Mr. Poruban
Procedures/Guidelines
Genetics & Biotechnology:
Dear Students and Parents,
Welcome to a new semester! As your (child’s) science teacher I feel it is important to outline classroom guidelines.
Clearly stating the responsibilities of the students helps to eliminate confusion and enhance student performance in and
out of the classroom. Parents, if you have any personal concerns or questions, please contact me through e-mail at the
address below or call me at the high school: 215-420-5674. Students, feel free to meet with me during your HATS period
or email (gporuban@hatboro-horsham.org)
Course Description:
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Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of both commonly used and specialized laboratory
instruments.
Students will maintain a proper laboratory notebook and learn some basic biotechnology techniques such as
pipetting skills, cell transformation, plasmid DNA preparation, gel electrophoresis, PCR and chromatography.
Students will take 1of 2 field trips: Either visiting a local biotechnology or pharmaceutical company to discover
how biotechnology is used in the real world OR visit Montgomery County Community College to learn about the
courses that are available and perform experiments in their state-of-the-art research laboratories.
Students that complete the course may also have the opportunity to participate in a 1-week biotechnology
academy at MC3. (pending grant approval)
I. General Procedures and Regulations
A. Classroom Etiquette
1. Students should show respect for the teacher, fellow students, and school property.
2. Please do not talk while I am instructing the class.
3. Arrive to class on time.
4. Students should bring appropriate materials to class daily. (Pencil, textbook, notebook, etc.)
5. No food is permitted in the classroom! (This includes drinks, candy etc.)
6. Cell phone use is prohibited inside the classroom. (Unless instructed otherwise)
B. Grading
1. A student’s grade is determined by dividing the total earned points by the total points for all graded work.
(Tests, homework, lab notebooks, preparation/participation, etc.)
2. The grades are not “weighted.” Generally, the following points will be used for each assessment:
- Tests: 100 pts
- Classwork: 25 pts
- Projects: varies
- Labs/Notebook checks: 10-50 pts
- Homework: 5-10 pts
C. Homework
1. Homework is usually assigned every night. Homework/classwork/assignments will be posted to my
website: http://www.hatboro-horsham.org/poruban
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D. Absences/Make-up Assignments
1. Make up work such as tests, quizzes and labs will follow school policy (see handbook pages 14-17).
Extended absences will be adjusted according to the individual situation.
II.
Specific Course Requirements
E. Gloves
1. You will need to purchase a box of inexpensive gloves for lab work. These may be nitrile or vinyl (not
latex). These can be found at CVS, Walgreens or any pharmacy. You will be provided with safety
goggles and a lab coat.
F. Equipment/Safety
1. All students will be required to achieve a minimum of 90% on a safety and lab equipment quiz before any
labs may be attempted. Safety is an obvious concern in the laboratory setting and the equipment we are
using range from a few dollars to several thousand.
I am looking forward to working with all of you this year. Do not hesitate to call or stop in to see me if there is a question
or problem. Good luck and I hope you enjoy this course!
Mr. Poruban
gporuban@hatboro-horsham.org
Parent/Guardian Signature__________________________
Student Signature ___________________________
Parent contact email address: __________________________________
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Mr. Poruban
Course Syllabus/Fall 2015
Genetics & Biotechnology
**This document may be modified as needed throughout the semester**
Week(s) Chapter
1-2
1
3-4
2
5-6
3
Topics/Activities/Assessments
 What is biotechnology?
 Uses, regulation, practices and
careers.
 Bioethics: Biotechnology:
Good or Bad?
 Video: TED Talk
 Assessments: Chapter 1 quiz,
Introduce Career Project
 Laboratory safety, notebooks,
equipment.
 Numerical data: SF, SN & units
of measurement.
 Preparing solutions and
titrations
 Bioethics: Waste Disposal
 Videos: safety and various
instructional
 Assessments: Safety/Lab
equipment quiz, lab notebook
check, Chapter 2 test & Biotech
in the real world summary
(BITRW)
 Three domains of life
 Microorganisms in history
 Bacterial & Eukaryotic cells:
uses, culturing and techniques
 Bioethics: Should human
embryos be used for research?
 Videos: various instructional
 Assessments: Chapter 3 test &
BITRW summary
Laboratory Investigations
None
2.1: Lab safety and notebook structure
2.2: Pipetting skills
2.3: Column chromatography
2.4: Making solutions
3.1: Making microbiology media
3.3: Microbes & health (Koch’s
Postulates)
3.4: Gram Staining
3.5: Quantifying bacterial numbers
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4
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9-10
5
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11-13
6
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14-16
7
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17-18
8
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1-8
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Molecular biology, DNA
structure & restriction enzymes
Horizontal gel electrophoresis
Bioethics: Personal genetic
information
Videos: TED Talk, various
instructional
Assessments: Chapter 4 test, lab
notebook check & BITRW
summary
4.2: Casting agarose gels
4.4: Restriction digest (Lambda DNA)
4.5: Forensic DNA Fingerprinting
4.6: Plasmid mapping
Bacterial transformation and
plasmids: history, structure,
function, purification and uses
Bioethics: A world without
antibiotics?
Videos: various instructional
Assessments: Chapter 5 test &
BITRW summary
PCR (polymerase chain
reaction) and thermal cyclers
Types, techniques &
applications of PCR
Bioethics: Forensic DNA
databases-Is your privacy
protected?
Videos: various instructional
Assessments: Chapter 6 test, lab
notebook check & BITRW
summary
Protein synthesis, structure and
biotechnology
Protein analysis
(chromatography)
Bioethics: Food or fuel?
Videos: various instructional
Assessments: chapter 7 test &
BITRW summary
The immune system
Immunoassays
5.1: Bacterial transformation (S3
Plasmid)
5.2: Bacterial transformation (pGLO
plasmid)
5.3: Purification of S3/pGLO Plasmids
Project Presentation/Final
Review
6.1: STR PCR analysis
6.2: GMO detection by PCR
6.3: Detection of human PV92 Alu
Insertion
7.2: Size exclusion chromatography
7.3: GFP purification by HIC
7.5 Biofuel enzyme assay
8.2: Serum antibody Detection by ELISA
8.3: Quantitative ELISA
8.4: Western Blotting
None