Tools and Techniques in Biotechnology

BIOL S406 Tools and Techniques in Biotechnology is a five-credit, one-semester course offered by the School of Science and Technology. This course is a higher-level course in Biology for students pursuing the BSc (Hons) in Applied Science (Biology and Chemistry) Degree programme and its full-time counterpart. Students are advised to study BIOL S303 Molecular Biology and Microbiology before taking this course so that they will have an advantage in understanding the basic principles and concepts of molecular biotechnology.

This course will provide an in-depth explanation of various techniques used in modern biotechnology, covering basic molecular biology techniques, transgenic animals, and plants generation. Applications of biotechnology such as gene therapy will also be discussed. The course will begin with a description of gene structure, and will then discuss the use of DNA recombinant technology to manipulate the sequence of a gene and thus modify its protein product expression. Microbial biotechnology, and transgenesis in plants and various animals will then be described. Microorganisms not only be used in food production, but also in waste treatment. The transgenesis techniques can aid in the generation of transgenic crops that are resistant to pests and diseases. In addition, the generation of mutations on a gene in an animal can help students understand its function. We will also discuss the application of, and the ethical issues arising from, biotechnology.

BIOL S406 will be delivered through a blend of learning modes, comprising printed study units, set textbooks and practical laboratory sessions and tutorials, which students will be expected to attend. BIOL S406 will therefore give students the chance to expand their learning beyond the printed materials into online support and face-to-face interactions.

The study units of BIOL S406 will be delivered in print. Students are required to purchase the set textbooks. Additional materials related to this course will be provided on the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Introduce you to the key concepts and the different branches in biotechnology.
• Introduce you to the applications of biotechnology, with special emphasis on the fundamental principles of handling and manipulating DNA in different organisms.
• Discuss the techniques for isolating genes and the subsequent engineering of these genes.
• Emphasize the ways in which engineered genes may be used to create transgenic animals and plants, or to produce recombinant proteins in cell factories.
• Provide insights into the promises, risks and social dimensions of biotechnology.

Critical learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the gene structure when accessing databases such as GenBank.
• Determine the uses of different enzymes to manipulate DNA molecules in molecular cloning.
• Design a strategy to clone a DNA fragment.
• Explain the techniques used to purify and detect DNA, RNA and protein.
• Outline the processesinvolved in food production by microorganisms.
• Describe and evaluate the processes used in generating transgenic plants and animals.
• Evaluate techniques and ethical issues in biotechnology with critical thinking.

Course organization

This table sets out the course's study units, laboratories, and assignments. Students are suggested to study 9–10 hours per week.

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.

You will be evaluated by two assignments and one final examination in this course. In addition, informal assessments including self-tests and activities are also included in all study units.

Assignments

There are two assignments in this course. You are required to submit both. Assignment 1 covers Units 1 to 3; Assignment 2 covers Units 4 and 5. You will also be required to attend at least one out of two lab sessions, and will be required to finish Assignment 2 based on the work done on these lab sessions.

Final examination and grading

In addition to the assignments and lab reports, you are also required to attend the final examination. The examination will include short questions and long essay-type questions.

Course marking scheme

This table clearly lays out how the actual marking is broken down.

In order to get the most from this course, you are required to read the study units and the set textbook thoroughly. The informal assessments (self-tests and activities) in each section of the units will help you in evaluating your understanding of the course materials. You are also encouraged to attend all of the course's tutorials, surgeries and laboratory sessions. Your tutor will explain the course materials in the tutorials and surgeries in detail.

Tutorials and dayschools

Tutorials

In the tutorial session, your tutor will provide more examples and give further explanations of the material in the study units and textbooks.

Surgeries

A surgery session will supplement the course's telephone, electronic, and face-to-face tutoring.

Dayschools

Dayschools for this course will be laboratory sessions. You are required to attend at least one out of two sessions. Assignment 2 will be based on the work done at these dayschools.

Online support

You can contact and engage in discussions with your fellow students and tutor on the discussion board in OLE, or by email.

As you’ve seen in this Course Guide, BIOL S406 Tools and Techniques in Biotechnology will take you through the study of the basic principles and fundamentals of molecular biology. It also covers a wide range of techniques used in microbial, plant and animal biotechnology. The course materials include study units, set textbooks and reference articles. You can also ask questions about the course material in the tutorial sessions, or via telephone tutoring, email or the discussion board on the OLE. Assessment of this course includes three assignments and one final examination.

We hope you will develop an interest in understanding modern biotechnology as a result of this course.

Dr Tsang Shun-Wa received his Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). In his postgraduate studies he focused on delineating the genetic pathway in morphogenesis of the sensory ray in C. elegans via various techniques in molecular biology. After graduation, he moved to the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Hong Kong as a Post-Doctoral Fellow to study the signalling pathway controlling bone development in mice. He is currently working as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Division of Life Science at HKUST. He has been a part-time tutor for SCI S330 at HKMU since 2013.