ChE 380 – Introduction to Biotechnology
Fall 2013
Instructor
Kshitiz Chaudhary, Ph.D.
E-mail:
kc323@njit.edu
Office Hours:
By appointment only, Thu, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Catalog Description:
ChE 380-101 – Introduction to Biotechnology. Prerequisites: Chem 122 or Chem 126. Basic
principles of molecular biotechnology with selected examples of applications. These applications
include, but are not limited to, the production of chemical and biological materials and the
development of processes encountered in the Biotech industry.
Course Objectives:
1. To identify structures of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
2. To describe microbial nutrition, growth and metabolism
3. To describe DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis
4. To describe Mutations, genetic manipulation and DNA uptake
5. To explain some basic applications of Biotechnology
Textbook(s):
1. Introduction to Biotechnology, 3rd Ed. (2013), by William J. Thieman and Michael A.
Palladino, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, New York.
Grading scheme:
Project
20%
Exam
40%
Final
40%
Policies:
1. Students are responsible for the material covered in class. Regular class
attendance is expected.
2. Make-up exams and “incompletes” may be given under extraordinary
circumstances and at the sole discretion of the instructor. Regular class
attendance is expected.
Schedule:
Sept 5
Historical background
- Chapter 1, Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
Sept 12
Cell structure
- Chapter 2, Section 2.1
Microbial nutrition, growth, and metabolism
- Lecture notes
Sept 19
Introduction to genes and genomes
- Chapter 2, Section 2.2: The Molecule of Life – DNA Structure
- Chapter 2, Section 2.2: The Molecule of Life – What is a Gene?
- Chapter 2, Section 2.3: What is a Genome?
Sept 26
DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis
- Chapter 2, Section 2.3: DNA replication
- Chapter 2, Section 2.4: RNA and protein Synthesis
Oct 3
Mutations, genetic manipulation, DNA uptake, and applications
- Chapter 2, Section 2.5
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology and DNA
Cloning
Oct 10
Restriction enzymes/plasmids, gene cloning/analysis
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Restriction Enzymes and Plasmid DNA Vectors
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Bacterial transformation
- Chapter 3, Section 3.3, Polymerase Chain Reaction
Oct 17
Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology, Genomics and Bioinformatics
- Chapter 3, Section 3.4, Gel Electrophoresis, DNA Sequencing, Gene Expression
- Chapter 3, Section 3.5, Whole genome sequencing, Bioinformatics, Human genome
project
Oct 24
Protein as products
- Chapter 4, Section 4.1, Proteins as products
- Chapter 4, Section 4.3, Protein production
MID-TERM EXAM
Oct 31
Microbial biotechnology, microorganism, and applications
- Chapter 5, Sections 5.3
- Lecture notes
Nov 7
Microbial biotechnology, Vaccines, Micobial Genomes, Biofuels
Chapter 5, Section 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6
Nov 14
Plant biotechnology and Applications
- Chapter 6, Section 6.3
Animal biotechnology and applications
- Chapter 7, Sections 7.2, 7.3
Nov 21
Medical Biotechnology
- Chapter 11, Section 11.1, Detecting Human Diseases
- Chapter 11, Section 11.3, 11.4, Gene Therapy, Stem Cell Technologies
Dec 5
Examples from the Biotech industry
- Lecture notes
Dec 19
Final Exam
The NJIT Honor Code and standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this
course. Any violation will be brought to the immediate attention of the Dean of
Students.