Summer 2011
Biotechnology Academy
Gwinnett Technical College
July 11th – 15th & July 18th – 21st.
The Georgia Bioscience Technology Institute (GBTI) is a collaborative effort between
the Biotechnology Program at Athens Technical College and the Bioscience Program at
Gwinnett Technical College to prepare workers for the exciting Life Science industry.
Students who complete either program earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree.
This degree will prepare graduates to work in biomanufacturing, pharmaceuticals,
diagnostics, research, or environmental labs. After graduation, a number of our past
students have chosen to enter four-year college and graduate programs in various scientific
fields to further enhance their educational and professional qualifications in biotechnology.
The GBTI programs focus on critical thinking and laboratory skills. Students spend a lot of
time in biotechnology laboratories. Laboratory projects in class require students to design
and perform experiments encountered in real world laboratory settings.
In addition to the programs, GBTI conducts outreach to middle and high schools
throughout Georgia. The Summer Teaching Institutes form an arm of outreach which also
includes equipment loans, classroom support, industry networking and student internships
throughout
the
year.
Access
to
these
opportunities
is
managed
through
www.gabioscience.org or by contacting PGibson@gwinnetttech.edu directly.
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Logistics of the Courses
Week of July 11th-15th

Red Algae
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
Cell growth/abiotic factors
Antimicrobial properties of red algae
Pigment separation: Paper Chromatography
Chemical analysis of pigments: Chlorophylls and phycoerythrin
Chemical analysis of polysaccharides: Viscosity method
Chemical analysis of proteins: Lowery method
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
GMO investigator kit from Bio-RAD: We will use PCR and DNA
electrophoresis to test for the presence of two different GMO-associated DNA
sequences: the 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus and the
terminator of the nopaline synthase gene of Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
These DNA sequences are present in >85% of the GM crops that are
approved for distribution worldwide. As a control for the integrity of the
plant DNA extracted from food, PCR is used to amplify a section of the
photosystem II chloroplast gene that is common to most higher plants.
Students engage in a complete investigation in which they gather sample
food items from the grocery store, extract DNA from the samples, amplify the
DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and use agarose gel
electrophoresis to identify the presence or absence of amplified GMO
sequences.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Also known as an enzyme immunoassay (EIA), is a biochemical technique
used mainly in immunology to detect the presence of an antibody or an
antigen in a sample. The ELISA has been used as a diagnostic tool in medicine
and plant pathology, as well as a quality-control check in various industries.
In simple terms, in ELISA, an unknown amount of antigen is affixed to a
surface, and then a specific antibody is applied over the surface so that it can
bind to the antigen. This antibody is linked to an enzyme, and in the final step
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a substance is added that the enzyme can convert to some detectable signal,
most commonly a color change in a chemical substrate.

Microscopy
o Care and Feeding of the Microscope
o History of the light microscope
 The single lens
 The compound lens
o Know your microscope
 The light path
 The parts of the microscope
o Choosing and preparing a specimen
 Transparent materials
 Opaque materials
o Obtaining a quality image
 Refractive index
 Optical alignment
o Inspection of equipment brought to the workshop
o Practical examples to bring back to class
 Digital Imaging
.
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Logistics of the Courses
Week of July 18th – 21st

Analysis of Precut lambda DNA & Preparation of Agarose Gel
In this lab, three different restriction enzymes are used to digest genomic
DNA samples of the lambda bacteriophage. The lambda genome has
approximately
48,000
base
pairs.
Each restriction enzyme cuts the lambda DNA several times, generating
fragments of different sizes that are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis
and visualized using Bio-Rad's nontoxic Fast Blast DNA stain. Lambda DNA
comes from a bacterial virus, or bacteriophage, which attacks bacteria by
injecting them with its nucleic acid. Once inside, lambda DNA hijacks the
bacterial cellular machinery and replicates itself until the cells burst,
releasing millions more bacteriophages to carry out the same infection
process. Bacteriophage lambda is harmless to humans and other eukaryotic
organisms and therefore makes an excellent source of DNA for experimental
study. Aligned with AP Biology Lab 6, this experiment can be completed in
one 45 minute lab session. Includes materials for eight setups.

Chromosome 16: PV 92 PCR
With the PV92 PCR Informatics Kit, your students use real–world forensic
techniques to extract DNA from their hair follicles or cheek cells, and then
use PCR amplification and electrophoresis to fingerprint their own DNA at a
specific genetic locus. Using their own results, students test the Hardy–
Weinberg equilibrium theory within their classroom population, then go
online to compare their classroom results to genetic data of populations
worldwide.

Microbes and Health Kit
The Microbes and Health Kit allows you to set up a scenario in which students
get to discover the cause of a new disease called "Yogurtness" — an affliction
of "healthy" milk that causes it to become acidic and thick. What causes
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Yogurtness?™ Your students join Robert Koch, Louis Pasteur, and the
founders of modern microbiology in a thrilling search to find the bacterial
culprit behind this new disease. Using microscopes, agar plates, and their
powers of observation, students identify the bacteria used to produce yogurt.

pGLO Kit
In this activity, students transform bacteria by introducing a gene from the
bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria. They use the same procedure used
for creating "designer proteins." Genetic engineering is the process of
manipulating the genetic
Lunch will be provided daily
8 Free Plu’s
Guest Speakers to be announced
Contact Information
Dr. Philip Gibson
Phone: 678-226-6828
E-mail: pgibson@GwinnettTech.edu
*Please fill out the attached registration form and forward to Dr. Philip Gibson.
*Sources: Bio-Rad Kit Manuals & Previous Printed Academy Handouts.
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