BIOLOGY 356 BIOTECHNOLOGY

TEXTBOOK:  Molecular Biotechnology Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA. By Bernard R. Glick, and Jack J. Pasternak.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  This course will give students an opportunity to learn about biotechnology, a comprehensive area that includes the use of living organisms or their substances to make or modify products or organisms.  In both the class and lab components, we will primarily explore recombinant DNA and molecular biology techniques as well as the background, biology, applications, and ethics of biotechnology.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  Upon successful completion of this course students will:

• Understand the theory behind and be able to perform basic molecular biology techniques including solution preparation, agarose and polyacrylamide electrophoresis, restriction mapping, plasmid and chromosomal DNA isolation, bacterial cloning, PCR, library construction, and hybridizations.
• Identify, acquire, and analyze field-related reference materials.
• Analyze relevant data.
• Be familiar with some of the major advancements in microbial, plant, and animal biotechnology.
• Understand nucleic acid structure and function especially as it relates to laboratory manipulations.
• Understand basic ethical, legal, and social implications of biotechnology.
• Demonstrate the ability to use scientific methods to address basic molecular biology questions.

TOPICS COVERED:

• Nucleic Acid Structure and Function
• Recombinant DNA Technology / Restriction Enzyme mapping
• Cloning: Overview of Methods
• Molecular Research Procedures
• Prokaryotic Gene Expression
• Eukaryotic Expression Systems
• Commercial Products cDNAs/Antibiotics
• Molecular Diagnostics:  ELISA/Antibodies
• Vaccines and Therapeutic Agents
• Plant Biotechnology
• Transgenic Animals
• Human Genes and Gene Therapy
• Animal Cloning/Stem Cells
• Regulation and Patenting