Joanne Johnson
Kearny SCT
Biotechnology 1,2
Website: jj-sct-bio.weebly.com
I. Course Description
 Biotechnology 1,2 is designed to give students an introduction to the
scientific concepts and laboratory research techniques currently used in
the field of biotechnology. Students will develop laboratory skills, critical
thinking, and communication skills currently used in the biotechnology
industry. Through extensive on-line reading, laboratory work, and
workplace experiences, students will understand career opportunities in
the field of biotechnology. The course emphasizes Good Manufacturing
Practices (GMP) which govern all facets of production in the biotechnology
industry.
 Grade Placement: 11-12
 Recommended Prerequisites:
Completion of one year of high school biology/life science and one year of
high school chemistry, with a grade of C or better in each course.
 Meets University of California’s “d” Laboratory Science requirement.
 Articulation for the course is provided by Miramar College under the
direction of Dr. Sandra Slivka of the Southern California Biotechnology
Center. The course is aligned with Miramar College introductory course,
BIO 131 Introduction to Biotechnology, in collaboration with the
AGMEN/Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Laboratory Grant and Equipment
Loan Program.
 Course Website: jj-sct-bio.weebly.com
 Laboratory Manuals – Slivka, Sandra, An Introduction to the Biotechnology
Laboratory *Supplemental Lab Manual - AMGEN Foundation Inc., Bruce
Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program, 5th ed., 2007
 Course Evaluation/Credit: Students who complete the course with a grade
of B or better both semesters are eligible to take the challenge exam
administered by Dr. Sandra Slivka (Miramar College). Students receiving
a passing score on the challenge exam will be awarded 4 units of
community college credit transferable to most postsecondary 4-year
institutions in addition to graduation credit (“d”, category #2 certification for
UC/CSU). All other participants will receive graduation credit only.
II. TOPICS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 1,2
 Biotechnology, Past and Present
 The Characteristics of Model Organisms Used in Biotechnology
 Standard Laboratory Operating Procedures
 DNA Structure, Function, Isolation and Analysis
 Protein Structure, Function, Isolation and Analysis
 The Products and Applications of Modern Biotechnology
 Assays and Assay Development
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Recombinant DNA and Genetic Engineering
Bring the Products of Biotechnology to Market
Bioethics of Biotechnology
Careers in Biotechnology
III. THEMES OF INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY 1,2
o Biotechnology 1: Introduction to Biotechnology/Basic Lab Skills/GMP
o Biotechnology 2: Recombinant DNA Technology/Protein Production
IV. ADVANCED LAB SKILLS
 MicrobiologySkills
o
Maintain workshop and equipment hygiene
o
Identify and quantify microorganisms and cells
o
Isolate, maintain and store pure cultures
o
Maintain and analyze fermentation materials
o
Harvest cells
o
Transform hosts
o
Decontaminate and dispose of equipment, glassware and
biologicals.
 Cell Biology Techniques
o
Isolate and characterize cell lines
o
Propagate plant and animal tissue
o
Use cryogenic techniques
o
Use microscopes
o
Perform cytological tests
o
Perform bioassays
 Nucleic Acid Techniques
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Detect specific nucleic acid sequences
o
Isolate nucleic acids
o
Perform restriction digests
o
Perform gel electrophoresis
o
Label nucleic acids
o
Perform nucleic acid sequencing procedures
o
Perform PCR procedures
o
Use sequence database
o
Perform basic cloning techniques
 ProteinTechniques
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Detect specific proteins / Run ELISA test
o
Precipitate proteins
o
Separate proteins, isolate or characterize proteins
o
Perform protein assays
Grading: ALL points count! Test, quizzes, assignments, labs and projects are
given a point value. Grades are calculated as a percentage of total points
possible for the grading period:
Student earned points X 100 = %
Total Possible Points
Study Guide for Bio 131 Miramar College Exam, Dr. Slivka:
Cell Theory
 Parts of the Cell
 Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Elements of Living Things
 The components of an atom
 The most abundant atoms of living things
 Macromolecules and Chemical Bonds
 Covalent versus non-covalent bonds
 Types of chemical bonds: Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic forces
Macromolecules
 What are the monomers of the major macromolecules?
 What are the major functions of the major macromolecules?
Structure of Nucleic acids
 Be able to draw the sugar phosphate backbone of DNA and show where
the nucleotides are
 Understand interaction of bases A T G and C
 Know the Central Dogma
 the differences between DNA and RNA
 where transcription and translation take place in the cell
Enzymes
 How they work (and why they don’t sometimes)
 The important ones such as DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, restriction
enzymes
 Why they are important
 What physicochemical factors affect their activity
Lab Skills and Industry Applications
 Industry overview: recommend videos a www.biocomworkforce.org
 Be able to use the metric system for weight and measurement (be able to
convert μl to ml and the reverse!)
 Be familiar with the concepts Quality control, GMP and GLP and their
importance in FDA regulation (visit www.fda.gov to understand why safety
and efficacy are important and that they are controlled with GMP /accurate
and precise measurements!
 The difference between precision and accuracy and it’s importance in
quality control
 Agarose Gel electrophoresis principles and practice
 Solutions and dilutions; solute, solvent, concentration, moles, Molar,
percent solution
 Graphing and interpretation of results of protein assay and DNA gel
electrophoresis (experiments that use a standard curve)
 PCR the necessary ingredients and some of the uses
 ELISA Assay It’s major purpose and mode of action (suggest HHMI Virtual
ELISA)
 Transformation Principle and practice
 The Importance of pH, acids and buffers in the lab
Artificial and Natural Selection as it Relates to Biotechnology
Be able to describe homeostasis / Regulation - Feedback
 Use examples such as temperature, insulin and glucagon, or leptin to
illustrate homeostasis
Immunology o
 Be able to describe the basic composition of blood o
 Be able to describe major components of the specific and non-specific
immune system
 How are allergy, inflammation and autoimmune disorders related
 How do vaccinations work; why do you need booster shots
Gene to Protein:Central Dogma
 Be able to show how mRNA codes for proteins
 Be able to draw mRNA from DNA and the reverse
 The important enzymes in DNA science
Practice Lab Focused Problems