ChE 380 – Introduction to Biotechnology
Fall 2010
Instructor
My office location and hours
Laurent Simon, Ph.D.
Tiernan 361 (T: 12:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Tiernan 361 (TH: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
Catalog Description:
ChE 380 – Introduction to Biotechnology (3-0-3). Prerequisites: Chem 123 or Chem 126.
Basic principles of Biochemical Engineering, with selected examples of applications, are
introduced. These applications include, but are not limited to, the production of chemical and
biological materials and the development of processes encountered in the Biotech industry.
Textbook(s):
1. Introduction to Biotechnology, 2nd Ed. (2009), by William J. Thieman and Michael
A. Palladino, Pearson/Benjamin Cummings, New York.
Grading scheme:
Homework
10%
Exam 1
30%
Exam 2
30%
Final
30%
A final course grade will be assigned on the following basis:
85+
80+
75+
70+
65+
60+
<60
A
B+
B
C+
C
D
F
Policies:
1. Students are encouraged to turn in their homework by the due dates. Remember
that these assignments count toward 10% of the grade. Late homework will only
be accepted under extraordinary circumstances.
2. Students are responsible for the material covered in class. Regular class
attendance is expected.
3. Make-up exams and “incompletes” may be given under extraordinary
circumstances and at the sole discretion of the instructor. Regular class
attendance is expected.
4. Homeworks are due at the beginning of class, one week after assignment
Schedule:
Week 1:
Historical background
August 31 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 1, Sections 1.1 and 1.2
September 2 (Thursday)
- Chapter 1, Sections 1.1 and 1.2
Week 2:
Cell structure
September 7 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.1
September 9 (Thursday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.1
Week 3:
Microbial nutrition, growth, and metabolism
September 14 (Tuesday)
- Lecture notes
September 16 (Thursday)
- Lecture notes
- Homework assignment: handout
Week 4:
Microbial metabolism, introduction to genes and genomes
September 21 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.2: The Molecule of Life – DNA Structure
- Chapter 2, Section 2.2: The Molecule of Life – What is a Gene?
September 23 (Thursday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.3: What is a Genome?
Week 5:
The molecule of life
September 28 (Tuesday)
- Exam 1
September 30 (Thursday)
- Lecture notes
Week 6:
DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis
October 5 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.3: DNA replication
October 7 (Thursday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.4: RNA and protein Synthesis
Week 7:
Mutations, genetic manipulation, DNA uptake, and applications
October 12 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 2, Section 2.5
October 14 (Thursday)
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Introduction to Recombinant DNA Technology and DNA
Cloning
Week 8:
Restriction enzymes/plasmids, gene cloning/analysis
October 19 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Restriction Enzymes and Plasmid DNA Vectors
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Introduction to Human Gene Cloning
October 21 (Thursday)
- Exam 2
Week 9:
Restriction enzymes/plasmids, gene cloning/analysis
October 26 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Restriction Enzymes and Plasmid DNA Vectors
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Introduction to Human Gene Cloning
October 28 (Thursday)
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Restriction Enzymes and Plasmid DNA Vectors
- Chapter 3, Section 3.1, Introduction to Human Gene Cloning
Week 10:
Protein as products
November 2 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 4, Section 4.1
November 4 (Thursday)
- Chapter 4, Section 4.2
Week 11:
Microbial biotechnology, microorganism, and applications
November 9 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 5, Sections 5.3
November 11 (Thursday)
- Lecture notes
Week 12:
Diagnostics and plant biotechnology
November 16 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 6, Sections 6.3
November 18 (Thursday)
- Lecture notes
Week 13:
Animal biotechnology and applications
November 23 (Tuesday)
- Chapter 7, Sections 7.2
November 25 (Thursday)
- Thanksgiving Recess
Week 14:
Examples from the Biotech industry
November 30 (Tuesday)
- Lecture notes
December 2 (Thursday)
- Lecture notes
Week 15:
Examples from the Biotech industry
December 7 (Tuesday) – Thursday schedule
FINAL EXAMINATION: Date and Place TBA
The NJIT Honor Code and standards of academic integrity will be enforced in this
course. Any violation will be brought to the immediate attention of the Dean of
Students.