Course Syllabus

Course Name: Introduction to Biotechnology

Course Number: BPT 162
Course Department: Science
Course Term: 2/25/15-5/14/15
Revised: July 2013
Room: 304

Day: M-F

Course Start Date: 2/25/15

Instructor:
Ms. Walker
E-mail Address:
walkerd@prairievalley.k12.ia.us

Time: 11:33-12:27

Time
Course End Date: 5/14/15
Website:
www.mswalkersvhs.weebly.com

1. Total Semester Hour(s) Credit: 2

2. Total Contact Hours per Semester:
a. Lecture: 36
3. Catalog Description:
An introductory course focusing on the fields of biotechnology, biofuels
technology, and renewable sources of energy. Topics will include an introduction
to employment opportunities in the field of biotechnology, basic biology and
biochemistry, lab math skills, and an introduction to equipment used in
biotechnology. There will also be a brief introduction to the production and
refining of biofuels.
4. Pre-requisites and/or Co-requisites:
May be taken concurrently with BPT 163 Introduction to Biotechnology Lab.
5. Textbook Required: Ellyn Daugherty, Biotechnology: Science for the New
Millennium. 1st Edition Revised. Text and Lab book and Encore CD package.
Paradigm Publishing, 2012,. ISBN: 978-0-76384-479-0
a. Access code: None
6. Materials Required: Computer, Calculator, Lab Book

7. Suggested Materials:
8. Institutional Outcomes:
1 Critical Thinking: The ability to dissect a multitude of incoming information,
sorting the pertinent from the irrelevant, in order to analyze, evaluate,
synthesize, or apply the information to a defendable conclusion.
2 Effective Communication: Information, thoughts, feelings, attitudes, or
beliefs transferred either verbally or nonverbally through a medium in
which the intended meaning is clearly and correctly understood by the
recipient with the expectation of feedback.
3 Personal Responsibility: Initiative to consistently meet or exceed stated
expectations over time.
9. Department Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to use the scientific method.
2. Students will be able to express how science impacts everyday life.
3. Students will be able to evaluate the results of an experiment.
10. Course Outcomes:
Students will have a general understanding of the following topics:
Outcome 1: Fundamental safety issues in a laboratory environment.
Outcome 2: Principles of scientific research, including experimental design, data
collection, and reports of findings.
Outcome 3: Careers available in biotechnology.
Outcome 4: Components of living systems.
Outcome 5: DNA structure and function.
Outcome 6: Protein structure and function.
Outcome 7: Process of cloning in biotechnology.
Outcome 8: Sanger method of dideoxynucleotide sequencing of DNA works.
Outcome 9: Instruments and methods available for the detection and
quantization of molecules.
Outcome 10: Biotechnology in agriculture and medicine.
Outcome 11: Biofuels industry
Outcome 12: Chemistry involved in biodiesel production.
Outcome 13: Biochemistry involved in ethanol production.
11. Student Outcomes:
Students will be able to:
Outcome 1: Fundamental safety issues in a laboratory environment.
Task 1: Describe the emergency safety features are and how to
operate them.
Task 2: Demonstrate how to dress appropriately for laboratory
work.

Task 3: Demonstrate how to properly store, handle and dispose of

hazardous wastes.
Task 4: Explain how to access information regarding the health and
safety risks for chemicals used in the laboratory.
Task 5: Discuss the importance of documentation in the laboratory.
Outcome 2: Principles of scientific research, including experimental design,
data collection, and reports of findings.
Task 1: Explain the steps involved in scientific research.
Task 2: Explain the difference between a hypothesis and a theory.
Task 3: Discuss important considerations for experimental design.
Task 4: Discuss the purpose of a control within an experiment.
Task 5: Discuss important considerations in collecting and
analyzing experimental data.
Outcome 3: Careers available in biotechnology.
Task 1: List the careers available in research and development
within a biotechnology industry.
Task 2: List the careers available in manufacturing/production within
a biotechnology industry.
Task 3: List the biotechnology-related careers available in
academia and the government.
Task 4: Describe the educational preparation necessary for various
careers involving biotechnology.
Outcome 4: Components of living systems.
Task 1: Explain the general structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic
cells.
Task 2: Describe the specific functions of the major organelles.
Task 3: For each of the following fundamental organic building
blocks of living systems, describe their general structures and give
specific examples of how they function in a living system.
Carbohydrates
Amino acids
Lipids
Nucleic acids
Task 4: Discuss the concept of pH and how changes in pH can
significantly affect proper function in living systems.
Outcome 5: DNA structure and function.
Task 1: Describe the structure of DNA.
Task 2: Explain fundamental differences in gene expression for
eukaryotes and prokaryotes.
Task 3: Describe the general process of DNA replication.
Task 4: Describe the Polymerase Chain Reaction and give
examples of how it can be used.
Task 5: Describe the many methods available to visualize DNA.

Outcome 6: Protein structure and function.

Task 1: Describe the structure of amino acids and classify them
based on their structure.
Task 2: Define the pKa and pI of an amino acid.
Task 3: Describe the 4 levels of protein structure.
Task 4: Describe the structure and function of antibodies.
Task 5: Describe the processes of transcription and translation.
Task 6: Define an enzyme and give examples.
Task 7: Describe various methods for visualizing proteins.
Outcome 7: Process of cloning in biotechnology.
Task 1: Define cloning and give examples of cloning.
Task 2: Explain the significant events that led to the possibility of
cloning foreign DNA segments.
Task 3: Describe what a cloning vector is and explain the general
features of a plasmid as a cloning vector.
Task 4: Describe the major steps involved in cloning a gene into a
plasmid vector.
Task 5: Describe the various methods employed to introduce
cloned genes into other organisms.
Outcome 8: Sanger method of dideoxynucleotide sequencing of DNA
Task 1: Describe the structure of deoxy and dideoxy ribose sugars.
Task 2: Describe how chain termination allows for sequencing to
be done.
Task 3: Describe how modern DNA sequencers compare with the
original method of DNA sequencing.
Task 4: Describe the field of genomics and what it can accomplish.
Outcome 9: Instruments and methods available for the detection and
quantization of molecules.
Task 1: Explain how a spectrophotometer works.
Task 2: Describe how an AA spectrophotometer functions.
Task 3: Explain the Beere-Lambert law.
Task 4: Describe the fundamental principles of chromatography.
Task 5: Describe how a HPLC system functions.
Task 6: Describe how a GC system functions.
Task 7: Describe the various chromatography columns that can be
used.
Outcome 10: Biotechnology in agriculture and medicine.
Task 1: Describe the general anatomy of a plant.
Task 2: Discuss the differences between selective breeding and
genetic engineering.
Task 3: Explain how plants naturally propagate by cloning.
Task 4: Describe the various methods of cloning plants.

Task 5: Discuss some of the plants that have been genetically

engineered for use in agriculture.
Task 6: Describe the use of biotechnology in human medicine.
Task 7: Define gene therapy.
Task 8: Define pharming.
Task 9: Describe how new drugs are discovered.
Task 10: Describe how nucleic acids and proteins can be used as
drugs.
Task 11: Describe how vaccines are produced.
Outcome 11: Biofuels industry to our regional, national and global well-being.
Task 1: Define what a biofuel is.
Task 2: Summarize the history of the development and use of
biofuels.
Task 3: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels over
their petroleum equivalents.
Task 4: Discuss the many uses for biofuels.
Task 5: Describe Iowas role and status in the production of
biofuels.
Task 6: Describe the career options available in the field of biofuels.
Task 7: Discuss some of the research being done in the biofuels
industry.
Outcome 12:Chemistry involved in biodiesel production.
Task 1: Describe and draw the ester, carboxyl, and alcohol
functional groups.
Task 2: Describe how an ester can be synthesized and broken
down.
Task 3: Describe the transesterification reaction.
Task 4: Explain what fats and oils are, and draw a generalized
structure.
Task 5: Discuss the many variables and their effects in the
transesterification reaction.
Task 6: Discuss the differences between batch and continuous flow
operations.
Task 7: Discuss the different feedstocks that can be used for
biodiesel production.
Task 8: Diagram a generalized Process Flow Diagram for a
biodiesel refinery.
Outcome 13: Biochemistry involved in ethanol production.
Task 1: Diagram glycolysis and describe the role of yeast in ethanol
production.
Task 2: Diagram the enzymatic process of converting pyruvate to
ethanol and carbon dioxide.
Task 3: Discuss the many variables and their effects on ethanolic
fermentation.

Task 4: Discuss the different feedstocks that can be used for

ethanol production.
Task 5: Diagram a generalized Process Flow Diagram for an
ethanol refinery.
12. College Procedures:
a. Administrative Withdrawal Process
Administrative Withdrawal: An expectation of this course is that you will
participate in all class meetings and conscientiously complete all required
course activities and/or assignments. After you miss 25% of the course
meetings, you will be administratively withdrawn from this course.
INCLUDE YOUR COURSE OR THIS EXAMPLE: A 3-credit lecture course
meeting MWF is scheduled to meet 45 times during the semester. When
your number of absences has exceeded 11, you will be withdrawn, and a
W will appear on your transcript. You have the right to appeal the
withdrawal to the Vice President of Instruction. Administrative withdrawal
may have academic, scholarship, financial aid, and/or housing
implications. If you have questions about the administrative withdrawal
policy at any point during the semester, please contact me.
b. Children in the Classroom: Students are not allowed to bring children into
the classrooms, labs, shops, or hallways during class times.
c. Weather policy: In the event of extreme weather conditions necessitating
closing the college, the following radio stations will be asked to announce
the closing, starting at 6 am for day classes and 4 pm for evening classes:
KVFD, KUEL, KKEZ, KIAQ, KQWC, KTPR, KHBT, KTLB, KAYL, and
KDLS. Instructors may make final decisions on make-ups due to
inclement weather. The final decision to attend college classes can only
be made by the individual based on his or her specific extenuating
circumstances that may make it hazardous for him or her to travel.
d. Course withdrawal procedure:
1. The student will submit the withdrawal request online. This is located in
WebAdvisor.
2. The instructor immediately receives an email telling him/her that the
student has requested the drop.
3. The instructor will go into WebAdvisor and approve or deny the
request.
4. If the instructor does not respond immediately, he/she will receive an
email each night until the request is approved or denied.
5. If the instructor does not respond after two working days, the
department chair will receive an email saying the instructor has not
responded to the request yet.

6. Once the request is approved, the Student Records Office will

withdraw the student based on the date the student submitted the
request.
e. Class cancelation: Class cancelations with be posted on Triton Pass and
emailed to students. Cancelations, including campus closings, are also
available as text messages through Triton Alerts.
13. Grade Appeal Process:
a. Students who believe a course grade they have received is inaccurate
may seek an appeal. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more
specific information.
14. Special Populations/Accommodations:
a. Students who feel they may need academic accommodations should
contact the Academic Resource Center early in the semester. The
Coordinator will verify documentation and coordinate appropriate and
reasonable accommodations. Students must obtain a new
accommodation notification each semester.
For information contact:
Academic Resource Center
515-574-1045
15. Course Specific Policies:
a. Course Syllabus Agreement: By remaining enrolled in this course, the
student agrees to the policies in the syllabi.
b. Communication: if you have questions over the material come talk to me
ASAP.
c. Personal Responsibility: There may be a time when you missed class
and/or a lab. Notes from the day can be found on my website
(www.mswalkersvhs.weebly.com). It is your responsibility to get the
missing notes. Homework can be found in the Biotechnology folder in the
classroom. Missing labs will need to be made up before or after school.
Labs cannot simply be copied from a partner you must do the work
yourself.

d. Classroom Management and Behavior: texting, inappropriate language,

packing up before class is over, etc. will not be tolerated. You are
expected to be present and working the entire 60 minute class period.

e. Participation/Attendance Policy: Once 25% of the class has been missed

you will be automatically dropped and receive a W grade.
f. Assessments: On other hand out.
g. Late Work Policy: Any work that is turned in after the due date will have an
automatic 20% deduction per day. After one week of being late the grade
will go in as a zero.
h. Extra Credit Policy: Extra credit is not planned now but can be added later
at the teacher discretion.
i. Group Work/Collaboration: Students will often times work in groups. This,
however, does not mean that you are simply copying the answers and no
understanding the concepts. Each person must have individualized
answers while working in a group.
j. Previous Work: You MAY NOT turn in work that you have submitted for
another class. All work must be authentic and redone if needed.
k. Standards for Written Work: See lab book handout.
l. Scholastic Honesty Policy: All student work must be individualized and
authentic. Any work that is plagiarized, weather from a peer, website, or
book, will result in an immediate zero on the work. Reports of zeros will go
to the principal with the explanation of planarization.