ENCH 480
Industrial Bioprocess Engineering
(Bioprocess Engineering 1)
2010
Course Content
Molecular genetics: DNA, RNA, replication, transcription, translation. Bioreactor design and
operation including unicellular organisms (bacteria/yeast), tissue culture and formulation.
Lecture Timetable
Term 1:
Attend BIOL231/BCHM202 lectures (optional)
4 lectures per week,
Monday 11 – 11:50, S2
Tues 11 – 11:50, S2
Thurs 1:10 – 2:00 pm, S2
Friday 10 – 11:50 S2
Attend the lab stream
Term 2:
3 lectures per week
Mon 9 – 9:50 am Commerce 012
Tues 9 – 9:50 am Commerce 009
Friday 12 – 12:50 Commerce 009
5 lectures – biological reactor design (Gostomski)
13 lectures – tissue culture systems (Visnovsky)
Course Assessment
Term 1:
Type
Value (%)
quizzes**
5
Laboratory assessment
45
Total
50
** Quizzes are administered at the START of the lecture to avoid interruptions from those coming
just to take the quiz. Quizzes are only administered in lecture, so attendance is mandatory.
*** The mid-semester test will include a separate section on laboratory material which CAPE students
will not be responsible for.
Term 2:
Mid-Year Exam (2 hours) (date TBA)
Assignment (tentative due date May 1 and 4)
Total
40%
10%
50%
Lecturers
 Dr Peter Gostomski (Course Coordinator), D560, S R Siemon Building
Telephone 364-2141 or extn. 6141, email: peter.gostomski@canterbury.ac.nz
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
Dr Gabriel Visnovsky, D555, S R Seimon Building
Telephone 364-2140 or extn 6140, email: gabriel.visnovsky@canterbury.ac.nz

Dr. Arvind Varsani, BIOL Room 439
Telephone 364-2987 ext 4667, email: arvind.varsani@canterbury.ac.nz

Professor Jack Heinemann, BIOL Room 226
Telephone 364-2926 or extn 6926, email: jack.heinemann@canterbury.ac.nz
Materials
Required Textbook
Biochemistry, 3rd Edtn. by Garrett and Grisham, Saunders College Publishing (This is not the
main text specified for BIOL231 but is supported as an alternative text and is probably the best
choice since you will be unlikely to take further genetics courses.)
Recommended Reading
Bioprocess Engineering – Basic Concepts, 2nd Edtn. by M.L. Shuler and F. Kargi
Self Study
Readings are assigned by individual lecturers. As general rule, allocate approximately 3 hours of
self-study and reading time for every hour of class “contact” time (i.e., lectures and laboratories).
Consider testing yourself using problems at the end of chapters in the textbook. It is your
responsibility to make use of contact time, such as spare time during the laboratory, to achieve
an understanding of the material.
Concerns
Students with concerns about the course should contact any of the teachers listed above, the 3rd
Pro Director of Studies (Dr Chris Williamson), or the Head of Department.
General Policies of the Department
Students may obtain the general policies of the University on matters such as the aegrotat
applications, appeals procedures, reconsideration of grades and special provision for students
with disabilities from the University Calendar.
The Department assessment details,
Departmental Safety Handbook, Electrical Safety Supplement and Disposal of Chemical Wastes
Policy are distributed to the students at the beginning of the new year.
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COURSE CONTENTS
Term 1: (Jack Heinemann)
Introduction to Central Dogma Reactions
DNA replication
Transcription
Translation
Review on DNA
The chemical composition and structure of nucleic acids; molecular configuration and
biological implications. Organization of DNA in "replicons" (brief).
Central Dogma Reactions
Replication of DNA
Evidence of semiconservative replication; DNA polymerization at replication fork; genetic and
biochemical analysis of DNA replication. Initiation, elongation and fidelity of DNA
replication; error correction and repair functions.
Homologous recombination
Holliday junctions and mutation.
Transcription
Evidence for the code; promoters to codons. RNAs: an account of various types of RNAs,
their, structures and functions.
Translation
Protein synthesis: the second code (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases); structure and function of
ribosomes, initiation, elongation and termination of a polypeptide chain; activation of amino
acids for peptide bond formation.
If time permits, the lectures will include simple models of gene regulation.
Term 2:
Bioreactors – 5 lectures (Peter Gostomski)
Fermenter design & operation
Yeast, bacteria and fungi fermentation
Microbial kinetics
Aeration, mixing
Tissue Culture, Mammalian, Insect Cell Culture – 13 lectures (Gabriel Visnovsky)
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Introduction and history.
Design and requirements for setting up an animal cell culture lab.
Security & Safety in the lab.
Animal cell culture characteristics and requirements.
Quality control
General techniques and systems for cultivation animal cell culture
Factors influencing cell growth
Kinetics and metabolic yield coefficients
Strategies for production process design. Lab, pilot, and large scale: CSTR vs. ALR
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Biotechnological applications: Production of secondary vaccines and metabolites: bacteria vs.
animal cell cultures systems, advantages and disadvantages
Case Study: Production of Baculovirus in large scale airlift reactors using insect cells
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