Syllabus: BINF 633, Molecular Biotechnology (Spring 2014)
Place: Occoquan, Rm. 204, Tues 4:30 pm- 7:10 pm
Schedule of lectures:
Event
Date
1) Lec 1
Jan. 22
2) Lec 2
3) Lec 3
4) Lec 4
5) Exam 1
6) Lec 5
7) Lec 6
8)
9) Lec 7
Jan. 28
Feb. 04
Feb. 11
Feb. 18
Feb. 25
Mar. 04
Mar. 11
Mar. 18
8) Lec 8
Mar. 25
12) Exam 2
11) Lec 9
14) Lec 10
15) Lec 11
16)
17)
18) Exam 3
Apr. 01
Apr. 08
Apr. 15
Apr. 22
Apr. 29
May 06
May 13
Subject
Glick et al., 4th ed.
Course mechanics;
Overview of Molec Biotechnology Chapt 1: 1-13;
Chem & Biol Foundations
Chapt 2: 14-45*
Molec Biol & Pathways
Chapt 2: 14-45*
Pathways (cont) & Applied Sci
Chapt 2: 14-45*
Recomb DNA, DNA synthesis Chapt 3: 47-97; 4: 98-117
FIRST EXAM (Lectures 1-4)
PCR and DNA sequencing
Chapt 4: 98-145
“X-omics”
Chapt 5: 146-194
No class: Spring Break
Tools: Prokaryotes & Euk
Chapts 6:195-239; 7: 240-289
Tools: Proteins
Chapt 8: 290-329;
and Health applications I
Chapt 10: 379-399
EXAM 2 (Lectures 5-8)
Immune system-based
Chapt 10: 399-422; 12: 459-497
Plant agriculture
Chapt 21: 845-890
Animal agriculture & non-Ag
Chapt 21: 845-890
Student presentations
Reading Period
EXAM 3 (Lectures 9-11)
*FOR basics in molecular biology and cell biology, please supplement with other texts, for example,
Lodish “Molec Cell Biology” (and/or ASK!)
Purpose: -Examine and appreciate the impact of and applications of Genomics, Bioinformatics,
and Recombinant DNA Technology on Society.
-Introduction to ELSI- ethical, legal, and social implications of “biotechnology”.
-Refine skills for the analysis, understanding, summarization, and presentation of
scientific information, particularly genomics (“crowd-discovery”).
Don Seto
School of Systems Biology
George Mason University
Manassas, VA 20110
dseto@gmu.edu (703) 993-8403
Office hours: Occoquan Bldg, RM 325 Tues 11-4pm (Manassas); by apptmt, Monday @Fairfax
Course Text: “Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA” by
Glick, Pasternak and Patten. ASM Press, 4th edition (2010).
Grading structure:
-three exams @100pts ea
-one oral presentation @50pts ea
-three homework @25pts ea
total = 375pts
Grading structure: 85%A, 70%B, 55%C
Presentation assignment: 10 min. with max 3-5 slides:
Debate “FOR” or “AGAINST”, with citations and scientific as well as personal arguments.
Topics include: GMO foods; Developing cheaper fuels through man-made organisms (Synthetic
Life); Turning New Guinea and parts of Africa and South America into nature preserves (Society
needs/individual rights); Harvesting genomes/genes from indigenous populations/bio-piracy(?)
(Society needs/individual rights)
**Adherence to academic integrity and the GMU Honor Code expected (http://honorcode.gmu.edu).
****Concerns regarding email address privacy should be addressed with instructor.
Class communications: GMU Blackboard and by email via your GMU e-address, unless you tell me
otherwise.