The Way We Work With Life:
Issues in Biotechnology DVD and Digital Textbook Lecture Series
BCH 190, BCH 523, and EDC 920

Course Instructions for the Digital Textbook,
Assignments and Evaluations


Introduction: This entire course is now available as a DVD series to facilitate distance and on-line learning at a student’s own pace. 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. These 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. This online version of the course offers you the opportunity to work at your own pace!!!

How to Take This Course

 

  1. How to Register
  1. To register for college credits through the University of Rhode Island for this course go to lifeedu.org or the University of Rhode Island Websites and find the correct form for the course listing.
  2. Click on the appropriate course
  1. BCH 190 for Undergraduate credit
  2. BCH 190 for High School Seniors
  3. EDC 920 for Master’s level credit for teachers
  4. BCH 523 for Graduate (MS and PhD) level credit
  1. Print and fill in the form.
  1. Send the form and the appropriate payment to:

University of Rhode Island
Enrollment Services office
35 Campus Ave.
Kingston, RI 02881
  1. You will receive a student ID number and a password from lifeedu.org to begin the on-line course in about two weeks from the time of enrollment.
  1. Order the textbook
  1. The textbook titled ‘Exploring the Way Life Works’ by Hoagland, Dodson and Hauck. Jones and Bartlett Publishers
  2. Order the text through the lifeedu.org website or through Amazon.com
  3. Once you have received your textbook, your student ID number, and passwords you are ready to proceed with the course.
  1. Taking the course

  1. With your password you now have access to The Way We Work with Life Digital Textbook. This Digital Textbook is comprised of a series of PowerPoint lectures given by experts in their fields. Each lecture is approximately one hour long. There is a reading assignment from the textbook titled ‘Exploring the Way Life Works’. The reading assignments concern the basic biology behind the advances in biotechnology and provide a basic background. The reading assignments do not coincide with the lectures but instead span the course. Work at your own pace!!!
  2. Quizzes have been constructed from the PowerPoint lectures and the textbook reading assignments. We advise that you take adequate notes on the lectures. In addition, see the PowerPoint slides in the DVD series as a study aid. Also, the student can order a copy of the printed PowerPoint slides as a working notebook through icopy at 99 Fortin Road, Kingston RI, USA, 02881, tele (401) 788-8277.
  3. Once you have completed the reading assignment and the watched the lectures you can take the appropriate quiz. Quizzes, Exams, and Assignments can be accessed through the lifeedu.org website. Note, the quiz menu associated with Table of Contents. (See How to log in to take an exam, quiz, or fulfill an assignment). Choose the appropriate quiz and answer all the questions. Quizzes and Exams are all multiple choice. There is a Mid-term exam after part I which is cumulative and is based on the questions from the previous quizzes. After you have completed all of the assigned lectures, readings, and quizzes there will be a final exam that is cumulative from part II only and based on the quizzes since the Mid-term.

  1. For Graduate level BCH 523 students

  1. You must take the basic course as outlined in section III including the extra section on Agricultural Biotechnology. In addition, this course requires reading the assigned research and review papers in the area of your choice. This portion of the course is meant to function as a journal club on the special topics in an area of your interest, including Agricultural Biotechnology; Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Medical Biotechnology; or, Marine Biotechnology. First, select an area of interest. The articles are provided as PDF files from the lifeedu.org website. There are five papers per subject. Once you have read the papers in the area of interest you must submit five multiple choice questions on the five papers and take the appropriate test. The tests are multiple choice and are generated from a pool of the submitted and evaluated questions.
  1. For Graduate level teachers EDC 920

  1. You must take the basic course as outlined in section III. In addition this course requires that each teacher submit four lesson plans on topics of your choice from the digital textbook table of contents. A sample can be found on the lifeedu.org website. The lesson plans should relate to the course material in such a way that other teachers interested to teach this course or a portion of this course can use these lesson plans as a resource. These lesson plans, will then be evaluated and provided for general use through the lifeedu.org website.

VI. Receiving your grades


Grades depend upon the time of submission to the University of Rhode Island. There are three semesters at the university. An online course allows students to enroll and complete coursework at different times compared to traditional students. If your grades are submitted at a time when the university is proceeding into the following semester, your grades will be recorded and sent to you from the university the following semester. As a result, lifeedu.org will email grades to you upon completion of the course but your grades may be recorded in the university system the following semester.


The Way We Work With Life:
Issues in Biotechnology DVD and Digital Textbook Lecture Series
BCH 190, BCH 523, and EDC 920

The Digital Textbook for General Biotechnology


Table of Contents and Course Instructions

I. The Mechanics of Life and General Biotechnology



 1. Biotechnology: Panacea or Pandora’s Box
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
2. Setting the Stage and Patterns of Life
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp.vii-21, Chapter 1) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #1. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 01 Study Guide.

The Mechanics of DNA: What is Life?

3. Flow of Life
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
4. Techniques in Biotechnology
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp.23-51, sections 2.1-2.8, first part of Chapter 2) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #2. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 02 Study Guide.


5. Trends, Patterns and Relationships in Biology I
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
6. Trends, Patterns and Relationships in Biology II
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp. 52-85, sections 2.9-2.16, second part of Chapter 2) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #3. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 03 Study Guide.

7. Gene Expression and Development
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
8. The Genomics Revolution
 Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp. 87-109, sections 3.1-3.8, first part of Chapter 3) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #4. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 04 Study Guide.

C. Evolution and the Flow of Information

9. Evolution: How Does It Happen?
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
10. Evolution: Genes and Ideas
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
11. What is Evolution?
Dr. Kenneth Miller, Brown University
12. Why is it Controversial?
Dr. Kenneth Miller, Brown University

Reading Assignment (pp. 110-137, sections 3.9-3.14, second part of Chapter 3) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #5. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 05 Study Guide.


II. Applications of Biotechnology


D. Agriculture Biotechnology: The Past Present and Future of Farming

 13.How Is It Done & How It Is Used I
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
14. How Is It Done & How It Is Used II
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp. 138-157, sections 4.1-4.7, first part of Chapter 4) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #6. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 06 Study Guide.


E. Agricultural Biotechnology Panel Discussions (optional except for BCH 523 and EDC 920 Graduate Students)
15. Issues and Controversies in Agricultural Biotechnology I
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
16. Issues and Controversies Agricultural Biotechnology II
Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
 17. A General Agricultural Biotechnology Lecture (optional and not tested)
 Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
18. A Panel Discussion: Research and Development Perspectives
 Introduction by Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
1. From Basic Science Discovery to Applications
Dr. Thomas Hodges, Purdue University
2. Impact of Technology Improvement on Agricultural Production Dr. Hong Luo, HybriGene Inc
3. Biopharmaceutical and Bioindustrial Products Produced in GM Plants Dr. John Howard, Texas A&M University

19. A Second Panel Discussion: GMO and Public Debate
 Overview by Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island

  1. Issues Surrounding the GMO Debate
Dr. Neil Schultes, CT Agriculture Experimental Station
  1. Consumer Attitudes and Communications
Dr. Andrew Benson, International Food Information Council
  1. A View of Agricultural Biotechnology
Dr. Paul Chomet, Monsanto Co.
  1. Public Participation in Decision Making For GM Plants
Dr. Ian Sussex, Yale University

BCH 523 and EDC 920 Graduate Students:
Take Quiz #6a. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid.

F. Cloning and Genetic Engineering

 20. Animal Cloning Presentation
 Dr. Jerry Yang, University of CT
21. Animal Cloning Documentary
 Dr. Jerry Yang, University of CT

Reading Assignment (pp. 158-181, sections 4.8-4.15, second part of Chapter 4) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Mid-term exam which is comprehensive and assembled from the quizzes.
See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid.

G. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

 22. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Emergent Technologies
 Dr. Albert Kausch, University of Rhode Island
23. Pharmacogenomics and the Future
 Dr. Albert Seymour, Pfizer Inc

Reading Assignment (pp. 183-207, sections 5.1-5.10, all of Chapter 5) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #7. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 07 Study Guide.


H. Applications of Medical Biotechnology

 24. Medical Biotechnology: Xenotransplantation and Tissue Engineering
 Dr. Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, University of Rhode Island and Brown University
25. Medical Biotechnology: Gene Therapy
Dr. Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, University of Rhode Island and Brown University
26. Stem Cells: Therapy and Medical Research
 Dr. Theodore Rasmussen, University of CT

Reading Assignment (pp. 209-223, sections 6.1-6.7, first part of Chapter 6) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #8. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 08 Study Guide.


27. The Biology of Cancer
Dr. Michael Morin, Pfizer Inc
28. Emergent Technologies in Cancer Treatment
Dr. Michael Morin, Pfizer Inc

Reading Assignment (pp. 224-241, sections 6.8-6.13, second part of Chapter 6) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #9. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 09 Study Guide.


I. Marine Biotechnology

29. The Oceans: An Untapped Source
 Dr. Marta Gomez-Chiarri, University of Rhode Island
30. Aquaculture
Dr. Terrance Bradley, University of Rhode Island
Water Quality Management
Dr. David Smith, University of Rhode Island
31. Poseidon’s Medicine Cabinet: Finding Drugs From the Sea
 Dr. David Rowley, University of Rhode Island

Reading Assignment (pp. 242-285, sections 7.1-7.15, all of Chapter 7) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #10. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 10 Study Guide.
  1. Bioweapons and Biodefense

32. Bioterrorism, Weapons and Homeland Security
 Dr. Gregory Paquette, University of Rhode Island

K. Forensics

 33. Forensics: Trace Evidence
 Dr. Amy Duhaime, Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory
34. DNA-based Forensics: The Real Story
 Dr. Mike Adamowicz, CT Department of Safety Forensic Science Laboratory
35. The National Forensic Debate: Public Safety vs. The Right of Privacy
Dr. Carll Ladd, CT Department of Public Safety Forensic Science Laboratory

Reading Assignment (pp. 286-309, sections 8.1-8.9, first part of Chapter 8) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #11. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid. See Quiz 11 Study Guide.

III. Ethics and Social Concerns

L. Ethical Issues and Social Concerns in Pharmacogenomics

 36. Bioethics and Pharmacogenomics I
 Dr. Elora Werringer, Pfizer Inc
37. Bioethics and Pharmacogenomics II
Dr. Elora Werringer, Pfizer Inc

Reading Assignment (pp. 310, sections 8.10-8.23, second part of Chapter 8) in Exploring The Way Life Works
Take Quiz #12. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid.

Take Final-term exam which is comprehensive of part II (everything since the Mid-term exam) and assembled from the quizzes. See PowerPoint slides available as a study aid.

Take an exit survey (optional)