Biotechnology Laboratory: Molecular Biology and Biochemical Techniques

2 Units

This spring course provides hands-on laboratory experience in bacterial recombinant protein biochemistry and molecular and cell biology. Specific topics include: General laboratory safety, good laboratory practices (GLP), standard operating procedures (SOPs), buffers, media, and other reagent preparation, sterile technique, manipulation of bacterial cells, work with DNA including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), molecular cloning, and site-directed mutagenesis, protein overexpression and purification, enzyme activity and biophysical assays, DNA and protein gel electrophoresis, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This course, together with BIOC 502B and 502C, comprise a one-semester lab course that provides students with a comprehensive introduction to skills used in modern biotechnology laboratories. Students may take one, two, or three of these courses in a single semester. Suitable for biochemistry MS students interested in biotechnological and/or industry careers. All other graduate students and/or undergraduate students must contact the instructor for permission to enroll. Prereq: BIOC 500 and BIOC 501 or Requisites Not Met permission.