Molecular Biology And Biotechnology

in Molecular Biology And Biotechnology National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology College of Science University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology UPD College of Science University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines 2

1. Objectives of the Program The Program leading to the degree of Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (M.S. MBB) aims to provide students with an adequate graduate education in molecular biology and biotechnology that will prepare them for careers in the academe and research in industrial, biomedical and environmental studies. 2. Administration of the Program The M.S. MBB is administered by the NIMBB UPD Graduate Committee (NIMBB UPD GC) under the Office of the Dean, College of Science. The NIMBB UPD Director in concurrent capacity acts as the Chairperson of the NIMBB UPD GC; members of the NIMBB UPD GC are the full time faculty members of the NIMBB UPD who are doctoral degree holders and specialists in molecular biology and biotechnology.. Admission into the Program.1 Admission into the M.S. MBB program requires (1) a Bachelor s degree from a recognized institution of higher learning, and (2) a high degree of intellectual capacity and aptitude for graduate study in molecular biology and biotechnology. In addition, grade requirements are imposed by the NIMBB UPD GC.

The following remedial courses must be taken by Non BS MBB graduates and must obtain an average grade of 2.25 or better at the end of the school year. A grade below 2.5 in any of these remedial courses will disqualify the student from the graduate program. MBB 140 (Molecular Genetics, u) MBB 141 (Principles of Gene Manipulation, 5 u) MBB 121 (Fundamentals of Cell & Tissue Culture, 4 u) MBB 10 (Molecular Biophysics, 4 u).2 Each application for admission into the M.S. MBB program must be accomplished in the official college application form and accompanied by official transcript of records, two (2) written recommendations from former professors or experts in the field, and the officially prescribed application fee.. All applications must be submitted to and processed by the College of Science Graduate Office (CS GO), referred to the NIMBB UPD GC for evaluation, and endorsed by the latter to the Dean for official action. 4. General Requirements for the M.S. MBB Degree 4

To qualify for the M.S. MBB degree, the student must fulfill the following requirements: 4.1 Completion of a Program of Study consisting of at least twenty four (24) units of formal graduate courses; 4.2 Maintenance of a Cumulative Weighted Average Grade (CWAG) of 2.0 or better in his/her graduate courses at the end of each academic year until completion of the program of study; 4. Completion of at least one (1) unit of graduate seminar course during the student s course work; 4.4 Completion of the Master s Thesis based on a supervised original and significant research; 4.5 Successful defense of the Master s Thesis in a public Master s Examination; and 4.6 Submission of at least six (6) bound and certified copies and one (1) CD or soft copy of the approved Master s Thesis. 5. The Program Adviser and Program of Study 5.1 The Program Adviser 5

Each student admitted into the M.S. MBB program is assigned a Program Adviser to be designated by NIMBB UPD GC. The Program Adviser advises, guides and evaluates the student until the student obtains a Thesis Adviser. 5.2 The Program of Study Within the first semester of the student s initial year in the M.S. MBB program, a Program of Study (PS) is designed by the Program Adviser, in consultation with the student on the basis of the latter s academic preparation and desired specialization. A copy of the PS is then submitted to the CS GO through the NIMBB UPD GC. Subsequent revisions in the PS must be authorized by the Program Adviser, approved by the NIMBB UPD GC and communicated as soon as possible to the CS GO. 5. Semestral Study Load The normal study load per semester shall be nine to twelve (9 12) units of formal graduate courses. 6. Course Requirements and Transfer of Credits 6

Each student in the M.S. MBB program is required to complete at least twenty four (24) units of formal graduate courses consisting of fifteen (15) units of core courses and nine (9) units of electives as specified below. 6.1 Core Courses The following are the core courses in the M.S. MBB program: Course No. MBB 221 Course Title Advances in Cell and Tissue Culture No. of Unit s MBB 225 Advanced Molecular Physiology MBB 20 MBB 241 MBB 280 Principles of Instrumentation in Molecular Biology Advances in Genetic Engineering Advances in Microbial Biotechnology TOTAL Number of Units 15 6.2 Electives 7

The nine (9) units of electives are to be chosen from among the courses listed hereunder. The student may also choose other unlisted elective courses with the approval of the Program Adviser. Course No. Course Title No. of Unit s MBB 215 The Biology of Viruses MBB 222 Molecular Basis of Growth Regulation MBB 40 Human Molecular Genetics MBB 50 Advanced Cellular and Molecular Immunology MBB 52 Hybridoma Technology MBB 90 Bioinformatics MBB 97 Current Topics in MBB Other Electives Course No. Bio 242 Cytogenetics Course Title 8

Ch.E. 202 Biotechnology for Engineers Ch.E. 292 Biochemical Engineering Chem 240 Advanced Biochemistry Chem 241 Lipids and Related Systems Chem 242 Carbohydrates and Related Systems Chem 24 Nucleic Acid Chem 244 Proteins Chem 245 Enzymes Chem 250 Chemical Thermodynamics I Chem 257 Chemical Kinetics Chem 49 Special Topics in Biochemistry MS 25 Marine Chemical Ecology MS 270 Biochemistry of Marine Organisms I MS 85 Marine Toxinology MS 97 Special Topics in Marine Science * Course description and prerequisites may be obtained from the Institute where the course/s are offered 6. Seminar Requirement Every student in the M.S. MBB program must complete at least one (1) unit of MBB 296 (Graduate Seminar) in addition to the formal course requirements of his/her PS. 6.4 Transfer of Credits 9

Subject to the recommendation of the NIMBB UPD GC and the approval of the Dean, graduate courses taken under another program in UP or in another university may be credited towards the course requirements of the M.S. MBB program provided that these courses were taken within the last five (5) years prior to admission into the graduate program and the total number of graduate credits which may be transferred shall not exceed three eights (/8) of the total number of units in the program s course requirements, excluding the thesis units. The NIMBB UPD GC may require additional validation procedures in the processing of transfer of credits. 7. Grade Requirements 7.1 Cumulative Weighted Average Grade To remain in good standing in the M.S. MBB program, a student must maintain a Cumulative Weighted Average Grade (CWAG) of 2.0 or better in his/her course work at the end of each academic year until the completion of his/her program of study. The student s CWAG is computed by his/her Program Adviser at the end of each academic year and reported to the NIMBB UPD GC and the CS GO. 10

7.2 Failure to Satisfy the Grade Requirement A student who fails to satisfy the M.S. MBB grade requirement at the end of the academic year is disqualified from the program unless the NIMBB UPD GC decides, on justifiable grounds and upon the recommendation of the student s Program Adviser, to put him/her on probation for a period not exceeding two (2) semesters. Failure to obtain the minimum CWAG after the probation period automatically disqualifies the student from the M.S. MBB program. 8. The Master s Thesis 8.1 The Thesis Adviser and Reader After the student in the M.S. MBB program completes his/her course, he/she may enroll in MBB 00 (MS Thesis). The student finds a Thesis Adviser from the NIMBB UPD GC and is assigned a Thesis Reader by the NIMBB UPD GC. The Thesis Adviser and the Thesis Reader are formally appointed by the Dean to constitute the student s Thesis Committee. In cases of joint advising, the Thesis Committee maybe composed of the Thesis Adviser, a Co Adviser who may belong to an external institution, and the Thesis Reader. 11

The Thesis Committee is responsible for: 1. advising the student in the preparation of his/her thesis proposal; 2. guiding and supervising the student in his/her thesis research; and. endorsing the student s masteral thesis for defense in a Master s Examination. 8.2 The Thesis Proposal Before the thesis research can be formally started, the student must first prepare a written Thesis Proposal with the advise of his/her Thesis Committee to be submitted to the NIMBB UPD GC for approval. Within one (1) year upon approval of the Thesis Proposal, the student starts his/her thesis research. A certified copy of the approved thesis proposal must be submitted to the CS GO. 8. The Nature of the Master s Thesis The Master s Thesis must be a scholarly work that embodies a supervised original scientific research by the student and presents a worthwhile contribution to scientific knowledge in molecular biology and biotechnology. 12

9. Defense of the Master s Thesis 9.1 The Master s Examination Panel Upon completion of the master s thesis and its endorsement by the Thesis Committee to the NIMBB UPD GC, the latter recommends to the Dean the formal appointment of two (2) Thesis Examiners, who together with the Thesis Adviser and Thesis Reader (and Thesis Co Adviser, if any), constitute the Master s Examination Panel. 9.2 Administration of the Master s Examination The Master s Examination, in which the student must defend his/her thesis before the Master s Examination Panel, may be held within the College at any mutually convenient time upon the recommendation of the Master s Examination Panel, the endorsement of the NIMBB UPD GC and the formal authorization of the Dean. The Master s Examination may be held only if (a) the student has already satisfied the seminar requirement; (b) the thesis manuscript has been received by each member of the Examination Panel at least one (1) month beforehand; and (c) all members (except foreign 1

adviser/reader) of the Master s Examination Panel are present. The schedule and place of the Master s Examination is officially announced by the Dean and publicized throughout the college by the NIMBB UPD GC at least two (2) weeks beforehand. The schedule of the Master s Examination may be changed only upon the recommendation of the Master s Examination Panel, the endorsement of the NIMBB UPD GC and the formal authorization of the Dean. The Master s Examination is a public oral examination, the duration of which shall be left to the discretion of the panel. The evaluation and rating of the student s masteral defense is done by the Master s Examination Panel in a closed door meeting held immediately after the defense. 9. Rating of the Master s Examination There shall be three () ratings for the defense: PASS, Provisional Pass, or Fail. FAIL means rejection of the thesis defense by two panel members. Any member who fails the student must specify the reason(s) in writing, a copy of which shall be attached to the report of the panel. 14

Provisional Pass means minor revisions are required. All members of the panel must agree on the recommended revisions, which must be specified in writing and attached to the final report. A second rating sheet shall be signed only after the student incorporates the revisions and the defense panel certifies that the revisions were made. 9.4 Passing or Failing the Master s Examination If the student passes the defense, his/her master s thesis is considered approved. If the student fails the defense, he/she may submit him/herself to a second masteral defense not earlier than three () months or later than twelve (12) months after the first defense. Failure to pass the second defense disqualifies the student from his/her current master s program. 10.Residence Rule One Year Residence Before Graduation 15

The student must be officially enrolled in the College of Science for at least one (1) academic year prior to the conferment of the M.S. MBB degree. Maximum Residence Rule (MRR) The time limit for the completion of all M.S. MBB requirements shall be five (5) years. Residence starts from the time the student enrolls in any course after official admission in the M.S. MBB program and includes all leaves of absence. Failure to complete the course requirements within the time limit disqualifies the student from the program. Extension of Residence In exceptionally meritorious cases, the Dean upon the recommendation of the NIMBB UPD GC may approve extension of residence beyond the above period of completion. This extension shall be for a period not exceeding one (1) calendar year at a time. In no case shall the extensions exceed five (5) years. The student granted an extension shall take additional unit of graduate courses in his/her discipline or area during the extension period at a rate of three () units for every two (2) years of extension or a fraction thereof. 11.Graduation 16

Application for Graduation After the student passes the master s defense, he/she shall be qualified to apply for graduation to the University Registrar through the CS GO. Submission of Bound Copies The applicant for graduation must submit to the CS GO six (6) bound copies and one (1) CD copy of the approved master s thesis as a prerequisite for graduation. The bound copies must conform to the standard format of the college and contain the official approval of the Thesis Committee, the official endorsement of the Chairman of the NIMBB UPD GC, and the official acceptance of the thesis by the College of Science Dean. Conferment of the Master s Degree After the graduation of the student is recommended by the Graduate Faculty Council and College Assembly, endorsed by the University Council, and approved by the Board of Regents, the student shall be officially conferred the Master in MBB degree 17

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DESCRIPTION OF COURSES: Course No. Title and Description Prerequis ite/s Uni ts The Biology of Viruses. MBB 215 Concepts and studies on viral composition, growth and MBB 110 or equivalent effects on cellular processes. Advances in Cell and Tissue MBB 221 Culture. Advances in plant and animal tissue culture and their application to various MBB 121 or equivalent areas of biotechnology. Molecular Basis of Growth MBB 222 Regulation. Mode of action of growth substances at the Bio 22 or Bio 228 molecular and cellular level. Advanced Molecular MBB 225 Physiology. Molecular mechanisms involved in the physiology of biological MBB 125 or equivalent systems. Principles of Instrumentation in Molecular MBB 20 Biology. Principles of instrumentation employed in the study of the properties of MBB 10 or equivalent biomolecules using physical and molecular probes. 19

MBB 241 Advances in Genetic Engineering. Advances in MBB 141 or recombinant DNA technology, equivalent biomolecular analysis and their applications. MBB 280 Advances in Microbial Biotechnology. Recent developments in microbial biotechnology with f emphasis MBB 110 or on the molecular techniques equivalent and mechanisms involved in the synthesis of various economically important products. MBB 296 Graduate Seminar. Consent of Instructor 1 MBB 00 Master s Thesis. 6 Human Molecular Genetics. MBB 40 Principles and mechanisms of MBB 140 or human genetic variation at the equivalent molecular level; techniques in human genome analysis. MBB 50 Advanced Cellular and Molecular Immunology. Cellular and molecular MBB 150 or mechanisms of immune equivalent system activation, regulation and function. 20

MBB 52 MBB 90 MBB 97 Hybridoma Technology. Principles, methods and applications of monoclonal antibody production. Bioinformatics. Computational methods used for analyzing and modeling DNA, RNA and protein structures. Current Topics in MBB. Discussion on the recent developments in molecular biology and biotechnology. Bio 251 MBB 10 & MBB 140 or equivalents Consent of Instructor 21