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So You’re New to Biotech…

Welcome! Let’s Learn!

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Day 1 Skills Stations

With a lab partner / teacher buddy, complete station 1 on your skills station handout

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Supplies are located around the room

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Day 1 Skills Stations

  • On the first day, (with zero context), students rotate around the learning stations to complete tasks using basic skills we will use time and time again in biotech

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  • As teachers today, we will only be completing station 1, but I provided the worksheet I use with all stations on it

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What is my background in biotechnology?

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Important to Note:

  • I currently teach biotechnology on a trimester schedule with 65 minute periods
  • I did teach biotech on a 50 minute period, 8 hour semester schedule while student teaching
    • (and with only $60 given of budget money!)
    • While it is easier with longer periods, it can definitely be done in skinny schedules!
    • And while money does buy nice biotech things, it is accessible to all

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“It’s on the Weekly Plan”

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A Note on Assessment & Feedback

  • Formative
    • Labs (procedure given, no variable changed)
    • Worksheets
    • Presentations / Projects
  • Summative
    • Quizzes
    • Summative Labs

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Electrophoresis Labs

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Restriction Enzymes

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Bacterial Labs

  • Skills labs
    • Streaking plates
    • Colony isolation
  • pGLO lab
    • Bacterial transformation which introduces pGLO plasmid into E. coli, allowing them to glow in the dark
  • Out of the Blue CRISPR lab
    • Uses CRISPR tech to turn bacteria blue / white

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GMOs

  • GMO Speed Dating
  • Methods of GE Presentations
    • Sample Work

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Analysis of

Electrophoresis

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Putting it all Together

DNA Extraction > Purification >

PCR Amplification of gene of interest > Electrophoresis > Analysis

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  • GMO PCR Lab Kits ($86-$212)

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Biotech on a Budget

  • Inexpensive Labs
    • Yogurt Lab
    • Whey Protein Lab
  • Biotech PDs
    • Nourish the Future
    • Bio-Rad Webinars
    • Bio-Rad In Person Training
    • BTC in Madison

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Biotech on a Budget (continued)

  • Supplies
    • Expired from local hospitals or biotech / medical companies
    • Make friends with your science teachers
    • Autoclaves can just be pressure cookers. Or just don’t be sterile.

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Grants

Cheaper Suppliers

  • Compeer Financial
  • Tractor Supply
  • Private Donations

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  • MiniPCR Bio
  • Amazon
  • Flinn?

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What do I do when I have a sub?!

  • GATTACA Movie
    • DVD off of Amazon
    • Bioethics
  • Cosmos TV Show: Vavilov Episode - Season 4
    • Also bought off of Amazon
    • Really good for horticulture too!
    • About the scientists who preserved genetic diversity in ag during the world wars
  • Ghost in Your Genes NOVA Episode
    • Epigenetics

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My biotech curriculum! →

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So you’re (less) new to biotech….

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What questions do you have?