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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Law : Law

Postgraduate Course: Biotechnology, Law & Society (LAWS11181)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Law CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaLaw Other subject areaNone
Course website http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/teaching/online_distance_learning/llm_degrees/llm_in_law/modules/biotechnology_law_and_society Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course examines the role played by law in the regulation of biotechnology. The course draws out two central problems relating to the use of law in this dynamic field. First, it is often difficult for regulators to keep pace with rapid advances in biotechnology and the life sciences. This means that existing legal concepts and regulatory frameworks can soon appear outmoded and inadequate. Second, in an age of moral pluralism, it can be difficult for stakeholders to secure social consensus on how new biotechnologies should be controlled and exploited. As a result, the regulation of biotechnology has often been a site of sharp political disagreement. This module examines how these fundamental tensions are mediated within the legal and regulatory structures governing biotechnology at both the national and international levels.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Please contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk
Additional Costs Students should have regular and reliable access to the Internet.

Print consumables (paper and ink) would be recommended to provide hard copy of some on screen text and materials (e.g. articles).
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesPlease contact the distance learning team at escript.support@ed.ac.uk
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Class Delivery Information This course is taught by distance learning.
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 40, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 156 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The aims of this module are to:

1. Consider the nature of biotechnology as a technological, economic, political and social endeavour;
2. Explore the role played by the law in resolving political and ethical disagreements pertaining to the regulation of biotechnology;
3. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of various legal interventions in the life sciences.

By the end of this course the student should be able to:

1. Appreciate the range of competing considerations and interests at play in the regulation of biotechnology;
2. Be able to formulate well-reasoned and coherent arguments relating to biotechnology law;
3. Show a solid understanding of current national, regional and international regimes for the control of biotechnology, and where appropriate suggest reforms thereof.
Assessment Information
One essay of up to 4,000 words (60%); one piece of assessed work (20%); contribution to online discussions (20%). Requirements for all module assessment will be outlined to students within the individual modules at the start of each semester.
Special Arrangements
This course is taught by distance learning.
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus 1. Biotechnology & regulation
2. Stem cell research 1: National frameworks
3. Stem cell research 2: European & international frameworks
4. Colonising the future
5. New modes of governance
6. GM foods
7. Intellectual property and the life sciences
8. Genetics & criminal law
9. Genetics & race
10. Biotechnology and our 'post-human' future
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Not entered
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr Gerard Porter
Tel: (0131 6)50 2023
Email: Gerard.Porter@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Clare Polson
Tel: (0131 6)51 4411
Email: Clare.Polson@ed.ac.uk
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