Biotechnology Course Syllabus
2009-2010 School Year
Course Title: Biotechnology
Room: B-111
Instructor: Kristin Donley
Credits: 5/semester
Office Hours: by appointment
Office: B-107
Email: Kristin.donley@bvsd.org
Web site: http://bvsd.org/schools/monarchhigh/Pages/default.aspx
Designated Grade Levels: 10th and higher
Course Duration: 1 or 2 semesters
Prerequisite/Recommendation: Biology
Class Materials/Supplies:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
3-ring notebook or folder; Journal (spiral or composition book)
Calculator and ruler
Black or blue pens, pencils, paper
email account (You have free school account)
Goggles or Safety Glasses (will use throughout high school and college)
$15 for one semester/$25 for year long laboratory fee (for consumable lab supplies)
Biozone Workbook (Microbiology and Biotechnology ISBN: 978-1-877462-12-2 ($8.95 each))
PREP Account (details provided at a later date)
Course Description: Students will explore the fundamental principles of biotechnology, career
pathways and biotechnology business applications (medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural).
Topics of study include: plant tissue culturing; DNA, RNA, and protein technologies; genetic
diagnostics; healthcare and pharmaceuticals; food processing (GMO’s); fermentation technology;
energy and environmental management; forensic science; cloning; stem cells; and bioethics.
Laboratory activities reinforce concepts and principles presented. Self-sufficiency and
responsibility in work habits required. (See outline of specific topics)
Instructional Strategies: Students will be exposed to a variety of teaching pedagogies such as demonstrations,
lectures, inquiry laboratory experiments, skill worksheets, class debates, field trips, guest presenters, literature reviews,
tests, and computer technology. Process skills in scientific reading and writing, listening, following directions,
hypothesizing, observing, recording, evaluating, analyzing data, and cooperating with others will be emphasized
throughout the course.
Learning Materials: Biozone workbook: Microbiology and Biotechnology ISBN: 978-1-877462-12-2 ($8.95 each). I
will also provide various supplemental handouts (e.g., articles from various lab manuals, textbooks and magazines such
as Time, Scientific American and Discover) during the year.
Assessment: For your Monarch transcript, your grade will be a weighted average between summative (~50%),
formative (~40%) and prep and practice (10%). I will be giving you reading assignments and problem sets/review
guides for each chapter/unit that we study. These assignments will often include notes, vocabulary, concept mastery
problems and short essays as well as critical thinking problems. These study guides will provide you with what you are
expected to know, understand, demonstrate and apply to attain mastery of the unit’s objectives. Use your resources
wisely! Also, all laboratory activities will have a lab a write-up which could include a full report, PowerPoint, poster,
or analysis questions. The extensiveness of these reports will vary. You will be provided details/rubric for each lab on
each lab assignment. Additionally, I will assign a few projects during the year. Details of each project and their
grading scale will be distributed at the appropriate time.
Class Grading Categories: Grades will be based on attainment of the essential learnings for each standard.
Laboratory Work (Formative)
Tests and Quizzes (Formative & Summative)
Final Exam (Summative)
Homework/Class Activities & Projects (Formative & Prep/Production)
~40%
~30%
~20%
~10%
Grade Scale:
Letter Grade
Percentage
GPA Scale
Class Rules:



A
90 – 100%
4
B
80 – 89%
3
C
70 – 79%
2
D
60 – 69%
1
F
Below 60%
0
Academic Honor Code: (This is a biggie!) You are to submit only your own work manufactured
from your own thoughts and processes. Anything used from another source must be appropriately
cited! Students failing to comply with the “honor code” are subject to disciplinary action through
the instructor and Monarch’s administration. No warning is necessary from the instructor. Please
note that your signature on the class contract indicates your awareness and acceptance of this
policy.
Classroom Conduct: At all times, conduct yourself in a manner that promotes learning and
ensures safety. Treat yourself, your classmates, and your classroom with compassion and respect.
Safety in the lab is essential! Unsafe practices or behavior of any kind will result in suspension
from the lab and loss of credit. (See separate handout of Lab Safety Guidelines for further
clarification.)
Absent Policy: Work is to be turned in on its due date, even if you attend school for only part of
the day. For an excused absence (from the entire day), it is your responsibility to obtain missed
materials, notes, handouts, etc. and make up assignments within two days. Anything assigned
prior to the excused day, is your responsibility to make sure it gets turned in on time! For work
missed during that day, you have two days from the day of your return to see me about scheduling
make-up labs, projects, quizzes, or tests; otherwise these assignments will become a zero. I highly
suggest if you know about a scheduled absence that you make arrangements prior to missing class!
Because of the fast pace and rigor of this class, I also highly suggest that you attend all classes, for
attendance will be to your benefit! Do not schedule dentist appointments, doctor’s appointments,
etc. during class time to avoid missing valuable information! For unexcused absences, as per
school policy, no credit can be given for assignments not turned in or activities done during that
day of class. However, be aware that you are still responsible for the material. I will give
extensions so loing as they are not abused; please discuss individual situations with your instructor
before an assignment is due! Remember that most late work will not be accepted after a set
deadline unless student talks to instructor and makes other arrangements!
The Instructor considers this document a contract between the student and instructor. If you have any questions, please
feel free to contact me via Kristin.donley@bvsd.org or at 303-665-5888 X4589. Email is the best form of
communication because the voicemail regularly “acts” up, and I don’t get messages quickly. Additionally, there is a
class web site where grades and other class information can be obtained:
http://bvsd.org/schools/monarchhigh/Pages/default.aspx . I look forward to this year and getting to know both the
students and their parents/guardians.
Biotechnology Topics
Microorganisms and
Biotechnology
Microbial Groups
Features of Microbial
Groups
The Structure of
Viruses
Replication in
Bacteriophages
Replication in Animal
Viruses
Bacterial Cells
Growth in Bacterial
Populations
Review of Bacterial
Structure
Antimicrobial Drugs
Antibiotic Resistance
Evolution in Bacteria
Fungi
Techniques in Microbial
Culture
Strain Isolation
Serial Dilution
Uses of
Microorganisms
Energy Resources
Sewage Treatment
Industrial Microbiology
Industrial Production of
Enzymes
Putting Enzymes to
Work
Applications of
Enzymes
White Wine Production
Red Wine Production
Beer Brewing
Bread Making
Cheese Making
Yoghurt Making
Cloning and Cell
Culture
Plant Tissue Culture
Stem Cells and Tissue
Engineering
Xenotransplantation
Cloning by Embryo
Splitting
Cloning by Nuclear
Transfer
The Human Cloning
Debate
Genetic Manipulation
The Nature of GMOs
Restriction Enzymes
Ligation
Gel Electrophoresis
Polymerase Chain
Reaction
Gene Cloning Using
Plasmids
Transgenic Organisms
Genetically Modified
Plants
Using Recombinant
Bacteria
The Ethics of GMO
Technology
Biotechnology in
Medicine
Production of Human
Proteins
Monoclonal Antibodies
Types of Vaccines
Edible Vaccines
Gene Therapy
Vectors for Gene
Therapy
Gene Delivery Systems
Bioinformatics and
Disease research
Genome Research
Manual DNA
Sequencing
Automated DNA
Sequencing
Genome Analysis
DNA Profiling Using
PCR
DNA Profiling Using
Probes
DNA Chips
Investigating Genetic
Biodiversity
The Human Genome
Project
Genome Projects
Forensic Science
Careers and Bio-tech
Business Simulation