CCST9011 Scientific and Technological Literacy
Biotechnology – Science and Impacts


Non-Permissible Combination:
CCST9006 Chasing Biomedical Miracles: Promises and Perils

Course Description

This course provides students with the facts about the scientific discovery leading to the development of this new and revolutionary technology, and challenges them to think, investigate and evaluate how this technology can help solve medical and health, agricultural and food, and environmental and sustainable resources problems and also its potential risk and hazards. Students will gain general understanding and knowledge of basic genetic, molecular biology and biotechnology, and interest in and awareness of the modern advancement of molecular biology and biotechnology. Students will be challenged to gain understanding about the impacts of biotechnology in human medical health, agriculture and environment. The moral-ethical issues associated with the biotechnology industry will be discussed and debated leading to the appreciation of the potential significant interconnection between biotechnology knowledge and humanities.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

    1. Describe and explain the principles of inheritance, recombinant DNA and cloning.
    2. Determine, explain and appraise the benefits and shortcomings of the application of biotechnology knowledge.
    3. Select and justify the use of advanced biotechnology products through bioethical consideration.
    4. Demonstrate professional and ethical approaches in presenting findings and analyses in a coherent and effective manner.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

First semester (Sat)


Study Load

Activities Number of hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials 12
Discussion (reading and self-study) 48
Assessment: Essay / Report writing 45
Assessment: Presentation (incl preparation) 30
Total: 159

Assessment: 100% coursework

Assessment Tasks Weighting
In-class participation and quizzes 15
Essay and written reports 30
Discussion forum 30
Poster and oral presentation 25

Required Reading

  • Selected reading materials (2-3 assigned articles per week) from Scientific American, the science and technology section of The New York Times and The Washington Post, the Internet, and videos from TED.

Recommended Website(s)


Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)

Course Co-ordinator Contact
Professor F.C.C. Leung
School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
Tel: 2299 0825
Email: fcleung@hku.hk
Teacher(s) Contact
Professor F.C.C. Leung
School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science
Tel: 2299 0825
Email: fcleung@hku.hk