Postgraduate Course: Biotechnology, Law & Society (LAWS11181)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Law |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.law.ed.ac.uk/ahrc/teaching/llm/ |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This 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.
Biotechnology & regulation
Stem cell research 1: National frameworks
Stem cell research 2: European & international frameworks
Colonising the future
New modes of governance
Risk assessment
Intellectual property and the life sciences
Genetics & criminal law
Genetics & race
Biotechnology and our 'post-human' future |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| 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-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Additional information |
This course is taught by distance learning. |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
The aims of this module are to:
- Consider the nature of biotechnology as a technological, economic, political and social endeavour;
- Explore the role played by the law in resolving political and ethical disagreements pertaining to the regulation of biotechnology;
- 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:
- Appreciate the range of competing considerations and interests at play in the regulation of biotechnology;
- Be able to formulate well-reasoned and coherent arguments relating to biotechnology law;
- Show a solid understanding of current national, regional and international regimes for the control of biotechnology, and where appropriate suggest reforms thereof.
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Assessment Information
| One essay of up to 5,000 words (60%); one piece of assessed work (20%); contribution to online discussions (20%). |
Special Arrangements
| This course is taught by distance learning. |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Gerard Porter
Tel: (0131 6)50 2023
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Clare Neilson
Tel:
Email: |
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