BIOT251 Biotechnology

Spring 2008

Instructor: Lisa Rapp, Ph.D.

Office: Scibelli Hall, Room 533

Phone: 413-755-5254

Office Hours: M 10:00-11:00, T 11:00-12:00, W9:00-10:00; Th 11:00-12:00; or by appointment

Please feel free to come by during my office hours to discuss any problems, concerns, suggestions, ideas, etc. However, if you wish to see me outside of these hours or cannot make it to these office hours, please see me before of after lecture, or contact me by phone or email to make an appointment.

Text: Assigned text, required: B.R. Glick and J.J. Pasternack (2003) Molecular Biotechnology, 3^rd ed.

L.A. Seidman and C.J. Moore (2007) Basic Laboratory Calculation for Biotechnology

David Micklos, Greg A. Freyer, and David A. Crotty (2003) DNA Science: A First Course, Second Edition

Michael Wink (2006)An Introduction to Molecular Biotechnology: Molecular Fundamentals, Methods and Applications in Modern Biotechnology

James D. Watson, Jan A. Witkowski, Richard M. Myers, and Amy A. Caudy (2006) Recombinant DNA: Genes and Genomics: A Short Course

J.D. Watson, M. Gilman, J. Witkowski, and M. Zoller (1992) Recombinant DNA, 2^nd ed.

An in-depth introduction to the field of biotechnology designed to familiarize students with research and production techniques commonplace in the biotechnology industry. This course provides students with a strong understanding of the philosophical principles underlying each technique and establishes a scientific foundation upon which future techniques can easily be learned. The laboratory portion of he course reinforces material discussed in lecture and offers hands-on experience with contemporary protocols in an industry setting. Students also become familiar with many electronic technologies routinely used in biotechnology including the use of computer databases and the Internet. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 106, CHEM103. Offered spring semester.

The purpose of this course is to provide the students with an understanding of the basics of molecular biology and the application of those basics to current biotechnological endeavors. Lecture and lab material will be intimately tied together to enhance student understanding of biotechnological topics. Hands-on experimentation performed in lab will mimic procedures routinely carried out in academic and industrial laboratories. We will review the history of biotechnology and learn how classical experiments have led to the current widespread use of biotechnology.

Students are expected to observe the code of conduct outlined in the college catalog. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and will result in dismissal from the course following one warning. Cell phones and beepers MUST BE DISABLED before entering lecture or lab. Students who disrupt the class with said items will be asked to leave and will not be allowed to return to that class or lab session.

Cheating, plagiarism, illicit collaboration and misrepresentation of one’s own work will not be tolerated. The result of such will be failure in the exam, paper, etc. or failure for the course. In addition, the student(s) will be reported to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action, including removal from the class. There will be no warnings given.

Attendance at all classes is strongly advised. Attendance on exam dates is required (see “Testing” below). A student who is absent from lecture is responsible for the content of that class as well as any announcements made. When absent, obtain the lecture notes from a classmate. Students should arrive promptly and remain until the end of the class. The instructor reserves the right to refuse late arrivals.

Students are required to attend all lab sessions. Since lab participation is part of your grade, failure to attend required labs will result in a lowering of the course for each lab session missed. Students will be administratively withdrawn from the course for excessive lab absences. Excessive absences will be defined as missing 2 labs. If you are late for lab or leave lab early it will be considered an absence.

Extended absences resulting from serious illness or other personal matters should be reported to the Dean of Student Services Office, which will notify the professor.

1. Students arriving late for an examination will not be allowed extra time to finish the test.

2. Class examinations will be given at the times scheduled. Special arrangements for rescheduling for individuals will only be made for compelling reasons. In other words, exams can be made up in only the most extreme circumstances such as death in the family, hospitalization, or severe illness. A cold, working late, and oversleeping are not valid reasons to make up an exam. If a scheduled exam must be missed, I should be contacted as soon as possible to explain your absence. IF the reason is accepted as truly compelling by all parties involved, a make-up exam will be rescheduled at MY convenience and must be completed before or during the next schedules class meeting. The make-up test may differ substantially from the original. There can be only one make-up exam during the semester – NO EXCEPTIONS.

3. There will be NO MAKE-UP laboratories administered. A student who misses class forfeits any points available on that given day. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Lab reports will be due one week after the lab. All lab reports are due at the beginning of lab. One lab report handed in one day late will be accepted with no penalty. After that, lab reports handed in one day late will have a grade reduced by 20%. Lab reports turned in more than one class period after the due date will not be accepted. Lab reports much be stapled; they will not be accepted loose.