Course title
Biotechnology II HonorsPre-requisite
Biology, Chemistry(90%) or Chemistry Honors (80%), Biotechnology Honors, or an equivalent level 3rd ScienceCourse description
Course Description:This course; Biotechnology II Honors combined with a Senior Independent Research course; allows students to perfect design and execute their own projects. Students will learn biotechnology techniques; learn to read research papers; and hear about cutting edge research from researchers in Biotechnology and other fields. It includes advanced biotechnological techniques; fundamentals of cell biology and genetics; applications of biotechnology; bioethics and careers in biotechnology. Through laboratory activities and field based research; students will conduct independent research in an active laboratory; and learn to communicate their research at the Regional Science Fair (SARSEF).
Course and Laboratory syllabus
Biotechnology II Honors/Senior ResearchBiotechnology II Honors/Senior Research is a project based course. Each unit is built around laboratory projects that increase in the level of complexity leading to an independent research project.Unit I: Review of Laboratory ProceduresPre-assessment in Solution chemistry and Laboratory EquipmentChemistry concentration Unit calculationsMetric conversion calculationsIdentification and proper use of measurement toolsExploration of Career Paths in Biotechnology and /or other STEM careersIntroduce Career PortfolioResearch a Career in Biotechnology or related medical fieldDeveloping a ResumeDeveloping Cover LetterExperimental Design Review: Does washing vegetables/fruits remove microbial surface contaminants? What type of bacteria are on the surface? Another possibility is oil degrading bacteria.
Unit II: Using Electronic Databases to Gather Scientific Articles for Research ProjectIntroduce Research ProjectStructure and Examination of Scientific ArticleUse of electronic databases for identifying and accessing key scientific articlesField Trip to U of A to use medical library and job shadow scientists working in BiotechnologyBegin to read background material for research project
Unit III: Independent Research initiated. Note: This unit is continuous throughout the year.Identification of Research QuestionDesign Experiment(s) to address the questionWrite a Research ProposalMaintain a legal scientific notebook of the research conductedCreation of Poster Presentation of ResearchPresentation of Research
The following are Units that will be investigated by students as a continuation of H. Biotechnology I. during the first Semester.
Unit IV: Plant Tissue CulturePlant Growth; Structure and FunctionArtificial Selection – Fast PlantsAsexual Plant PropagationTissue culture medium and growing conditions Embryo tissue cultureCarrot tissue culture
Unit V: DNA Barcode- identification of new speciesGene ExpressionReview of PCR Design of PCR primersDNA Barcode – What is it?Isolation of DNA from sushiPCR amplification of isolated DNAIntroduction to BioinformaticsUsing Bioinformatics in species identificationDNA SequencingHaving the sushi DNA sequencedAnalysis of DNA Sequence for species identification through BioinformaticsApply technique to the identification of new species
Unit V: Protein Isolation and Analysis
Review of protein structure and function including enzymesDevelopment of Amylase AssayIdentification of Best Source of AmylaseUse of Chromatography to separate and isolate ProteinsPurification of Amylase Protein using DEAE SepharosePrinciples of SDS Gel ElectrophoresisSDS Page Gel of different fractionsProduct Quality ControlProduction of Proteins made by recombinant DNA technologyApplication of Enzymes to creations of BiosensorsResearch biosensorsCreation of cholesterol biosensors
Unit VI: Using Antibodies as tools in Protein IdentificationAntibodies as ToolsPolyclonal AntibodiesMonoclonal AntibodiesImmunoassaysa.Western Blots Western Blot of Fish Muscle ProteinsProbing Western Blot using antibodies against MLC1Creating phylogenetic tree from western blot resultsUsing Antibodies to Diagnose and Treat Cancer
Standards that are met with this Course:The independent research aspects of the Next Generation Science Standards will clarify for students the relevance of science and technology to everyday life. Students will be encouraged to develop independent research projects that are cross disciplinary.Next Generation Science Standards’ core ideas all have broad importance within or across science or engineering disciplines; provide a key tool for understanding or investigating complex ideas and solving problems; and relate to societal or personal concerns. The core ideas in Physical science; Life sciences; and Earth and Space Sciences all stress the role of student inquiry and research in helping students understand concepts. The following are examples:HS-PS1-3 Matter and its InteractionsPlan and conduct an investigation to gather evidence to compare the structure of substances at the bulk scale to infer the strength of electrical forces between particles.HS-PS1-6 Matter and its InteractionsRefine the design of a chemical system by specifying a change in conditions that would produce increased amounts of products at equilibrium.
HS-PS2-1 Motion and Stability: Forces and InteractionsAnalyze data to support the claim that Newton’s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object; its mass; and its acceleration.HS-PS2-5 Motion and Stability: Forces and InteractionsPlan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.HS-PS3-3 EnergyDesign; build; and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.*
HS-PS3-4 EnergyPlan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics)HS-PS4-2 Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information TransferEvaluate questions about the advantages of using a digital transmission and storage of information.HS-LS1-3 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and ProcessesPlan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions; Energy; and DynamicsDesign; evaluate; and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*HS-LS3-1 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of TraitsAsk questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspringHS-LS3-3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of TraitsApply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a populationHS-LS4-3 Biological Evolution: Unity and DiversityApply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.HS-ESS2-2 Earth's SystemsAnalyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.HS-ESS2-5 Earth's SystemsPlan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.HS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human ActivityEvaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
HS-ESS3-5 Earth and Human ActivityAnalyze geoscience data and the results from global climate models to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change and associated future impacts to Earth systems.HS-ETS1-1 Engineering DesignAnalyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.HS-ETS1-2 Engineering DesignDesign a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller; more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.HS-ETS1-3 Engineering DesignEvaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints; including cost; safety; reliability; and aesthetics as well as possible social; cultural; and environmental impacts
Arizona CTE Technical Standards can be met depending on the student’s research program may be found under the following programs:Bioscience; Electronic Technology; Engineering Sciences; Environmental Service Systems; Laboratory assisting; Natural Renewable Resources; Plant systems; Software Development.
School country
United StatesSchool state
ArizonaSchool city
TucsonHigh school
Salpointe Catholic High SchoolSchool / district Address
1545 E. Copper St.School zip code
85719Requested competency code
Lab ScienceDate submitted
Approved
YesApproved competency code
- CTE
- Career and technical education
- LADV
- Advanced science
- LBIO
- Biology