information from the principal databases on biology, bibliography and patents and use basic bioinformatic tools.
  • Adopt clear, objective scientific criteria in order to project a positive, transparent image of biotechnology to economic, political and social agents.

Transversal skills

  • Interpret experimental results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
  • Design continuation experiments for problem solving.
  • Make decisions.
  • Search for and manage information from various sources.
  • Use ICT for communication, information searching, data processing and calculations.
  • Read specialised texts both in English and one’s own language.
  • Make an oral, written and visual presentation of one’s work to a professional or non-professional audience in English or in one's own language.
  • Reason in a critical manner
  • Work individually and in teams
  • Lead and manage teams, and develop capacities for organisation and planning
  • Think in an integrated manner and approach problems from different perspectives.
  • Learn new knowledge and techniques autonomously.