KJM3100 Biotechnology Course description

Biotechnology uses living organisms (bacteria, yeast, plants, animals) to develop and produce different products. Students will acquire knowledge on DNA cloning, nucleic acids analysis, gene modification and gene editing of plants and animals, industrial microbiology, stem cells, model organisms and the principles of vaccine development. In addition, students will explore the ethical implications surrounding biotechnology. In the laboratory, students will learn how to perform horizontal gene transfer, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), restriction digests and genotyping.

The course builds on KJM2400 Biochemistry and some subjects from KJM2300 Analytical Chemistry I. It is recommended that students have passed the exam in KJM2400 Biochemistry.

To be accepted in the laboratory part of the course it is required to have approved laboratory course in KJM2300 Analytical Chemistry I and KJM2400 Biochemistry, or corresponding qualifications.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• has a basic understanding of biotechnological principles
• can explain how DNA cloning is performed using restriction enzymes
• has a basic understanding of how geneticall modified organisms are produced in the laboratory and their potential contributions to societal challenges, with a focus on gene-modified plants and animals
• can describe DNA sequencing methods such as Sanger Sequencing and Next Generation Sequencing
• has a thorough understanding of the lac operon's structure, function and regulation
• can explain how DNA is amplified using end-point Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR)
• can explain how mutations arise and how they can be repaired
• is familiar with CRISPR gene-editing technology
• understands the principles of microorganism growth and the production of biomolecules in a fermentor
• has a basic understanding of what stem cells are and their applications in biomedicine
• can explain how model organisms contribute to biotechnological research and how the use of model organisms is regulated in research
• understands the principles of vaccine development

Skills

The student:

• can present and answer assignments orally and in writing within the knowledge area presented in the course
• can perform DNA cloning using restriction enzymes
• can choose restriction enzymes and vectors in recombinant DNA technology
• can perform bacterial transformation
• can amplify DNA fragments by end-point PCR
• can perform genotyping by real-time PCR (qPCR)
• can isolate genomic DNA and plasmid DNA

General competence

The student:

• can plan and conduct biotechnological laboratory experiments
• can assess and communicate results from biotechnological and genetic laboratory experiments in writing
• can reflect on ethical implications related to biotechnology
• can provide constructive feedback to fellow students on lab reports and oral presentations
• can reflect over own performance and incorporate feedback from peers 
• can find relevant references and cite them in a lab report and in an oral presentation

The course consists of lectures, group work, an oral presentation and laboratory experiments.

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 4-6 days laboratory course
• 2 obligatory classes (4 hours)
• peer-review assessment oral presentations (ethics assignment) (2-4 hours)
• 2 lab reports in groups of 2-4 students

Partial exam that includes:

• 2 assignments (1 lab report written in groups of 2-4 students, max 20 pages per lab report; one group assignment on ethics in groups of 2-4 students that is presented orally to the class) (counts 60% of the final grade)
• Individual written exam under supervison, 3 hours (counts 40% of the final grade)

The exam result can be appealed after the final grade has been received. Only the individual written examination can be appealed.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, oral instead of written examination may be used. If oral exams are used the result cannot be appealed.

A handheld calculator that cannot be used for wireless communication or to perform symbolic calculations. If the calculator’s internal memory can store data, the memory must be deleted before the exam. Random checks may be carried out.

Gradert skala A-F.

One internal examiner on the written exam, two internal examinors on the oral part. External examiners are used regularly.