The Way We Work With Life:
Issues in Biotechnology
BCH 190, BCH 523 and EDC 920

Courses for broad audience applications, covering in simple terms, basic knowledge in the exploding fields of biotechnology.
Albert P. Kausch, Nancy Kerk, and Ian Sussex
Spring 2005

The course, Issues in Biotechnology, (BCH 190 ) and it’s graduate level counterparts (BCH 523 and EDC 920) , are offered at various levels and intended for a broad audience; including, undergraduate students, Life Science industry staff, graduate students in biotechnology, high school teachers and high school students for college credit regardless of their major or degree program. There are no prerequisites. Theses courses aim to accomplish three goals: 1) to provide basic knowledge about DNA, genomics and gene expression that is fundamental to the how biological life functions, 2) to present a panoramic survey of the current applications in biotechnology, and career opportunities in the growing fields that are related to biotechnology; and 3) to examine issues and ethics concerning the future of biotechnology and our society.
The course can be taken for (3) college credits through the University of Rhode Island by undergraduates and Life Science industry staff, for graduate school credits (MS and PhD), High School teachers for Masters level credits in education, and for High School students for college credit through the Early Enrollment Program (EEP credits). Accreditation through the University of Rhode Island is transferable to most programs. Many corporations provide generous tuition reimbursement programs (ask your supervisor).
The course can be delivered three ways this spring semester: 1) live and in person at the Peabody Museum in New Haven Connecticut; 2) via live teleconferencing from the Peabody Museum at Yale University to as many bridge sites as possible; and, 3) asynchronously on-line or by accessing the DVD series at the students own pace. All testing is on-line.

The entire course is also available on a 42 DVD series as a digital textbook that spans the fields of biotechnology. This format allows for students or teachers to take this course on their own schedule from any location.

Education about biology and biotechnology has become imperative. What we know now about the biological sciences and their applications in biotechnology will affect all of us and shape many facets of our global society well into the future. There is not a more profound, provocative, and socially relevant topic for education currently.

How does life work? What is life? How are genes sequenced or cloned? Should we be cloning genes and moving them into other organisms? How will biotechnology affect medicine, pharmacy, and agriculture? Should we be cloning and genetically engineering animals? Should the federal government support stem cell research? What are the ethical issues? What are the career opportunities in the various fields that utilize biotech? These are currently just some of the important and socially relevant questions regarding the extraordinary advances in biotechnology that are addressed in this new course titled “The Way We Work With Life: Issues in Biotechnology”.
Knowledge about how life on this planet works should be a part of basic education and will provide a basis for informed dialogue about the current advances in all of the various and often controversial fields of biotechnology.

Course Description
The biological and environmental sciences have been rapidly transformed by the introduction of DNA-based technologies that allow for the precise manipulation and examination of the genetic material of plants, animals and microbes. The applications of these technologies encompass the rapidly growing fields within biotechnology. The tools of biotechnology are currently being applied across the biological sciences to address problems in agricultural crop improvement, marine sciences and aquaculture, medicine, pharmacy, forensics, and public health. The introduction of this field has been extremely rapid and has created a tremendous educational need to keep pace.

This course provides an introduction to Biotechnology and its impact on the environmental and life sciences, medicine, and agriculture. First, the basic questions concerning What is Life? and How does it work? are examined. To address these questions, the fundamental mechanics of biological life, DNA, gene expression and cloning are presented in basic layman’s terms as a basis for the current applications of modern biotechnology. Next, the current basic techniques used for gene cloning, DNA sequencing, PCR and gene transfer are examined. These technologies provide the basis for biotechnological advances in medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental, and forensic applications. Applications of recombinant DNA and genetic engineering are explored in these areas that are dramatically affecting our society and future. Lastly, the implications of biotechnology to world economy, politics, ecology and ethics are also discussed.
1. Background
Today, the term ‘biotechnology’ most frequently refers to the use of DNA-based technologies that are now so widely used in medical, pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental, and forensic applications. News and breakthroughs in biotechnology are now common in the popular press. For example, a recent special issue of TIME magazine was titled “Biotechnology-The future is now”. However, education of the public is lagging significantly behind the rate of advancement in this rapidly developing field.
The techniques to clone the first gene were developed more that thirty years ago. Now it is possible to clone genes from any organism, including bacteria, fungi, plants and animals and transfer those cloned genes into other organisms. For example, a gene can be cloned from a bacteria, and moved into a plant such as corn where the plant will then make the protein that is usually made by the bacteria. The transferred DNA sequence, or transgene, directs the cell to make its specific protein product and provides the potential for new traits.Given the rapid recent advances in genomics, transgenic biology, stem cell research and other related areas of biotechnology and a prediction that these fields will continue to grow and become increasing more sophisticated, there is an increasing need to create an informed and educated public in this area. The fact that there are various concerns and issues regarding the various fields of biotechnology further underscores the need for increased public education and awareness.

Educational Objectives for BCH 190:
This course, Issues in Biotechnology (BCH 190), is intended for the general public, Life Science Industry staff, high school teachers and undergraduate students regardless of their major or degree program. It also forms the basis for the graduate level versions of this course. There are no prerequisites. The course aims to accomplish three goals: 1) to provide basic knowledge about DNA and gene expression that is fundamental to the how biological life functions, 2) to present the current applications in biotechnology, and career opportunities in the growing fields that are related to biotechnology; and 3) to examine issues and ethics concerning the future of biotechnology and our society. This course provides a perspective on the rapidly changing fields of biotechnology and offers insight into careers.

Additional EDC 920 Objectives
Teachers pursuing this course for professional development will, in addition to the general “educational objectives for the BCH 190 level presentations, will also be prepared to submit three lesson plans on a topic of their choice according to NSTA standards. Those teachers involved with live tele-conferencing are required to engage ethical debate in the class room setting. The course aims to provide teachers the tools and knowledge to promote biotechnology education, consumer awareness and intellectual growth in their classrooms.
Additional BCH 523 (Special Topics in Biochemistry) Objectives
Students that are pursuing graduate level degrees can take this course as a special topics seminar course with the goal of an overall view of the fields of biotechnology while concentrating on the one of their particular interest. In the area of interest the student will be asked to review several (`10) recent publications in the field and be tested on their content.

Texts
Exploring The Way Life Works. The Science of Biology. Hoagland, Mahlon & Dodson, Bert ed. Hauck, Judith. 2001. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. Sudbury MA
Available from www.lifeedu.org under the heading “Resources” as well as the URI book store.
Additional readings as assigned.
Student Workbook of Lectures in the series $65.00
must be ordered at iCopy 99 Fortin Road, Kingston RI 02881 tele 401-788-8277
Course Grading Attendance or On-line viewing is absolutely mandatory. 10% of your final grade will be deducted for any unexcused absence or missed lecture (or any part of one class). If you must be absent, you MUST notify Kate Driscoll (401.874.9911) or Albert Kausch(401.874.7121) and provide documentation for your absence.

Quizzes will be given after each live class via online testing. For On-line or distance Learning students the testing is at your own pace. The tests and quizzes will cover: the weekly assigned chapter from the class text (The Way Life Works) focusing on both concepts and vocabulary, that weeks class lecture and assigned reading from the previous class. These quizzes consist of 15 multiple choice questions and should be a test of your general knowledge on the subject.
3 Exams will be given at the end of each module and will cover both class lecture material as well as the class text. The final exam is comprehensive.
Stock Project each student will be responsible for a project, due before the end of term, detailing current market analysis of several publicly traded biotechnology companies. This project will be summarized with a written report and survey.

BCH 520 Project for Master’s and Ph.D graduate students only. In addition to the requirements for the BCH 190 series, a series of current publications that are relevant to your specific area of interest are assigned for review. Students are required to submit test questions based on the publications that are used as a pool to draw from for the exams

EDC 920 Project for Teachers seeking professional development credit only. For teachers taking this course for graduate teaching credits, in addition to the requirements for the BCH 190 series, credit 3 class lesson plans constructed according to NSTA standards will be turned in before the end of term. Please be sure to include any activities, group projects, research, and discussion topics that you plan on including. Include all references cited.

PD credit EDC 920 students will, upon completion of the course receive 3 Professional Development credits which comply with standards set forth by the National staff development Council.

TUTION COSTS: LIVE AT THE PEABODY MUSEUM FOR SCIENCE, NON-SCIENCE STAFF, TEACHERS, AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FOR (3) CREDITS ($525). AUDIT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC.ON-LINE OR TELECONFERENCED PRESENTATION FOR SCIENCE, NON-SCIENCE STAFF AND UNDERGRADUATES ($975) & (SPECIAL RATE) FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS ($185)CEU & GRADUATE CREDITS FOR HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS ($975) GRADUATE LEVEL VERSION FOR MASTER’S AND PH.D. STUDENTS ($1,200)