Intro to Biotechnology
Lecture Contact Hr: 1 Credit Hr: 1

Description: This course will introduce students to the historical and technical concepts responsible for the rapidly growing biotechnology industry. Topics will include the history of biotechnology, biotechnology applications such as pharmaceutical research and manufacturing, advancements in agricultural productivity as well as identifying the basic techniques and instrumentation used in these applications.

Basic Biotechnology Methods
Lab Contact Hr: 2 Credit Hr: 1

Description: Students will be exposed to and practice the various techniques used in a modern Biotechnology lab. Such techniques include basic laboratory measurement and calculations (introducing micro- and nano-scale), pipetting, reagent preparation, detailed note taking, record keeping, etc. In addition, students will be taught to follow standard lab protocols to ensure good lab practices and adherence to basic governmental and safety regulations.

Advanced Biotechnology Methods
Total Contact Hr: 5 Credit Hr: 3
Prerequisite: BST121

Description: This course expands on the techniques and protocols introduced to the students in BST121 Advanced biotechnology/bioscience techniques such as gel electrophoresis, centrifugation, cellular and molecular sample preparation and handling will be added, while comprehensively reinforcing and strengthening skills in the performance of basic techniques and protocols.

Biotechnology Seminar I
Total Contact Hr: 1 Credit Hr: 1
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: A seminar course presented in a “journal-club” format. Students will read and discuss articles covering the latest techniques and trends used in the biotechnology industry. Guest speakers will be invited to present overviews of their work to the group.

Molecular Biology Techniques
Total Contact Hr: 6 Credit Hr: 4
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: Topics presented will cover naturally occurring molecular processes (replication, transcription, translation, proofreading, splicing, etc.) in order to explain how they can be exploited in various ways to benefit the biotechnology industry. The laboratory portion of this course will use techniques that duplicate or manipulate these natural processes to explore the stepwise progression of isolating a gene through converting it into an important biologically active protein (includes nucleic acid and protein isolation and purification, PCR, as well as gene cloning, sequencing and expression studies.

Cell and Tissue Culture
Total Contact Hr: 4 Credit Hr: 2
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: Cell and tissue culture are two of the most widely used techniques in biotechnology. In this course students will cover the techniques used for maintaining living cells in culture: aseptic technique, counting cells, subculturing, cryopreservation (freezing) and thawing. Students will obtain hands-on training in all techniques listed above. Lecture and discussion sessions will include the techniques mentioned above as well as the following topics: cell culture equipment, contamination, optimization of growth conditions, recombinant DNA transfection, and the future of tissue engineering.

Cellular and Subcellular Separations
Total Contact Hr: 6 Credit Hr: 4
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: Students will learn the various strategies and techniques used to purify and characterize biomolecules, with an emphasis on proteins. Purification techniques to be employed in the lab include fractionation, centrifugation and low/high-pressure chromatography followed by characterization procedures such as electrophoresis and spectrometry.

Biotechnology Instrumentation
Total Contact Hr: 5 Credit Hr: 3
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: This course will introduce students to the variety of instrumentation used in a biotechnology lab. Students will master the function and use of each instrument as well as proper maintenance, calibration, documentation techniques, and protocols.

Bioinformatics
Total Contact Hr: 5 Credit Hr: 3
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: Due to the large volume of data being generated and shared by the biotechnology community, bioinformatics is an important biotechnology discipline. Utilizing computers, student will explore molecular geometric structure, sequence analysis, alignment and comparison, data base mining and genome mapping.

Bioprocesses and Manufacturing
Total Contact Hr: 6 Credit Hr: 4
Prerequisite: BST122

Description: In this course students will learn the processes used for large scale biotechnology related production processes such as fermentation with a focus on regulatory and quality assurance aspects of this type of manufacturing, such as Good Lab Practices (GLP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and procedures/practices defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

Biotechnology Seminar II
Total Contact Hr: 1 Credit Hr: 1
Prerequisite: BST130

Description: Students will read, discuss and present articles associated with biotechnology. Students will also present the results of their individual research project (BST27X) as part of the requisites of this seminar course.

Individual Research
Total Contact Hr: 9-28 Credit Hr: 3-7
Prerequisite: BST220

Description: Students will carry out an individual research project either on or off campus under guidance of an outside advisor or a faculty member. Goals of this research project will be discussed between the student and the advisor and will be agreed to before the start of the project. Results from this project will be presented in seminar form as part of the student’s participation in BST230.