Advanced Biotechnology: Dr Alan Parker
2011-2012
When planning a program’s scope and sequence of topics and activities, the instructor or
development team must pick and choose which skills and topics to cover. It may be difficult to cover
all of the material available in the Biotechnology: Science curriculum. With 14 chapters, 100-plus activities
and extensions in the book, and nearly 100 lab activities in the laboratory manual to choose from, I
have selected the lessons and activities that meet the program goals. This allows our school to
develop a unique curriculum that works well within its program model and that meets the needs of a
community’s industries and workers.
The Biotechnology: Science text and lab manual are each designed to be used as a stand-alone
instructional tool for a concepts course, a lab skills course, or as partners in a comprehensive
program. Some recommended course titles and instructional time blocks are presented below. My
student population, facility and staff availability, and school site and program needs will help me
determine the best one for my situation.
Possible Course Title
Grading Period/Credits
Instructional Blocks
Survey of Biotechnology Topics
1 semester, 3 credits
3 hours lecture-discussion per week for
16-18 weeks
Introduction to Biotechnology
1 semester, 4–5 credits
3 hours lecture-discussion plus 3 hours
of lab per week for 16-18 weeks
Principles of Biotechnology I and II
1 year (2 semesters), 3 credits per
semester
Biotechnology Laboratory
Fundamentals
1 semester, 3-4 credits
2 hours lecture/discussion per week
and one 3-hour lab weekly for 32-36
weeks
3-4 hours of lab per week for 16-18
weeks
Reviewing the program courses and targets is the first • a two-semester, lab-based, conceptssupported course step in planning a curricular scope and sequence. Look plan using the text and lab
manual; the plan also is at the model below and determine how many class adaptable to one-semester
courses. hours are available for direct instruction and skill development-• a one-semester concepts
course plan using the text. Note that a term may equal a semester, a • a one-semester lab skills course
plan using the lab quarter, or even a full year, depending on how broadly manual or deeply I want to
teach the content. Then I may want to design the scope and sequence of topics from scratch or I
may use or adapt one of the models that follow, which include:
Four-Term Concepts and Laboratory Skills Program Model Syllabus for a TwoSemester Concepts-Supported Lab Skills Course
Biotechnology 1 (Term 1): Standard Laboratory Operating Procedures
Concepts/Lectures/Readings/Chapters
Process/Laboratory Work (Activities)
Biotechnology Past and Present Chapters 1, 2, and 3
Setting Up a Legal Scientific Notebook (Lab 1a) Safety in the
Biotech Laboratory (Lab 1b) Scientific Methodology
Laboratory (Lab 1c) Internet/WWW Research, Microsoft
Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Lab 1c) Model Organism Growth
(Lab 2b) Bioethics and Decision-Making (one/text chapter)
Using the Microscope to Study Cells (Labs 2c-2d) Solution
and Dilution Preparation (Labs 3a-3h)
DNA and Protein Structure/Function Chapters 4 and 5
Media Preparation (Lab 4c) Sterile Technique/Cell Culture
(Labs 4f-4g) DNA Isolation and Indicator Analysis (Lab 4h)
DNA Gel Electrophoresis Analysis (Labs 4i-4j) DNA
Synthesis and Lambda PCR (Lab 13e) Protein Structure and
Function Studies (Labs 5a-5c) Protein Indicator Analysis (Lab
5d) Protein Electrophoresis (PAGE) (Labs 5e-5f )
Biotechnology 2 (Term 1): Introduction to Recombinant DNA and Protein Production
Concepts/Lectures/Readings/Chapters
Process/Laboratory Work (Activities)
Assay Development Chapters 6 and 7
Amylase Assay Development (Labs 6b-6c)
Spectrophotometer/Molecular ID (Labs 7a-7b) Preparing
Protein Buffers (Labs 7c-7d) Protein Concentration Assays
(Labs 7e-7i)
Recombinant DNA Technology/Transformation/Genetic
Engineering Chapter 8
Recombinant Plasmid/Cloning Vectors/Restriction Enzyme
Mapping (Labs 8a-8b) Cell Competency/Bacterial
Transformation/Selecting Transformants (Labs 6e and 8c)
Cell Culture, Growth, and Monitoring (Labs 8d-8e) Plasmid
Preps (Labs 8f-8g)
Scale-Up, Manufacturing, Marketing Chapter 9
Harvesting Protein/Protein Product Purification/Protein
Testing (Labs 9a-9e) Product Pipelines/Product Studies
(Biotech Live)
Biotechnology 3 (Term 2): Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Concepts/Lectures/Readings/Chapters
Process/Laboratory Work (Activities)
Studying Plant Reproduction Chapters 10 and 11
Plant Growth Labs (Labs 10a-10c) Breeding Plants (Labs 10d10e) Asexual Reproduction Labs (Labs 11a-11b)
Manipulating/Studying Plants Chapter 11
Plant Tissue Culture/Plant Hormones (Lab 11c)
Isolation/Study of Plant DNA (Labs 11d-11f ) DNA
Concentration/Purity Assays (Labs 11g-11h) GMOs/Plant
Transformation/Arabidopsis PCR (Biotech Live and
Bioethics)
Discovering New Medicines Chapters 6 and 12
Anti-microbial Plant Substances (Lab 6d) Extracting
Compounds from Plants (Labs 6f-6h) Chemical
Synthesis/Testing (Labs 12c-12e)
Biotechnology 4 (Term 2): Advanced Biotechnology Techniques and Diagnostics
Concepts/Lectures/Readings/Chapters
Process/Laboratory Work (Activities)
Genomics/DNA Studies Chapters 13 and 14
In Vitro DNA Synthesis Reactions, DNA
PAGE/Southern Blotting (Labs 13a-13d) Lambda
PCR/Alu PCR and Bioinformatics
Proteomics/Protein Studies Chapters 5 and 14
DNA Fingerprinting and Forensics (Labs 13e-13g)
Genomics/Microarrays (Biotech Live) Protein
Extractions from Animal Tissue (Lab 5g) ELISA
Technology (Lab 14a) Western Blots (Lab 14b)
Advanced Biotechnology 8189 Lab Dr Alan Parker 2011-2012
Syllabus for a Two-Semester Concepts-Supported Lab Skills Course
Course/Credit Hours: 32 weeks; 5-6 hours of lab and lecture/discussion meetings per week
Activities may require adjustment to meet the time limitations of a particular course.
Week
Lab(s)
Lab Lesson Focus
1
1a 1b
Scientific Notebook
Laboratory Safety
2
1c
Cheese Production
3
2b 2c
4
2d 2e
5
3a 3b
Text Section Support and
Lecture Discussion Focus
1.1 Defining Biotechnology
1.2 Biotechnology Products
1.3 Selecting Potential
Products
1.4 Scientific Methodology 1.5
Biotech Careers 1.6 Bioethics
Key Lab Skill Objectives
Model Organisms
Microscopy
2.1 Organisms and Their Parts
2.2 Cellular Organization
Microscopic
Measurement
Properties of
Carbohydrates
2.2 Cellular Organization 2.3
Molecules of Cells
• Grow, maintain, and monitor bacteria and fungi
• Learn microscope use for prepared and wet
mount slides
• Learn to estimate the size of microscopic
specimens • Study the structure and characteristics
of different carbohydrates
Pipeting
Micropipeting
3.1 Measuring Volumes
• Demonstrate skill using pipets and pipet pumps
• Demonstrate skill using micropipets
• Start and maintain a legal scientific notebook •
Learn emergency procedures and the location of
safety hazards and emergency equipment
• Conduct a controlled experiment; analyze and
report data
6
3c 3e
Mass Measurement
Mass/Volume
Solutions
3.2 Making Solutions 3.3
Mass/Volume Solutions
• Demonstrate skill using balances • Prepare
various mass/volume solutions
7
3f 3g
Percent Mass/
Volume Solutions
Molar Solutions
3.4 Percent Mass/ Volume
Solutions 3.5 Molar Solutions
• Prepare various percent mass/volume solutions •
Prepare various molar solutions
8
3h 4a
4b
Dilutions DNA
Isolation Solutions
DNA Spooling
3.6 Dilutions 4.1 DNA
Structure and Function
• Prepare dilutions of solutions • Prepare buffers
and reagents for DNA isolation • Conduct alcohol
precipitation of pure DNA sample
9
4e 4f
Media Prep Sterile
Technique
4.2 Sources of DNA
• Prepare LB agar and LB broth • Pour sterile LB
agar Petri plates
10
4g 4h
Bacteria Cell Culture
Bacteria DNA
Extraction
4.2 Sources of DNA 4.3
Isolating and Manipulating
DNA
• Streak isolated colonies and start broth cultures •
Isolate genomic DNA from bacteria
11
4i 4j
Agarose Gel Prep
Agarose Gel
Electrophoresis
2.4 The “New” Biotechnology
4.4 Gel Electrophoresis
• Prepare an agarose gel • Load, run, stain, and
analyze DNA on a gel
12
13
13e
13f
13g
Lambda PCR
Human DNA
Extraction Alu PCR
Genotyping
13.1 Making DNA
13.3 Polymerase Chain
Reaction 13.4 Applications of
PCR Technology
• Perform a PCR reaction
• Isolate DNA from cheek cells for PCR • Use
PCR to test DNA for a specific genotype
14
5a 5b
Antibody Function
Enzyme Function
5.1 Structure and Function of
Proteins 5.3 Enzymes: Protein
Catalysts
• Simulate antibody-antigen testing • Test enzyme
activity at different concentrations
15
5f
PAGE
5.4 Studying Proteins
16
5g
Identifying Proteins
5.5 Applications of Protein
Analysis
• Prepare protein samples and load, run, stain and
characterize proteins on a PAGE gel
• Prepare animal muscle tissue samples and run
gels to study differences in protein composition
17
6b 6c
Starch and Sugar
Assays Amylase
Assay
6.1 Sources of Potential
Products 6.2 The Use of
Assays
• Conduct aldose and starch indicator tests • Test
saliva for alpha-amylase activity
18
19
14a
6d
ELISA
Testing Plant
Substances
14.3 Advanced Protein Studies
6.3 Products from Nature 6.4
Plant Proteins as Products
• Conduct a qualitative ELISA (antibody assay)
20
6e 7a
Searching for Native
Amylase Using the
Spectrophotometer
6.5 Producing Recombinant
DNA Protein Products 7.1
Using the Spectrophotometer
• Predict where amylase-producing bacteria might
be found in nature and attempt to isolate colonies
• Learn how to operate a spectrophotometer and
how light corresponds to colors of the visible
spectrum
21
7b 7c
Using the Spec to
Study Molecules
Measuring pH
7.1 Using the
Spectrophotometer 7.2
Introduction to pH
• Use a VIS-spec to determine the absorption
spectra and lambdamax for three colored solutions
• Learn to use pH paper and a pH meter
22
7d 7e
Making Buffers
Demonstrating
Buffer Efficacy
7.3 Buffers
• Prepare a buffer to use in making a protein
solution • Prepare buffers and test their ability to
resist changes in pH
23
7f 7g
Spec Amylase Study
Determining Amylase
Concentration
7.4 Determining Protein
Concentration
• Determine the absorbance spectrum for amylase
• Bradford reagent to learn lambdamax • Use a
best-fit standard curve to determine the
concentrations of unknown amylase solutions
24
7i 8b
Using the UV Spec to
Study Proteins
Restriction Digestion
of pAmylase
7.4 Determining Protein
Concentration 8.1 Overview
of Genetic Engineering
• Use a UV-VIS spec to determine the lambdamax
for a sample of colorless protein Conduct a
restriction digestion of the pAmylase to confirm
prior to transformation of E. coli cells
25
8c
Transformation
8.2 Transforming Cells
26
8e
Scaling-up
Transformed Cells
8.3 After Transformation 8.4
Fermentation, Manufacturing,
and GMP
• Transfer plasmids into E. coli and select
transformants
• Select colonies and scale them up from a
selection plate to selection broth media
27
9a 9b
Harvesting Amylase
Dialysis of Protein
Buffers
9.1 Harvesting a Protein
Product 9.2 Using
Chromatography to Study and
Separate Molecules
• Separate transformed cells from broth and test
the broth for amylase activity Use dialysis tubing
to conduct a buffer exchange prior to column
chromatography
28
9c
Using Ion-Exchange
Chromatography
9.3 Column Chromatography
• Separate lysozyme from albumin on an ionexchange column
• Extract compounds from plants and test the
extracts’ antimicrobial activity on the growth of E.
coli
29
9d
Ion-Exchange
Purification of
Amylase
9.4 Product Quality Control
9.5 Marketing and Sales
• Use an ion-exchange column to determine the
overall charge of amylase at pH7.2 and isolate
amylase from a broth culture
30
12a
12b
Using the UV Spec to
Study Caffeine Using
MSDS to Recognize
Compounds
12.1 Drug Discovery
• Use the UV spectrophotometer to characterize a
colorless organic compound, caffeine • Access
MSDS data to learn the characteristics of
compounds
31
12c
Synthesis of Aspirin
32
12d
Melting Point
Determinations for
Quality Control
12.2 Creating Pharmaceuticals
by Combinatorial Chemistry
12.3 Creating Pharmaceuticals
by Peptide and DNA synthesis
12.4 Creating Pharmaceuticals
by Protein Engineering
• Synthesize acetylsalicylic acid through
combinatorial chemistry
• Conduct melting point determinations to
confirm acetylsalicylic acid production