Joanne Johnson

Kearny SCT

Biotechnology 1,2

Website: jj-sct-bio.weebly.com

I.Course Description

  • Biotechnology 1,2 is designed to give students an introduction to the scientific concepts and laboratory research techniques currently used in the field of biotechnology. Students will develop laboratory skills, critical thinking, and communication skills currently used in the biotechnology industry. Through extensive on-line reading, laboratory work, and workplace experiences, students will understand career opportunities in the field of biotechnology. The course emphasizes Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) which govern all facets of production in the biotechnology industry.
  • Grade Placement: 11-12
  • Recommended Prerequisites:

Completion of one year of high school biology/life science and one year of high school chemistry, with a grade of C or better in each course.

  • Meets University of California’s “d” Laboratory Science requirement.
  • Articulation for the course is provided by Miramar College under the direction of Dr. Sandra Slivka of the Southern California Biotechnology Center. The course is aligned with Miramar College introductory course, BIO 131 Introduction to Biotechnology, in collaboration with the AGMEN/Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Laboratory Grant and Equipment Loan Program.
  • Course Website: jj-sct-bio.weebly.com
  • Laboratory Manuals – Slivka, Sandra, An Introduction to the Biotechnology Laboratory *Supplemental Lab Manual - AMGEN Foundation Inc., Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program, 5th ed., 2007
  • Course Evaluation/Credit: Students who complete the course with a grade of B or better both semesters are eligible to take the challenge exam administered by Dr. Sandra Slivka (Miramar College). Students receiving a passing score on the challenge exam will be awarded 4 units of community college credit transferable to most postsecondary 4-year institutions in addition to graduation credit (“d”, category #2 certification for UC/CSU). All other participants will receive graduation credit only.

II. TOPICS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1,2

  • Biotechnology, Past and Present
  • The Characteristics of Model Organisms Used in Biotechnology
  • Standard Laboratory Operating Procedures
  • DNA Structure, Function, Isolation and Analysis
  • Protein Structure, Function, Isolation and Analysis
  • The Products and Applications of Modern Biotechnology
  • Assays and Assay Development
  • Recombinant DNA and Genetic Engineering
  • Bring the Products of Biotechnology to Market
  • Bioethics of Biotechnology
  • Careers in Biotechnology

III. THEMES OF INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY 1,2

  • Biotechnology 1: Introduction to Biotechnology/Basic Lab Skills/GMP
  • Biotechnology 2: Recombinant DNA Technology/Protein Production

IV. ADVANCED LAB SKILLS

  • MicrobiologySkills
  • Maintain workshop and equipment hygiene
  • Identify and quantify microorganisms and cells
  • Isolate, maintain and store pure cultures
  • Maintain and analyze fermentation materials
  • Harvest cells
  • Transform hosts
  • Decontaminate and dispose of equipment, glassware and

biologicals.

  • Cell Biology Techniques
  • Isolate and characterize cell lines
  • Propagate plant and animal tissue
  • Use cryogenic techniques
  • Use microscopes
  • Perform cytological tests
  • Perform bioassays
  • Nucleic Acid Techniques
  • Detect specific nucleic acid sequences
  • Isolate nucleic acids
  • Perform restriction digests
  • Perform gel electrophoresis
  • Label nucleic acids
  • Perform nucleic acid sequencing procedures
  • Perform PCR procedures
  • Use sequence database
  • Perform basic cloning techniques
  • ProteinTechniques
  • Detect specific proteins / Run ELISA test
  • Precipitate proteins
  • Separate proteins, isolate or characterize proteins
  • Perform protein assays

Grading: ALL points count! Test, quizzes, assignments, labs and projects are given a point value. Grades are calculated as a percentage of total points possible for the grading period: Student earned points X 100 = %

Total Possible Points

Study Guide for Bio 131 Miramar College Exam, Dr. Slivka:

Cell Theory

  • Parts of the Cell
  • Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Elements of Living Things

  • The components of an atom
  • The most abundant atoms of living things
  • Macromolecules and Chemical Bonds
  • Covalent versus non-covalent bonds
  • Types of chemical bonds: Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic forces

Macromolecules

  • What are the monomers of the major macromolecules?
  • What are the major functions of the major macromolecules?

Structure of Nucleic acids

  • Be able to draw the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA and show where the nucleotides are
  • Understand interaction of bases A T G and C
  • Know the Central Dogma
  • the differences between DNA and RNA
  • where transcription and translation take place in the cell

Enzymes

  • How they work (and why they don’t sometimes)
  • The important ones such as DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, restriction enzymes
  • Why they are important
  • What physicochemical factors affect their activity

Lab Skills and Industry Applications

  • Industry overview: recommend videos a
  • Be able to use the metric system for weight and measurement (be able to convert μl to ml and the reverse!)
  • Be familiar with the concepts Quality control, GMP and GLP and their importance in FDA regulation (visit to understand why safety and efficacy are important and that they are controlled withGMP /accurate and precise measurements!
  • The difference between precision and accuracy and it’s importance in quality control
  • Agarose Gel electrophoresis principles and practice
  • Solutions and dilutions; solute, solvent, concentration, moles, Molar, percent solution
  • Graphing and interpretation of results of protein assay and DNA gel electrophoresis (experiments that use astandard curve)
  • PCR the necessary ingredients and some of the uses
  • ELISA Assay It’s major purpose and mode of action (suggest HHMI Virtual ELISA)
  • Transformation Principle and practice
  • The Importance of pH, acids and buffers in the lab

Artificial and Natural Selection as it Relates to Biotechnology

Be able to describe homeostasis / Regulation - Feedback

  • Use examples such as temperature, insulin and glucagon, or leptin to illustrate homeostasis

Immunology o

  • Be able to describe the basic composition of blood o
  • Be able to describe major components of the specific and non-specific immune system
  • How are allergy, inflammation and autoimmune disorders related
  • How do vaccinations work; why do you need booster shots

Gene to Protein:Central Dogma

  • Be able to show how mRNA codes for proteins
  • Be able to draw mRNA from DNA and the reverse
  • The important enzymes in DNA science

Practice Lab Focused Problems