Genetic Engineering BCBP 4310/6310 Spring 2009
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Donna E. Crone croned@rpi.edu
Office: Science Center 2C38 Office phone: 276-3299
Office hours: Tues 1:00p – 3:30 or by appt
Course Objective: The overall goal of this course to expose students to the molecular methods and applications of recombinant DNA technology and the issues regarding their use. It is expected that students gain a thorough understanding of the strengths and limitations of the techniques that will enable them to separate the hype from reality.
Required Textbook: none
Required readings posted in webCT/RPI LMS
Optional textbook: Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and applications of recombinant DNA. Bernard R. Glick and Jack J. Pasternak. ASM Press. 3rd Edition
ASSESSMENT:
HW Assignments: |
25% |
Exam |
10% |
Focused Topic Presentations |
20% |
Class Participation |
20% |
Final Project |
25% |
Students registered for BCBP 6310 will give 2 additional presentations during the semester.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Student-teacher relationships are built on trust. For example, students must trust that teachers have made appropriate decisions about the structure and content of the courses they teach, and teachers must trust that the assignments which students turn in are their own. Acts which violate this trust undermine the educational process.
The Rensselaer Handbook defines various forms of Academic Dishonesty and procedures for responding to them. All forms are violations of the trust between students and teachers. Students should familiarize themselves with this portion of the Rensselaer Handbook and should note that the penalties for plagiarism and other forms of cheating can be quite harsh.
Tentative schedule – updated schedule is posted in webCT/ RPI LMS
Date |
Topic |
Notes/ Assignment |
Mon Jan 12 |
Introduction: What is Genetic engineering? What are the applications? |
Read or watch at least one Nobel lecture on topic relevant to genetic engineering: DUE one page summary/ response with reference(s) |
Thu Jan 15 |
Discussion of Nobel lectures |
Human Molecular Genetics 3- ch 5 |
Mon Jan19 |
No classes MLK holiday |
|
Thu Jan 22 |
Introduction to prokaryotic expression vectors, T7 paper, if time permits cloning exercise in class |
HW: Cloning exercise due 1/26 |
Mon Jan 26 |
Manipulation of prokaryotic expression with focus on pET expression system |
HW: pET cloning exercise due 1/29 |
Thu Jan 29 |
Analysis of recombinants |
HW: cloning exercise fue Feb 2 |
Mon Feb 2 |
Grad presentations |
|
Thu Feb 5 |
Eukaryotic gene expression systems |
|
Mon Feb 9 |
Mutagenesis systems |
Altered Sites, Gene Editor, Quikchange |
Thu Feb 12 |
Directed protein engineering |
Evolution in the Everyday world: Scientific American |
TUES Feb 17 (Mon Sched) |
Genetic engineering in the news |
DUE one page summary/ response with reference(s) |
Thu Feb 19 |
Exam |
|
Mon Feb 23 |
Introduction to Diagnostics and Therapeutics |
|
Thu Feb 26 |
Focus on Influenza |
Focused topic presentations |
Mon Mar 2 |
Focus on HIV |
Focused topic presentations |
Thu Mar 5 |
Focus on Malaria |
Focused topic presentations |
Mar 9-13 |
No classes Spring Break |
|
Mon Mar 16 |
Introduction to genetically modified organisms |
|
Thu Mar 19 |
Transgenic plants |
|
Mon Mar 23 |
Genetically modified foods |
Focused topic presentations and discussion |
Thu Mar 26 |
Human gene therapy |
siRNA as therapeutic |
Mon Mar 30 |
Cellular Reprogramming |
Science Breakthrough of the Year 2008, video, associated articles |
Thu Apr 2 |
Stem cells |
|
Mon Apr 6 |
Grad presentations |
|
Thu Apr 9 |
Synthetic genomes |
articles: progress on generation of synthetic M. genetalium |
Mon Apr 13 |
Genetic Engineering in the News |
DUE one page summary/ response with reference(s) |
Thu Apr 16 |
|
|
Mon Apr 20 |
Final Project Presentations |
|
Thu Apr 23 |
Final Project Presentations |
|
Mon Apr 27 |
Final Project Presentations |
|