Biotechnology: Beyond The Basics

Held July 25-29, 2011; to be offered July 23-27, 2012 (information below to be updated)

VIEW PHOTOS HERE

Schedule:

NOTE: Class is held from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. each day at the BTC Institute. Instructors are B. Bielec, and P. Kritsch unless otherwise noted.

• Introductions and optional Graduate Credit registration
• Course Overview
• Wolbachia Project Introduction
• Wolbachia Project DNA Isolation
• Wolbachia Project Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
• Wolbachia Project bioinformatics

• PTC Lab: DNA Isolation and PCR
• Introduction to Short Tandem Repeats: Human Genotyping (E. Vincent, Promega)
• STR Classroom Activity (Forensic DNA Analysis)
• Stem Cells (R. Shevde, WiCell)
• Restriction Enzyme Digest of PTC PCR product

• Ligation of PTC product into pGEM-T Easy vector
• Transformation
• Bioethics Case Studies (M. Arduengo, Promega)
• Microarrays (D. Heisler, FOTODYNE)

• Boiling Lysis PCR
• Epigenetics
• PCR Gel Analysis
• Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (S. Krauskopf)
• Immunology Dot Blot, Protein Isolation & Detection
• NASA & Biotechnology Discussion

• Teacher Resources
• GFP Purification (GFP)Purification & Protein Gel Electrophoresis
• Lesson Plan Presentations
• Course Evaluation

Cost and Requirements

Cost: $500

Requirements:

• Registration: Applicants are required to submit a registration form. Admission to the course is on a first-come, first-served basis, and registrations will be accepted until the course is fully enrolled (20).
• Confirmation: Registration will be confirmed based on receipt of payment or guarantee of payment.

Scholarships: We are applying for small grants to support the offering of scholarships in 2012. If you also have suggestions re: possible funding sources, please share those with us - thanks!

Content

This course is designed to help teachers bring advanced biotechnology concepts to the classroom by focusing on gene expression. Topics include: polymerase chain reaction, short tandem repeat (STR) forensic DNA analysis, ligation, microarrays, and protein purification and the wolbachia Project. Pre-requisites: Biotechnology: The Basics or a working knowledge of micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation, genetic identity testing and polymerase chain reaction. In addition, there will be opportunities to discuss bioethics, NASA's use of biotechnology, and to collaborate with other teachers to integrate biotechnology into your curriculum. If you feel comfortable with basic biotechnology techniques, but want to learn advanced concepts from this rapidly developing field, this is the course for you!

Graduate Credit Options:

Viterbo University will offer 3 graduate education credits for $270. The payment and registration will be handled the first day of class.

Edgewood College also offers  1-3 graduate education credits. For 1 credit, the cost is $150.00, 2 credits $300, 3 credits $450. Payment and registration will be handled the first day of class.

Instructors

Primary Instructors/Course Coordinators:

• Barbara Bielec, M.S., K-12 Program Director, BTCI
• Peter Kritsch, M.S., Teacher, Oregon High School

Instructors:

• Michele Arduengo, Ph.D., Scientific Communications Specialist, Promega Corporation
• Didi Heisler, Educational Products Coordinator, FOTODYNE
• Sara Krauskopf, Associate Director of Education and Outreach, GLBRC
• Rupa Shevde, Ph.D., Senior Scientist/Team Leader Education & Outreach, WiCell Research Institute
• Eric Vincent, Ph.D., Product Manager, Marketing-Genomics, Promega Corporation