Biotech Education
(9/1/2001-8/31/2004)
Enhanced Biotechnology Education (USDA CSREES #2001-38411-1082)
The primary goal of this project was to develop, package and test curricula addressing biotechnology and its social implications. The curriculum has several levels of experience-based components, making it adaptable to a wide variety of undergraduate institutions. The proposed curriculum is designed for students not majoring in the life sciences. We want to prepare students for their professions, but also prepare them to be citizens who make informed choices about biotechnology issues.
Students in the agricultural sciences must be prepared for the impact biotechnology will have on their lives and careers whether they major in life science or not. TeachinAugust 10, 2005lenge and to reach these students a flexible curriculum accessible to diverse student populations is needed. Our project involved a collaboration between the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), a major provider of agricultural education in Missouri; the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (UMES), a provider of agricultural education to minority students; and the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), a large urban institution.
The curriculum is based on courses currently taught at MU and UCLA, however we expect our curriculum to have an impact on biotechnology education that transcends its immediate impact at our three institutions.
At MU, these curricular materials are used in Biochemistry 2112: Biotechnology in Society. This course is offered both fall and winter semesters and has an enrollment of ~110 students per semester. At UCLA, these materials are used in a freshman course, General Education 71: Biotechnology and Society, with an annual enrollment of ~140 students. UMES created a course based on these materials, Animal and Poultry Technology 288A: Biotechnology in Today’s World, with an enrollment of ~15 students.
A specific goal of our project was to develop portable materials on a CD-ROM that could be easily adopted at other institutions. Our materials can be used in low resource environments, as well as those with access to more equipment and facilities. There are six separate modules on the CD. They are:
- How Changes in DNA Affect Proteins, Cells and Organisms
- Separating the Macromolecules of Cells: DNA Isolation
- Modern Biotechnology vs. Traditional Breeding
- Introduction to Genetic Engineering: Bacterial Transformation
- Microscopy and Cellular Organization
- DNA Forensics
These are stand alone modules. Each one contains a Powerpoint presentation that can be used as a lecture. There is a Teacher’s Guide in pdf format that contains all the slides in the presentation as well as background information and a list of materials needed for any hands-on activities or demonstrations with instructions for the activity. Finally, there are student worksheets, also in pdf format, that accompany the lecture and activity. In the main folder for each module, there is also an additional folder that contains all of the pdf files in Word format. For a free copy of this CD, send a request to kowalewskis@missouri.edu.