Bio 298T1  Special topics:  Biotechnology Instrumentation I

 

Prerequisites:  CHM 130, BIO 156 and BIO 205 or CHM 151 and BIO 181 or permission of instructor.

 

 

Course Description: 4 credit hours  (3 lecture; 3 lab)  Basic principles and methodologies of recombinant DNA technology.  Includes preparation of solutions and growth media aseptic techniques, good laboratory practices and record keeping. 

 

 

Performance Objectives -upon completion of the course, the student will be able to do the following:

 

1.       Implement the scientific method to answer specific questions.

2.       Calibrate and use a variety of common and basic types of lab equipment.

3.       Read and follow an instruction manual for lab equipment and lab procedures.

4.       Calculate and prepare solutions in various concentrations.

5.       Handle, store and dispose of commonly used chemicals and biohazardous materials.

6.       Maintain a lab notebook documenting lab procedures, problem solving episodes, data collection, graphing and analysis, and future recommendations.

7.       Assess personal compliance with lab safety procedures.

8.       Design an original experiment, assemble the necessary components, collect data and evaluated the protocol and outcome.

9.       Perform a variety of laboratory techniques routinely used in biotechnology laboratories related to recombinant DNA technology.

 

 

 

Course Outline

 

I.                     General laboratory skills

 

A.      Operation and maintenance of basic equipment.

B.      Preparation of reagents, media, and maintenance of microbial cultures.

C.      Good lab procedures (GLP).

D.      Aseptic processing

E.      Documentation of lab work.

F.      Assay development and validation

 

II.                   Genetic analysis

 

A.      Structure and function of DNA

B.      Genomic DNA and plasmid DNA isolation

C.      Restriction digestion, subcloning and ligations

D.      Agarose gel electrophoresis

E.      Southern and northern blots

F.      Transformation and phage packaging

G.     RNA isolation and reverse transcription into cDNA
H.      DNA amplification (polymerase chain reaction) and sequencing.