Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Course Title Principles of Biotechnology I
School
San Marin HS, Novato HS and Marin Oaks HS
District
Novato Unified School District
City
Novato, California 94945
Contact Information
Curriculum and Instruction
Department or Discipline
History/Social Studies
English/Language Arts
Mathematics
Laboratory Science
Language other than English
Visual & Performing Arts (for 2003)
College Preparatory Elective:
Subject Area: __________________
Grade Level(s) for which course is
intended
10/11/12
Contact Information
Length of Course
Semester
Phone: 415-897-4269
Fax: 415-892-1622
Year
Other
Unit Value
0.5 (half year equivalent)
1.0 (one year equivalent)
2.0 (two year equivalent)
Other: _____________________
Seeking “Honors” distinction?
Yes
No
Email: courseoutline@nusd.org
Date of School Board Approval:
Course Number Assigned:
Was this course previously approved by UC?
Yes
If so, in what year?
Under what course title?
Pre-Requisites
Biology
Chemistry or integrated Chemistry/Math short course (in development)
Co-Requisites
Chemistry
1
No
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Brief Course Description for Academic Planning Guide (student friendly)
This one-year Biotechnology course will cover relevant topics in the field of Biotechnology.
Students will learn laboratory skills and techniques used in the field and study topics such as
bioethics, careers in Biotechnology, uses of databases and other resources, scientific
recordkeeping, communication of data and the process of product research and development.
Students will develop laboratory skills, critical thinking and communication skills currently
used in the fields of genetics, microbiology and biotechnology. The course will prepare students
to work in the Biotechnology environment and pursue the study of Biotechnology at the college
level. The course will include four components: lecture, lab, current research article discussion
groups and a work-site based research project. The course is intended to be the first of an
optional two year Career Technology Education (CTE) program that would lead to a
certification to work in the Biotechnology industry.
COURSE CONTENT
A.
Course goals and/or major student outcomes
The course will prepare students to work in Biotechnology laboratory and to continue in
further studies in Biotechnology. The course will cover the following topics: Basic
concepts and techniques used in Biotechnology, basic laboratory skills including
materials handling and safety, how to manage time in the laboratory environment, using
and maintaining equipment, mathematical calculations used in the laboratory
environment, including proper use of significant figures, scientific notation, calculating
concentrations to make solutions, percent yield, statistical analysis of data, pH
calculations to make buffers, appropriate use of lab ware for measurement, careers in
Biotechnology, Bioethics, applications of the scientific method such as designing
experiments, following and writing protocols, troubleshooting, analyzing and interpreting
data, presenting data in written and oral form using graphs and figures and using data
bases and resources and product research and development. Labs will include
electrophoresis, DNA isolation, restriction digestion and plasmid mapping, bacterial
transformation, protein purification, PCR, western blotting and ELISA, and DNA
sequencing. Students will conduct a research project in collaboration with partners in
industry and academia and analyze, present and discuss current Biotechnology research.
The course is intended prepare students to pursue Biotechnology courses at the college
level, work in a Biotechnology laboratory or to be the first of an optional two year Career
Technology Education (CTE) program that would certify students to work in the
biotechnology environment in entry level positions.
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
B.
Course Objectives-specific student learning objectives
Objectives
Students will Understand
CTE Biotechnology Pathway
Standards
Basic concepts and techniques used in
Biotechnology
Basic laboratory skills
-including materials handling and safety,
how to manage time in the laboratory
environment, using and maintaining
equipment, mathematical calculations used
in the laboratory environment, including
proper use of significant figures, scientific
notation, calculating concentrations to make
solutions, percent yield, statistical analysis
of data, and pH calculations to make buffers
A1.0 Students know the role of the
biotechnology industry and biotechnology
product development in curing diseases
A5.0 Students understand biotechnology
product design and development,
laboratory procedures, product licensure,
and the regulatory process for product
development and clinical trials
A2.0 Students know the fundamentals of
mathematical and scientific concepts
related to biotechnology
A3.1 Understand recombinant DNA,
genetic engineering, monoclonal antibody
production, separation and purification of
biotechnology products, and
bioprocessing.
A4.0 Students understand the principles of
solution
preparation,
contamination
control, measurement and calibration, and
emergency laboratory response
Appropriate use of lab ware for
measurement
A2.0 Students know the fundamentals of
mathematical and scientific concepts
related to biotechnology
Careers in Biotechnology
A3.2 Understand how the fields of
nanotechnology, bioinformatics,
genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics
influence new and emerging career
opportunities.
A1.3 Understand the legal and ethical
issues regarding the use of biotechnology
to cure diseases
A6.0 Students understand the ethical,
moral, legal, and cultural issues related to
the use of biotechnology research and
Bioethics
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
CTE Biotechnology Pathway
Standards
product development
A6.3 Understand the necessity for accurate
documentation and recordkeeping in
biotechnology research and product
development.
Applications of the scientific method
-such as designing experiments, following
and writing protocols, troubleshooting,
analyzing and interpreting data, presenting
data in written and oral form using graphs
and figures and using data bases and
resources
Laboratory skills: Electrophoresis, DNA
isolation, Restriction digestion and plasmid
mapping, Transformation, Protein
purification, PCR, Western blotting and
ELISA, and DNA sequencing.
Objectives
Students will Understand
A2.0 Students know the fundamentals of
mathematical and scientific concepts
related to biotechnology
A3.0 Students understand the role of
recombinant DNA and genetic
engineering, bioprocessing, monoclonal
antibody production, separation and
purification of biotechnology products,
nanotechnology, bioinformatics,
genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics
in biotechnical product development
A4.0 Students understand the principles of
solution preparation, contamination
control, measurement and calibration, and
emergency laboratory response
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
Basic concepts and techniques
used in Biotechnology
B-5. The genetic composition of cells can be
altered by incorporation of exogenous DNA into
the cells. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
a. Students know the general structures
and functions of DNA, RNA, and
protein.
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
b. Students know how to apply basepairing rules to explain precise
copying of DNA during semi
conservative replication and
transcription of information from
DNA into mRNA.
c. Students know how genetic
engineering (biotechnology) is used
to produce novel biomedical and
agricultural products.
d. * Students know how basic DNA
technology (restriction digestion by
endonucleases, gel electrophoresis,
ligation, and transformation) is used
to construct recombinant DNA
molecules.
e. * Students know how exogenous
DNA can be inserted into bacterial
cells to alter their genetic makeup
and support expression of new
protein products.
Basic laboratory skills
-including materials handling and
safety, how to manage time in the
laboratory environment, using and
maintaining equipment,
mathematical calculations used in
the laboratory environment,
including proper use of significant
figures, scientific notation,
calculating concentrations to make
solutions, percent yield, statistical
analysis of data, and pH
calculations to make buffers
C-3. The conservation of atoms in chemical
reactions leads to the principle of conservation
of matter and the ability to calculate the mass of
products and reactants. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know the quantity one mole
is set by defining one mole of carbon
12 atoms to have a mass of exactly
12 grams.
b. Students know one mole equals
6.02x1023particles (atoms or
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
molecules).
c. Students know how to determine the
molar mass of a molecule from its
chemical formula and a table of
atomic masses and how to convert
the mass of a molecular substance to
moles, number of particles, or
volume of gas at standard
temperature and pressure.
d. Students know how to calculate the
masses of reactants and products in a
chemical reaction from the mass of
one of the reactants or products and
the relevant atomic masses.
e. * Students know how to calculate
percent yield in a chemical reaction.
f. * Students know how to identify
reactions that involve oxidation and
reduction and how to balance
oxidation-reduction reactions.
C-5. Acids, bases, and salts are three classes of
compounds that form ions in water solutions. As
a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know the observable
properties of acids, bases, and salt
solutions.
b. Students know acids are hydrogenion-donating and bases are
hydrogen-ion-accepting substances.
c. Students know strong acids and
bases fully dissociate and weak acids
and bases partially dissociate.
d. Students know how to use the pH
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
scale to characterize acid and base
solutions.
e. * Students know the Arrhenius,
Brønsted-Lowry, and Lewis acidbase definitions.
f. * Students know how to calculate pH
from the hydrogen-ion
concentration.
g. * Students know buffers stabilize pH
in acid-base reactions.
C-6. Solutions are homogeneous mixtures of
two or more substances. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know the definitions of
solute and solvent.
b. Students know how to describe the
dissolving process at the molecular
level by using the concept of random
molecular motion.
c. Students know temperature,
pressure, and surface area affect the
dissolving process.
d. Students know how to calculate the
concentration of a solute in terms of
grams per liter, molarity, parts per
million, and percent composition.
e.
Students know the relationship
between the molality of a solute in a
solution and the solution's depressed
freezing point or elevated boiling
point.
f. Students know how molecules in a
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
solution are separated or purified by
the methods of chromatography and
distillation.
IE-1e-n. Scientific progress is made by asking
meaningful questions and conducting careful
investigations. As a basis for understanding this
concept and addressing the content in the other
four strands, students should develop their own
questions and perform investigations. Students
will:
e. Solve scientific problems by using
quadratic equations and simple
trigonometric, exponential, and
logarithmic functions.
f. Distinguish between hypothesis and
theory as scientific terms.
g. Recognize the usefulness and
limitations of models and theories as
scientific representations of reality.
j. Recognize the issues of statistical
variability and the need for controlled
tests.
Appropriate use of lab ware for
measurement
IE-1a-c. Scientific progress is made by asking
meaningful questions and conducting careful
investigations. As a basis for understanding this
concept and addressing the content in the other
four strands, students should develop their own
questions and perform investigations. Students
will:
a. Select and use appropriate tools and
technology (such as computer-linked
probes, spreadsheets, and graphing
calculators) to perform tests, collect data,
analyze relationships, and display data.
b. Identify and communicate sources of
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
unavoidable experimental error.
c. Identify possible reasons for inconsistent
results, such as sources of error or
uncontrolled conditions.
Careers in Biotechnology
Bioethics
Applications of the scientific
method
-such as designing experiments,
following and writing protocols,
troubleshooting, analyzing and
interpreting data, presenting data
in written and oral form using
graphs and figures and using data
bases and resources
B-5c. Students know how genetic engineering
(biotechnology) is used to produce novel
biomedical and agricultural products.
IE-1. Scientific progress is made by asking
meaningful questions and conducting careful
investigations. As a basis for understanding this
concept and addressing the content in the other
four strands, students should develop their own
questions and perform investigations. Students
will:
a. Select and use appropriate tools and
technology (such as computer-linked
probes, spreadsheets, and graphing
calculators) to perform tests, collect data,
analyze relationships, and display data.
b. Identify and communicate sources of
unavoidable experimental error.
c. Identify possible reasons for inconsistent
results, such as sources of error or
uncontrolled conditions.
d. Formulate explanations by using logic
and evidence.
e. Solve scientific problems by using
quadratic equations and simple
trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic
functions.
f. Distinguish between hypothesis and
theory as scientific terms.
g. Recognize the usefulness and limitations
of models and theories as scientific
representations of reality.
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
h. Read and interpret topographic and
geologic maps.
i. Analyze the locations, sequences, or time
intervals that are characteristic of natural
phenomena (e.g., relative ages of rocks,
locations of planets over time, and
succession of species in an ecosystem).
j. Recognize the issues of statistical
variability and the need for controlled tests.
k. Recognize the cumulative nature of
scientific evidence.
l. Analyze situations and solve problems
that require combining and applying
concepts from more than one area of
science.
m. Investigate a science-based societal issue
by researching the literature, analyzing data,
and communicating the findings. Examples
of issues include irradiation of food, cloning
of animals by somatic cell nuclear transfer,
choice of energy sources, and land and
water use decisions in California.
n. Know that when an observation does not
agree with an accepted scientific theory, the
observation is sometimes mistaken or
fraudulent (e.g., the Piltdown Man fossil or
unidentified flying objects) and that the
theory is sometimes wrong (e.g., the
Ptolemaic model of the movement of the
Sun, Moon, and planets).
Laboratory skills:
Electrophoresis, DNA isolation,
Restriction digestion and plasmid
mapping, Transformation, Protein
purification, PCR, Western
blotting and ELISA, and DNA
sequencing.
B-4. Genes are a set of instructions encoded in
the DNA sequence of each organism that
specify the sequence of amino acids in proteins
characteristic of that organism. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
a. Students know the general pathway
by which ribosomes synthesize
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
proteins, using tRNAs to translate
genetic information in mRNA.
b. Students know how to apply the
genetic coding rules to predict the
sequence of amino acids from a
sequence of codons in RNA.
c. Students know how mutations in the
DNA sequence of a gene may or
may not affect the expression of the
gene or the sequence of amino acids
in an encoded protein.
d. Students know specialization of cells
in multi cellular organisms is usually
due to different patterns of gene
expression rather than to differences
of the genes themselves.
e. Students know proteins can differ
from one another in the number and
sequence of amino acids.
f. * Students know why proteins
having different amino acid
sequences typically have different
shapes and chemical properties.
B-5. The genetic composition of cells can be
altered by incorporation of exogenous DNA into
the cells. As a basis for understanding this
concept:
f. Students know the general structures
and functions of DNA, RNA, and
protein.
g. Students know how to apply basepairing rules to explain precise
copying of DNA during semi
11
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Objectives
Students will Understand
California Science Content Standards
B=Biology/Life Science, C=Chemistry,
IE=Investigation and Experimentation
conservative replication and
transcription of information from
DNA into mRNA.
h. Students know how genetic
engineering (biotechnology) is used
to produce novel biomedical and
agricultural products.
i. Students know how basic DNA
technology (restriction digestion by
endonucleases, gel electrophoresis,
ligation, and transformation) is used
to construct recombinant DNA
molecules.
j. Students know how exogenous DNA
can be inserted into bacterial cells to
alter their genetic makeup and
support expression of new protein
products.
C.
Outline
Topics/Units/Themes
I.
What is Biotechnology
II.
Basic Concepts and Techniques Used
in Biotechnology
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Key Activities/Assignments/
Standard(s) addressed in Key
Activities
Topic (Key activities)
I. What is Biotechnology
History of DNA Science, DNA
Chemistry, recombinant DNA, genetic
engineering, research, development and
production of biotechnology product,
testing of biotechnology products
(Lecture)
II. Basic Concepts and Techniques
Used in Biotechnology
Genetic diseases as models for the
mechanisms of human inheritance
Factors that complicate inheritance
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Topics/Units/Themes
Key Activities/Assignments/
Standard(s) addressed in Key
Activities
Topic (Key activities)
Restriction Endonucleases, Gene
expression-DNA replication,
transcription, and translation, Protein
structure, function, and purification
(Lecture, Laboratories, Journal articles,
Research project)
III. Lab Basics
III. Lab Basics
Materials handling and safety of
chemicals and microorganisms, MSDS,
OSHA, Maintaining and using lab
equipment, balances, centrifuges, sterile
environment, other equipment
Lab Math-calculating concentrations
and making solutions, calculating and
making buffers, statistical analysis of
data, calculation of percent yield, metric
system, scientific notation, significant
figures in measurement and calculations
of pH and use of buffers, Appropriate
use of equipment and sample transfer
techniques for measuring accurately
Managing time in the laboratory
(Lecture, Laboratories)
IV.
Practice of the Scientific Method
IV. Practice of the Scientific Method
Designing experiments, writing and
testing protocols, conducting
experiments, analyzing data, presenting
data in the laboratory notebook and in
an oral presentation, troubleshooting
and developing an SOP
(Lecture, Laboratories, Journal articles,
Research project)
V.
Bioethics and Intellectual Property
V. Bioethics and Intellectual Property
Practicing Ethical Science
What is plagiarism, how to protect your
IP, contemporary issues in
biotechnology-Stem cells, cloning
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Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Topics/Units/Themes
Key Activities/Assignments/
Standard(s) addressed in Key
Activities
Topic (Key activities)
(Lecture, Laboratories, Journal articles,
Research project, Case studies)
VI.
Use of Databases and Other Resources
VI. Use of Databases and Other
Resources
Online protein and DNA databases,
Literature searches, Patent Searches
Printed Resources
Software to Manipulate and Design
Proteins and DNA (Lecture,
Laboratories, Research project)
VII.
Careers in Biotechnology
VII. Careers in Biotechnology
Nanotechnology, Bioinformatics,
Genomics, Proteomics, Research and
Development, Marketing, Sales,
Intellectual Property Law (Lecture,
Internship)
VIII.
Laboratory Procedures
VIII. Laboratory Procedures
Electrophoresis
DNA Isolation
Restriction Digests and Plasmid
Mapping
Bacterial Transformation
Protein Expression and Purification
PCR
Western Blotting
ELISA
DNA Sequencing.
(Laboratories)
IX. Current Research in Biotechnology
X. Research Project
14
IX. Current Research in
Biotechnology
Students will take turns presenting peer
reviewed articles to students in the class
X. Research Project
The student will propose a question to
research, design experiments, write
protocols, conduct experiments, analyze
data, trouble shoot and present the data
Novato Unified School District
Course Description
Principals of Biotechnology 1
Topics/Units/Themes
Key Activities/Assignments/
Standard(s) addressed in Key
Activities
Topic (Key activities)
in a written and oral form to the class
This project will be done in
collaboration with the Buck Institute or
Biomarin and will be conducted during
the second semester of the class.
D.
Texts and supplemental instructional materials
Biotechnology: Science for the New Millennium by Ellen Daugherty
Biotechnology Laboratory Manual by Ellen Daugherty
E.
Instructional methods and strategies
 Lectures
 Laboratories
 Scientific Literature Analysis
 Research Project
 Guest Lecturers
 Field trips
F.
Assessment methods and/or tools
 Quizzes, tests and comprehensive exams
 Presentations of student research and scientific literature
 Laboratory Notebook
 Research project Evaluation
G.
Assessment criteria
 Rubric scores on assignments
 Standards based quizzes and tests
 Teachers’ professional judgment of quality based on assigned criteria
Accumulated points from the above assessments will be evaluated as follows:
90-100%
Exceptional
80-89%
Above average
70-79%
Average
60-70%
Below average
Below 60% Unacceptable
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