The course materials include the Course Guide, five study units, and an Assignment file.
Print materials
In addition to this Course Guide, the course has the following important components. Please ensure that you have all of these materials available.
Study units
Unit 1 introduces you to the basic principles of molecular biotechnology. The general structure of a gene and the regulation of their expression will be described. Then, with a general understanding of the gene structure, you will learn about the use of different enzymes to cut or modify a DNA sequence. The methods used to purify and separate nucleic acids will also be mentioned. In addition, DNA sequencing and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) will be covered in this unit.
Unit 2 describes recombinant DNA technology and protein expression. The development of recombinant DNA technology provides a platform for us to manipulate DNA and thus modify the structure of a gene. Via molecular cloning, large numbers of identical DNA fragments can be produced. This cloned DNA can be used for various purposes, such as over expression a particular protein of interest. In this unit we will talk about cloning techniques, strategies for making fusion proteins, and purification and detection methods. We will also discuss the general principles of gene therapy.
Unit 3 describes the use of microorganisms in biotechnology. Microbes have been used for many years in various type of food production, such as making cheese and beer. They can also be used in food ingredients production. You will be introduced to the application of microbes in the process of food production in this unit. This unit will also cover the application of microbes in the biosynthesis of various molecules such as antibiotics and biodegradable plastics. At the end of this unit, we'll discuss the use of microbes in biowarfare and bioterrorism.
Unit 4 focuses on plant biotechnology. After the first structural gene of a plant was cloned in the 1980s, the genetic engineering of plants has developed rapidly. This unit introduces different methods of making genetically-modified plants. Techniques for creating plant cell cultures and manipulating genes in plants will be clearly described. Applications of transgenic plants will also be discussed in this unit, and you will be guided in evaluating the food safety of genetic modified crops.
Unit 5 focuses on animal biotechnology. Animal cell and tissue culture techniques will be described. We will discuss methods for producing transgenic animals among different species, from nematodes to mice, and we'll touch on the generation of knockout mice and gene silencing techniques. All these tools help us to unravel the function of various genes in animals. At the end of this unit, animal cloning technique and the bioethical questions evoked will be discussed.
Set textbook
You are required to purchase the following set textbook:
Clark, D P and Pazdernik, N J (2015) Biotechnology: Applying the Genetic Revolution, 2nd edn, Elsevier Academic Press.
Supplementary readings
Excerpts from the following sources will be integrated into the BIOL S406 course materials as core readings:
Green, M R and Sambrook, J (2012) Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 4th edn, Cold Spring Harbor: New York Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Lee, Y K (2013) Microbial Biotechnology: Principles and Applications, 3rd edn, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
Rapley, R and Whitehouse, D (2015) Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 6th edn, Royal Society of Chemistry.
You will also be directed to read other texts andarticles as you work through the units.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University's E-Library and click on 'E-Reserve'. Log in, click 'Accept/Agree' on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the 'Course Code' box, and click 'Search'.
Assignment File
The assignments are available on the Online Learning Environment (OLE). Guidelines are provided on the OLE for you to work on your assignments.