Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
Study Guide 2011-2012
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)
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Master's Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)
General information
The Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) supplies the students with the expertise and skills they need for modern
biotechnology research and related employment. Topics in instruction range from the latest developments in recombinant DNA
technology to non-technical issues, such as business and bioethics.
MBIOT is organised by the Faculty Agriculture and Forestry and Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences in
close co-operation with the Institute of Biotechnology. The state-of the- art scientific research conducted at these units offer exceptional
opportunities to pursue studies in an inspiring research-oriented environment while benefiting from modern facilities.
At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, the Department of Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Food and Environmental
Sciences and the Department of Forest Sciences are the responsible units for MBIOT education.
Studies in MBIOT
At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, students in MBIOT will specialise in one of the four biotechnology major subject specialisation
lines (responsible departments in parentheses):
1) Animal Biotechnology (Dept. of Agricultural Sciences)
2) Food Biotechnology (Dept. of Food and Environmental Sciences)
3) Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology (Dept. of Food and Environmental Sciences)
4) Plant and Forest Biotechnology + Forest Pathology (Dept. of Agricultural Sciences and Dept. of Forest Sciences)
MBIOT studies at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry include advanced seminars and practical courses in biotechnology, courses in
economics and ethics, and a final examination. A central part of advanced studies is the Master’s thesis, which alone is worth 40 credits.
Students selected for MBIOT may be required to complete their education in biotechnology with some supplementary studies. The
estimated duration of studies is two to three years.
Admission to the Programme
Potential MBIOT candidates apply to either the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry or the Faculty of Biological and Environmental
Sciences. The application deadline is at the end of January annually.
Careers
Graduating with a Master's Degree from MBIOT offers many opportunities for a wide variety of careers both within and outside research
and science.
Job prospects for M.Sc. students graduating in the various fields of biotechnology are expected to be good. Academic research
communities at universities and research institutes will require versatile young PhD students and post-doctoral scientists to conduct
basic and applied research based on the newest methods in biotechnology and gene technology. Industry will require modern
biotechnologists for the manufacture of new biological products such as pharmaceuticals (e.g. therapeutic proteins) and speciality
chemicals in entirely new hosts. Food and beverage manufacturing is increasingly based on biotechnological methods, and
environmental awareness is expanding the role and importance of environmental biotechnologists.
Contact persons
MBIOT professors/persons at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry:
Animal Biotechnology:
Elo, Kari, University lecturer (Animal Biotechnology), Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 5, C-building, Tel.
(09) 191 58544, email: kari.elo@helsinki.fi
Food Biotechnology:
Alatossava, Tapani, Prof. (Dairy Technology), Dept. of Food and Environmental Sciences , PO Box 66, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, EEbuilding, room 3037, Tel. (09) 191 58312, email: tapani.alatossava@helsinki.fi
Forest Biotechnology and Pathology:
Asiegbu, Fred, Prof. (Forest Pathology), Dept. of Forest Sciences, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 7, Forest building, room 215, Tel. (09)
191 58109, email: fred.asiegbu@helsinki.fi
Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology:
Hatakka, Annele, Prof. (Environmental Biotechnology), Chairperson of the Biotechnology Major Board, Dept. of Food and Environmental
Sciences, PO Box 56, Viikinkaari 9, Biocenter 1, room 3006, Tel. (09) 191 59314, email: annele.hatakka@helsinki.fi
Plant and Forest Biotechnology:
Elomaa, Paula, Prof. (Horticulture), Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 7, Forest House, room 117, Tel. (09)
191 58431, email: paula.elomaa@helsinki.fi
MBIOT student advisers at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (general questions):
Animal Biotechnology & Plant and Forest Biotechnology:
Niklander-Teeri, Viola, Docent, Coordinator , Dept. of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 5, C-building, room 131, Tel.
(09) 191 58424, email: viola.niklander-teeri@helsinki.fi
Food Biotechnology & Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology
Naskali, Tiina, PhD, Coordinator , Dept. of Food and Environmental Sciences, PO Box 66, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, EE-building, room
2022, Tel. (09) 191 58688, email: tiina.naskali@helsinki.fi
Forest Biotechnology and Pathology
Kovanen, Maija, MSc, Coordinator , Dept. of Forest Sciences, PO Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 7, Forest Sciences building, room 342,
Tel. (09) 191 57976, email: maija.kovanen@helsinki.fi
Further information
http://www.helsinki.fi/biotech
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
Study Guide 2011-2012
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)
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Degree Requirements 2011−2014
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT) 120 credits
MASTER’S DEGREE, 120 credits
credits
timing (year)
1
2
4
1
1
1
3
2
1
2
2-3
1-2
10-20
3
1-2
2
8-10
40
0
2
2
GENERAL STUDIES, 12 credits
Personal Study Plan
Academic Writing I
Business Economics
(various business economics courses are offered by the faculties of
University of Helsinki and Aalto University School of Economics)
812092
Bioethics and Legislation
993735
Academic Writing II
993734
MAJOR SUBJECT STUDIES, 88-106 credits
Obligatory major subject studies, 63-76 credits
Practical Training
Advanced Training in a Research Group
or laboratory courses
Advanced Seminar

1 credit of ICT studies integrated
Final Examination in M.Sc. degree
Master´s Thesis
Maturity Essay
Elective major subject studies according to the specialisation line, 25-30 credits:
Animal Biotechnology
(some of the courses have BSc level studies in animal genetics and molecular biology as prerequisites)
KEJAL440 Molecular Genetic Markers in Animal Breeding
5
KEJAL430 Genetic Resources and Animal Biotechnology
10
KEJAL410 Linear Models and Breeding Planning
10
KEJAL420 Methods in Prediction of Breeding Values
5
KERAV420 Feed Technology and Hygiene
5
52912 Genomes
2
52936 Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
3
52939 From Genomes to Gene Function
6
52751 Molecular Genetics, practical course
6
BIOT400 Bioresource and Food Enzymology
4
or other courses according to the study plan.
Food Biotechnology
(some of the courses have minor subject studies in Food Sciences as prerequisites)
MIKRO231 Food Microbiology
EK221 Vitamins and Other Bioactive Compounds
EK223 Food Additivies
EK131 European Food Legislation and Control
BIOT400 Bioresource and Food Enzymology
ETT415 Separation Methods
ETT425 Potential Novel Processing Technologies
ETT320 Industrial Food Process Design
ETT340 LAB starters
ETT350 Fermentation Technology
or other courses according to the study plan.
Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology
MIKRO560 Microbial Genetics laboratory course
YBIOT565 Production of Recombinant Proteins laboratory course
YBIOT540 Research Methods in Fungal Biotechnology
MIKRO580 Research Methods of Cyanobacteria
BIOT400 Bioresource and Food Enzymology luentokurssi
YKEM420 Biofuels
or other courses according to the study plan.
4
5
3
3
4
5
5
5
3
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
Plant and Forest Biotechnology
(some of the courses have BSc level studies in plant genetics and molecular biology as prerequisites)
KBIOT300 Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
5
Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry
Study Guide 2011-2012
Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)
KBIOT301 Laboratory Course in Plant Biotechnology
KBIOT403 Molecular Methods in Applied Plant Genetics
KBIOT401 Laboratory Course in Plant Molecular Biology
KPAT404/MPAT205 Plant Virology
KPAT405/MPAT204 Plant Pathogenic Bacteria
KPAT501/MPAT222 Plant-Microbe Interaction and Molecular Defence of Plants
KTB403 Stress Physiology
MPAT132 Basic Biotechnology in Forestry
MPAT221 Advanced Forest Mycology and Pathology
525004 Lectures on Developmental Plant Physiology
529016 High Throughput Genetic Mapping in Plants
52912 Genomes
52936 Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes
52939 From Genomes to Gene Function
529014 Epigenetics
529225 Lab Course on Plant Genomics
52751 Molecular Genetics, practical course
or other courses according to the study plan.
3(3)
5
5
5
5
5
10
5
5
10
3
5
2
3
6
3
3
6
ELECTIVE (FREE-CHOICE) STUDIES, 2-20 credits
University courses freely chosen by a student (e.g. theoretical, methodological or multidisciplinary studies or a minor subject
(25 credits) related to/supporting the specialisation track). Courses from other faculties and universities can also be approved.
Courses taught in other languages than English may be included in the Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology (MBIOT)
in up to 25 % of the total credits (i.e. maximum of 30 credits)
MASTER'S DEGREE TOTAL
Courses in the other Master’s Degree programmes in Viikki
MENVI: http://www.helsinki.fi/menvi/
MScFB: http://www.helsinki.fi/mscfb/
MScFood: http://www.helsinki.fi/mscfood/
MScPPS: http://www.helsinki.fi/mscpps/
Courses in the Department of Biosciences
http://www.helsinki.fi/biosciences/studies/
120 credits