BIOL 129 Biotechnology: Research and Industrial Applications

Course Description

This course prepares students for more successful transfer to baccalaureate programs and beyond in bioscience and biotechnology. This course provides students with hands-on lab experience and a thoughtful application of those skills with a thorough exploration of the underlying scientific concepts and by employing necessary practices from a regulated industry. Students practice skills necessary for lab work in a research or production lab setting. Applications of current Good Manufacturing Process (cGMP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Quality Control, Quality Assurance, documentation, and the use of Standard Operating Procedures are practiced at each stage of the course so students develop good practices. Topics include the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully carry out measurements, DNA and protein preparation and purification and their analysis. Included are applications of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), the immunoassays ELISA and Western Analysis. Good communication practices, team work, and work-readiness skills are emphasized through group project design, execution, analysis and presentation.