THE UNIVERSITY OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND POLICE STUDIES

MASTER ACADEMIC STUDIES

FORENSIC ENGINEERING

Course:

Biotechnology

Course Code: 12.143

ECTS: 6

Course Status:

Elective

Number of Effective Classes (Per Week): 2 + 2 + 1

Theoretical Education:

Practical Training:

Research Study Project:

2

2

1

Prerequisite/s: None

Educational Objective: The goal of this course is to provide students with comprehensive overview of biotechnology and global effects of this field on contemporary science and society. The aim is that students acquire awareness of the topics and controversies specific to this field, including various achievements, accomplishments and advancements, but also public concerns regarding certain aspects of biotechnology.

Projected Outcome: Students acquire thorough knowledge of genetic engineering/biotechnology techniques, as well as versatile applications of biotechnology in various disciplines; students will demonstrate understanding of current topics, including safety, controversies, bioethics, etc. Students will learn basic practical techniques routinely used in contemporary biotechnology.

Course Contents/Structure

Theoretical education:

- Application of biotechnology/genetic engineering on microorganisms, plants, animals and humans (eugenics)

- Application of biotechnology in various disciplines – agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, forensic sciences

- Specific topics include release of genetically modified organisms (GMO) into the environment, food biotechnology, safety issues regarding consuming GM foods, transgenic plants and animals, gene therapy, bioremediation, evaluation of accomplishments regarding GMOs, biotechnology in the genomic era.

- Current controversies, challenges and solutions

- Legal aspects of biotechnology – intellectual property, patents, licensing, laws and regulations

- Ethical aspects regarding biotechnology applications in contemporary society

- Careers in biotechnology.

Practical training:

- DNA and RNA isolation from vegetables/fruits and their visualization via electrophoresis

- Aseptic technique and growing bacteria on solid and liquid culture media

- E. coli transformation with recombinant plasmid, plasmid isolation, PCR

- Oil removal using bacterial cultures

- Searching biological databases.

Teaching Methods: Lectures, discussions, video clips, cooperative learning, presentations, demonstrations.

Assessment (Maximum Number of Points: 100)

Pre-Exam Obligations

No. of Points

Final Examination

No. of Points

Midterm exam

20

Final examination

30

Laboratory

30

Active participation in class

5

Research project

15

Textbook/s

1. Thieman, W. & Palladino, M. Introduction to biotechnology. Benjamin Cummings, 2nd ed. 2008

2. Daugherty, E. Biotechnology: Science for the new millennium. Paradigm Publishing Inc., 3rd ed. 2012