INTRODUCTION TO
AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

PLSS 433-4 or ANS 433-4
Spring Semester

Course Description:

This course will cover the basic principles of plant and animal biotechnology using current examples; gene mapping in breeding, transgenic approaches to improve crop plants and transgenic approaches to improve animals will be considered. Technology transfer from laboratory to marketplace will be considered. An understanding of gene mapping, cloning, transfer, and expression will be derived.

Objectives:

1. To gain an understanding of the techniques and terminology of Biotechnology.
2. To understand the applicability of Agricultural Biotechnology.
3. To understand the gains attainable through Agricultural Biotechnology.
4. To appreciate the nature of environmental and ethical concerns over Biotechnology.

Instructors:

David A. Lightfoot, Soy Center/Public Policy Inst. 113;
Email: ga4082@siu.edu; Phone: 453-1797; Office Hours: F 10-11 or by appointment

Todd A. Winters, Ag. 111
Email: tw3a@siu.edu; Phone: 453-1760; Office Hours: MTWF 11-12, TR 1-2 or by appointment

Lecture:

Mondays, 4-5:50 PM, Ag 114

Lab:

Thursdays, 3-5:50 PM, Ag 114

Textbooks (in bookstore under PLSS):

Molecular Biotechnology: Principles & Applications of Recombinant DNA, Glick & Pasternick--Required

Molecular Biotechnology, Primrose--Optional (Former Required Text)

A Cartoon Guide to Genetics, Gonick--Optional

Genetic Engineering of Plants for Crop Improvement, Lal and Lal--Optional

Molecular Biology of the Gene, Watson et al.--Reference

Molecular Biology of the Cell, Alberts et al.--Reference

Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Techniques, Freshney--Reference

Genes VI: Levin

Grading:

Quizzes:	Ten point quizzes will be given during the first 10 
		minutes of each Monday lecture covering material from 
		the lectures and labs from the previous week since the 
		last quiz.  The lowest two quizzes will be dropped.  
		Quizzes can not	be made up.  A missed quiz will be 
		counted as a dropped quiz.

Exams:		Three Take-home exams will be given during the semester.
		Two midterms and one due during finals week.  10% will 
		be taken off the top of exams each day that they are 
		late.  Take-home exams should be typed unless 
		permission is given by one of the instructors.  Do not 
		plagiarize from text, reference materials, or webpages.

Lab Reports:	A number of lab reports (3-4) will be turned in during 
		the semester.  Like take-home exams, 10% will be taken 
		off the top of exams each day that they are late.  
		Legibility is important.

Other Assignments:	A few other assignments in the course are 
			probable.

Incompletes:	Incompletes will only be given in special cases with 
		written endorsement from a medical professional 
		or university official.  Failing the course is not a  
		reason for receiving a incomplete on its own.

Grading Breakdown:	A=91-100%	Exams		45%
			B=81-90%	Lab Reports	45%		
			C=71-80%	Quizzes, Misc.	10%
			D=61-70%			100%
			F= 60%

Date               Lecture Topic                		Lecturer 


Jan 21	Lab: Lab Safety, Lab Books, and Pipet Calibration	York/Winters
Jan 25	Introduction & Biotechnology Industry	                Lightfoot
Jan 28	Lab: Herbicide/Antibiotic Resistant Organisms		Lightfoot
Feb 1	Recombinant DNA Techniques: Cloning, PCR, etc.	 	Lightfoot
Feb 4	Lab: Testing Resistant Organisms			Lightfoot
Feb 8	Recombinant DNA Techniques: Gene Probes	                Lightfoot
Feb 11	Lab: Cloning Resistant Genes				Lightfoot
Feb 15	Recombinant DNA Techniques: Molecular Markers		Lightfoot
Feb 18	Lab: Transformation of Microbes				Lightfoot
Feb 22	Microbiology Applications				Lightfoot
	EXAM
Feb 25	Lab: Restriction Enzyme Digestion	 		Lightfoot
Mar 1	Plant Cell Culture & Propagation 		        Lightfoot
Mar 4	Lab: Plant Cell Culture					Lightfoot
Mar 8	Transgenic Plants					Lightfoot
Mar 11	Lab: Plant Transformation			 	Lightfoot
	Spring Break
Mar 22	Molecular Breeding: Plants & Animals                    Lightfoot
Mar 25	Lab: DNA Analysis				 	Lightfoot
Mar 29	Molecular Breeding: Plants & Animals			Lightfoot
	EXAM
Apr 1	Lab: Molecular Markers for Breeding			Lightfoot
Apr 5	Mammalian Cell Culture & Applications			Winters
Apr 8	Lab: More Molecular Markers for Breeding		Lightfoot
Apr 12	Antibodies & Applications				Winters
Apr 15	Lab: Mammalian Cell Culture				Winters
Apr 19	Transgenic Animals & Applications			Winters
Apr 22	Lab: Extraction of Proteins				Winters
Apr 26	Other Aspects of Animal Biotechnology			Winters
Apr 29	Lab: Immunoblot & Other Related Diagnostics		Winters
May 3	Environmental, Social, and Ethical Issues		Lightfoot
	EXAM
May 6	Lab:	Wrap-Up Lab/Evaluations				Instructors

Agricultural Biotechnology Links

The USDA Biotechnology Information Center

National Center for Biotechnology Information

Genentech Access Excellence

Australian Biotechnology Association

Iowa State Biotechnology Education Program