LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY – BEIRUT CAMPUS

BIOC 445: Biotechnology (3 credits)

Course Syllabus
Fall Term 2008-2009

INSTRUCTOR Dr. Adib CHARAFEDDINE.

LECTURE HOURS M.W. F 8:00-8:50

OFFICE HOURS M.W F 7:00-8:00

Note: Office hours will not be used to cover the material missed during the unexcused absence of the student.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION
Midterm 1 25%
Midterm 2 25%
Final 35%
Project 15%

Note: Make up exams will not be given under any circumstance. Students with valid excuses should fill in the “Student
Excuse Form”, in the department. If the excuse form is approved, the student will sit for the missed exam along with the
following exam (excluding final exams).

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will learn many of the basic tools used in biotechnology today including techniques involved in DNA
manipulation, cloning, molecular diagnostics, and sequence information analysis. Much of this course is a hands-on
laboratory-based introduction to basic molecular biology techniques. Students will also learn how these techniques are used
in many exciting fields of research such as gene therapy, genomics, and proteomics. The ethical implications of selected
topics will be discussed.

COURSE OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, the students should be able to:

1. Apply an understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in various molecular biology techniques to solve research
type problems.
2. Designing PCR primers for identifying genes.
3. Design molecular biology and biochemistry experiments for completing various tasks involving the isolation, detection,
and characterization of genes.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Proteins Biochemistry and biotechnology by Gary Walsh , Editor John wiley and sons, LTD. 2002
Biotechnology: Quality assurance and validation edited by Kenneth Avis, Carmen Wagnr and Vincent Wu. IHS
helath group.
Biotechnology and genetic engineering by Lisa Yount. Facts on file Inc 2000.
Basic Laboratory methods for biotechnology by Lisa Seidman and Cynthia Moore. Prentice Hall New Jersey 2000.
Principles of gene manipulation by Sandy Primrose, Richard Twyman, and Bob Old, 6th edition, Blckwell Science
edition 2003.
Molecular Biotechnology, principles and applications of recombinant DNA by Bernard Glick and Jack Pasternak.

1
ATTENDANCE
For legitimate reasons only, a student is allowed to absent him/herself for a maximum of 6 contact hours per course.
However, any absence greater than 1 hour will be counted toward the 5 % evaluation. Absences beyond the specified limit
will be assessed by the Chairman of the Department and may result in an AW or other disciplinary measures. An unexcused
absence from a drop quiz will result in a zero on that drop quiz. An unexcused absence from an exam will result in a zero on
that exam.

If an illness (yourself or a close family member) causes you to:

1. Miss a laboratory or in-course Test,
2. Hand in an assignment after the deadline,
3. Miss the final exam, or
4. Adversely affects your test / examination performance

You can apply for an Aegrotat Pass (personal illness) or a Compassionate Pass. Other circumstances will be considered on
their individual merits. If an illness or other personal circumstances adversely affect you during the semester, discuss this
with the teaching staff as soon as possible.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 No student is allowed to enter into the classroom after 5 minutes of the commencement of the lecture.
 Pin drop silence should be maintained in the classroom. Ill-behavior is strictly prohibited. A student will be sent
out of the classroom if he/she is found doing a mischief/cross-talk when the lecture is in progress. Remember, in such
cases, that student is marked to have an “unexcused absence” from that lecture.
 Drinking, eating and chewing are prohibited in the class environment.

HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS CLASS

 Confirm your motivation for taking the class. The reasons you come to class, read the text, and study – like the reasons
you’re in graduate school – have to be your own.
 Be prepared to work hard.
 COME TO CLASS
 Read the relevant text before class. Make a note of material that seems particularly important or that you do not fully
understand. If this material does not become clear during the lecture, ask questions.
 Be an active learner. Listen, write, ask questions and answer questions.
 Develop good study habits. I suggest dedicating at least one hour per lecture to the material. The material must be
understood and integrated with previous subjects, not just memorized. Paraphrase/expand your notes within 24 hours of
class. Draw diagrams and concept maps of how you understand the material.
 Seek the help, advice, or assistance of one of the instructors.
 Study with others and use all of the amazing resources available to you on the Web and in the library.

Outline of topics:
PART I) Recombinant DNA Technology:
- DNA manipulations
- Vectors
- Expression systems
- Restriction enzymes
- Mapping
- Ligations
- Libraries
- Screening

Chemical synthesis and Amplification of DNA:

- Phosphoramidite method
- DNA Sequencing techniques

2
PCR: a) Basic PCR
b) RT PCR
c) Long PCR
d) Quantitative PCR
e) Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis (RAPDs)
f) Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE)
g) Differential Display
h) In situ PCR

Manipulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes:

- Gene expression from Strong and regulatable promoters
- Fusion proteins
- Unidirectional Tandem gene arrays
- Translation Expression Vectors
- Increasing Protein Stability
- Protein Folding
- Overcoming Oxygen Limitation
- DNA Integration into the Host Chromosome
- Increasing Secretion
- Metabolic Load

PART II) Molecular Diagnostics:

- Immunological Diagnostic Procedures
- Monoclonal Antibodies
- DNA Diagnostic Systems
- Molecular Diagnosis of Genetic disease
- Transcriptomics

PART III) Therapeutic Agents:

- Pharmaceuticals
- Enzymes
- Monoclonal antibodies as Therapeutic agents
- Production of antibodies in E.coli
- Nucleic Acids as therapeutic Agents
- Treating Genetic disorders

PART IV) Vaccines:

- Subunit Vaccines
- Attenuated Vaccines
- Vector Vaccines

Copyright © 2009 – 2010 LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY