TeacherTECH Science Series: Step-by-Step Biotech for the Classroom Educator - An Eight-Part Workshop Series

High School Teachers are invited to attend an exciting new TeacherTECH workshop series focused on biotech. This workshop series will provide you with the building blocks to confidently introduce standards-based hands on laboratory activities into your lesson plans. These activities may be integrated into your classroom teaching as stand-alone activities or be strung together as a combined series of labs to create an entire biotechnology course.

The workshop series will begin with basic introductory level activities and build on to more advanced topics both in content and equipment requirements. We will cover the basic use and applications of the equipment used. You will have the confidence to reproduce these lab activities in your classroom! 

Beginning Tuesday, January 26, 2010 

4:30pm- 6:30pm 

San Diego Supercomputer Center, Auditorium

University of California, San Diego

This workshop is the first in an eight-part series. Teachers may choose to attend one or all of the workshops in the series depending on their interest. Teachers who attend all of the workshops in the series will receive over $250 in materials and supplies to implement the activities presented in these workshops. 

The instructor will also show you materials modifications to fit your class and budget.

All workshops in the series will take place on Tuesdays or Thursdays. 

Workshop Description for January 26, 2010:  The Basics - DNA Extraction, Size Exclusion, Chromatography

This workshop is the first in an eight-part series. 

In this hands-on workshop you will discuss relative sizes. We will do a quick, easy, visual way to teach the principals of chromatography! Chromatography is a powerful method for separating complex mixtures into component parts based on molecular properties. We will also extract the DNA from your own cheek cells then watch it precipitate. Bring only your imagination and take home your own DNA — in a necklace!

Upcoming Workshops in our Biotech Series

Thursday, February 11, 2010 - Nobel Price Winning Science: DNA-RNA-Protein

Explore the mechanisms of gene expression and genetic selection. You will transform bacteria with a bioluminescent jellyfish gene that codes for Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), then purify GFP from transformed bacteria using a key process in biomanufacturing, chromatography! DNA>RNA>Protein>Trait — Green Fluorescence!  AP Bio Lab 6

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 - Proteins in Actions 1: ELISA

The highly specific nature of antibodies has been harnessed to develop tests for almost any biological molecule that elicits an immune response. See how ELISA assays provide rapid detection of disease-causing agents such as those found in HIV, anthrax, mad cow disease, or the bioengineered proteins found in GMO foods.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010 - Analysis of Proteins: Protein Quantification

How much protein is in your food? Apply Beer’s law to measure the protein concentration in foods: milk, sports drinks, soy products, etc. Use the Bradford assay to determine concentration qualitatively by eye, or quantitatively with a spectrophotometer. This lab integrates the physical, chemical, and biological properties of proteins.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 -  DNA Analysis 1: DNA Electrophoresis

Use restriction enzyme digestion and DNA gel electrophoresis (popularly known as DNA Fingerprinting) to determine which of a number of suspects could have committed the crime - based on DNA evidence. Extend this kit with a plasmid mapping activity using the plasmid DNA restriction patterns from the experiment. AP Bio Lab 6.

Thursday, May 13, 2010 - DNA Analysis 2: Introduction to PCR

This hands-on workshop teaches the basics of DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis. Learn how trace amounts of DNA are used to identify genetic ancestry, identify inherited variations in your own genotype at the PV92 locus, or test common grocery store food products for the presence of GM foods. AP Bio Lab 8

Tuesday, May 25, 2010  - Proteins in Action 2

In this hands-on workshop we will generate protein profiles from distant and closely related species of fish using gel electrophoresis. Test the hypothesis that protein profiles are indicators of evolutionary relatedness and construct cladograms from your own gel results: DNA> RNA>Protein>Trait.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - Proteins in Action 3: NEW LAB AP Bio lab 2

Need Energy?  Reveal the power of enzyme kinetics by illustrating the theory through a real world application to biofuels.  Through guided inquiry activities your students will determine how temperature, pH, the concentration of substrate and the concentration of enzyme will effect an enzymatic reaction.  Throughout the world, biofuels are commonly used to power vehicles, heat homes, and provide fuel for cooking.  Can biofuels solve global warming?  Let your students decide if this is possible!

Please join us for an exciting and informative session of hands-on learning presented by Essy Levy, Curriculum and Training Specialist, Bio-Rad Laboratories. 

Professional Development credit will be offered through UCSD Extension.  This will be a 5-quarter unit course.

Registration is free. Refreshments will be served. Space is limited. Please contact Ange Mason at 858-534-5064 or amason@ucsd.edu to reserve your space.


For additional information on other TeacherTECH programs, please visit http://education.sdsc.edu/teachertech