SCHOOL OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology Laboratory I
Biotechnology Technologist Program
Professor’s Name:
Erin Stitt-Cavanagh
Course Number:
BTC3106
Email:
stittce@algonquincollege.com
Academic Year:
2009-2010
Office:
A129E
Term:
Fall
Out of Class
Consultation:
Tuesday:
16:00-18:00
Thursday:
16:00-18:00
Or by appointment
Level:
05
Section Specific Learning Resources
The textbooks for this course are the same as those listed in the approved course outline, available on
Blackboard.
 National Centre for Biotechnology Informaiton (NCBI): http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
 Restriction maps: http://tools.neb.com/NEBcutter2/index.php
 EMBL European Bioinformatics Institute: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/clustalw/
 Sequence alignment: http://bioweb.pasteur.fr/seqanal/interfaces/cap3.html
Learning Schedule
Week
Dates
Content
1
Sept. 8 – Sept. 11
Introduction and Course
Overview
2
Sept. 14 – Sept. 18
DNA Restriction and
Electrophoresis
Readings and
Assignments
Pre-lab material:
Flow-chart
3
Sept. 21 – Sept. 25
DNA Modification
Pre-lab quiz
4
Sept. 28 – Oct. 2
Transformation
Pre-lab quiz
5
Oct. 5 – Oct. 9
Recombination
Pre-lab material:
Flowchart
6
Oct. 13 – Oct. 16
Transformation with
Recombinant DNA
Pre-lab material:
Flow-chart
7
Oct. 19 – Oct. 23
Purification of Recombinant
DNA
Southern Hybridization Part I
Due: lab notebook for
evaluation #1
8
Oct. 26 – Oct. 30
Southern Hybridization Part II
Pre-lab quiz
9
Nov. 2 – Nov. 6
Southern Hybridization Part III
Pre-lab quiz
10
Nov. 9 – Nov. 13
DNA Amplification
Pre-lab material:
Flowchart
11
Nov. 16 – Nov. 20
Recombination of a PCR
Product
Pre-lab material:
Flowchart
12
Nov. 23 – Nov. 27
Transformation of a PCR
Product
Pre-lab quiz
13
Nov. 30 – Dec. 4
DNA Miniprep
Pre-lab quiz
14
Dec. 7 – Dec. 11
Drosophila Genetics
15
Dec. 14 – Dec. 18
Review Session
Pre-lab material:
Flowchart
Due: lab notebook for
evaluation #2
** Schedule subject to change **
Other Important Information
Classroom Policies:
Students should ensure that they are familiar with the following policies:
1. Attendance will be taken throughout the course.
2. Although there is no mark for attendance, missing a lab will reflect on your final assessment.
3. Quizzes and in-class assignments cannot be made up. Missed exercises will be given a mark
of zero. If however, you are able to provide a physician’s note and/or a coherent, valid
written explanation (in proper correspondence format), then the 0 (zero) will be altered to
reflect an excused absence.
Late Assignments:
All assignments must be submitted by the specified deadline. Any assignment not handed in by
that time will be deemed late (unless sufficient cause is given), and will be penalized at a rate of
10% per day up to a maximum of 5 (five) days, weekends included. If the assignment is not
handed in after five days, it automatically receives a 0 (zero).
Missed Quizzes and In-Class Assignments:
There will be no advance warning for in-class assignments and quizzes. If you are not in class
when the assignments and quizzes are handed out, you will not receive any marks for them.
See the Attendance section above for changing a zero (0) to an excused absence.
Evaluation Overview:
The following table provides a list of the assignments that will be completed for this class and a
breakdown of the weighting.
The following will provide evidence of
your learning achievements:
Value
Participation (throughout the semester)

Examine genotypic analysis of DNA using
restriction enzymes and gel
electrophoresis. (Validates CLR 1)

Perform plasmid transformations and
identification. (Validates CLR 2)

Identify plasmid recombination products.
(Validates CLR 3)

Detect specific gene sequences using
Southern blot hybridization. (Validates CLR 4)

Compare PCR and Southern blot
hybridization methods to detect specific
gene sequences. (Validates CLR 5)

Examine the basic principles of Mendelian
inheritance. (Validates CLR 6)

Maintain a laboratory notebook. (Validates
30%
CLR 7)

Apply a systems approach to solve
problems. (Validates EES 4)

Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate
and solve problems. (Validates EES 5)
Pre-lab Material

Includes quizzes and ability to produce a
pre-lab flow chart to test key terms and
concepts. (Validates CLR #1-7, EES # 4-5
20%
Laboratory Notebook

Maintain a laboratory notebook. (Validates
CLR 7)

Apply a systems approach to solve
problems. (Validates EES 4)

Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate
and solve problems. (Validates EES 5)

Communicate clearly, concisely and
correctly in the written, spoken and visual
form that fulfills the purpose and meets the
needs of the audience. (Validates EES7)

Locate, select, organize and document
information using appropriate technology
and information systems. (Validates EES 7)
30%
Final Assessment

Examine genotypic analysis of DNA using
restriction enzymes and gel
electrophoresis. (Validates CLR 1)

Perform plasmid transformations and
identification. (Validates CLR 2)

Identify plasmid recombination products.
(Validates CLR 3)

Detect specific gene sequences using
Southern blot hybridization. (Validates CLR 4)

Compare PCR and Southern blot
hybridization methods to detect specific
gene sequences. (Validates CLR 5)

Examine the basic principles of Mendelian
inheritance. (Validates CLR 6)

Apply a systems approach to solve
problems. (Validates EES 4)
20%