Future Students

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Molecular biology is the basic science for study if you want to work in the exciting new biotechnology industries.

It has important practical applications in everyday life, with the use of genetically engineered organisms to produce new and better vaccines, insulin for the treatment of diabetes, growth hormone for the treatment of growth defects, antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs, as well as the production of more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural systems.

For the future, molecular biology holds the promise of improved livestock, the development of disease-resistant and drought-resistant crops, and the easier diagnosis and even curing of genetic diseases in human beings.

Molecular Biology can be studied in the Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology).

Level 1
At Level 1 you will study introductory biological life sciences, including chemistry, biology and an introduction to the concepts and methods used in molecular biology, plus mathematics and statistics.

Level 2
Level 2 studies cover the underlying principles of molecular biology in bacterial, plant and animal systems, plus biochemistry and bioinformatics. The regulation of gene expression and principles of recombinant DNA technology are covered in detail, with emphasis on post-genomic technologies.

Level 3
Level 3 is designed to expose you to research-level molecular biology in a variety of areas. These include: cloning vectors; symbiosis; nuclear, organelle and yeast genomes; viruses of plants and animals; cell signalling and cancer. In the laboratory you will be cloning DNA, sequencing genes, measuring gene expression and using computers to analyse the structure and function of genes.

On successful completion of the program, students may apply to do honours in one of the disciplines that contribute to the program.

Career opportunities

As a fundamental science, molecular biology provides graduates with a variety of career options. Besides research positions in universities, public and private research organisations (e.g. CSIRO, biotechnology companies), graduates are actively recruited into various management, administrative and legal professions. Molecular biology is also an underlying science for environmental and biodiversity careers.