Bio-Technology

Biotechnology is the study of biological components such as proteins, DNA, cells and tissues to create products and services that are beneficial to society. These fields include but are not limited to medical, environmental, manufacturing and agriculture. Students who complete the Biotechnology emphasis will take a three course sequence of: Introduction to Biotechnology, Intermediate Biotechnology and Advanced Biotechnology.

A majority of the class content is delivered through students performing lab activities. While a major component of Biotechnology is the life sciences, other disciplines are highly incorporated. Students are exposed to chemistry and physics as these fields are required to make appropriate solutions and use physical properties during the performance of experiments. Furthermore students are required to write in lab notebooks, organize, extrapolate and graph data using a variety of mathematical and statistical analysis using spreadsheets.

Bio Technology Course Sequence

Introduction to Biotechnology

COURSE OVERVIEW: Introduction to Biotechnology is a two semester, lab-based course that reinforces and
extends students’ understanding of scientific concepts previously encountered in their general biology course.
In addition, it provides students with the opportunity to develop laboratory, analytical, and communication skills
integral to the practice of science, in general, and, in particular, to the field of biotechnology. Students in
Introduction to Biotechnology will learn and practice Standard Lab Operating Procedures, keep a legal
scientific notebook of their laboratory experiences, and engage in biotechnology protocols, including the
identification of biological macro-molecules, cell culturing, manipulation of DNA and the study of proteins.
Students will explore the history of biotechnology, participate in biotechnology career exploration, and consider
the ethical issues involved in biotechnology.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This course has a dual emphasis that has two equal focuses in CTE and an academic subject.
Expected outcomes are from the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, adopted
by the California State Board of Education in January, 2013 and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Academic Standards.
Students are expected to perform at a proficient level on a variety of tasks and assessments addressing both
the content and skill standards for Introduction to Biotechnology. Levels of proficiency are defined near the
end of this course outline under Classroom Performance Criteria.

Intermediate Biotechnology

COURSE OVERVIEW :
Intermediate Biotechnology will build upon the content and skills acquired in Introduction to Biotechnology.
This course will explore the intermediate to advanced knowledge and skills needed to study, isolate and
produced proteins and DNA. Students will also use genetic engineering techniques to modify a model
organisms. The majority of the knowledge will be demonstrated through lab procedures recorded in a Legal
Scientific Lab Notebook. Students will also get perspectives on the ethical concerns and government agencies
of biotechnology.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This course has a dual emphasis that has two equal focuses in CTE and an academic subject.
Expected outcomes are from the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards , adopted
by the California State Board of Education in January, 2013 and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
Academic Standards.
Students are expected to perform at a proficient level on a variety of tasks and assessments addressing both
the content and skill standards for Intermediate Biotechnology. Levels of proficiency are defined near the
end of this course outline under Classroom Performance Criteria.

Advanced Biotechnology

COURSE OVERVIEW:
Advanced Biotechnology will build upon the content and skills acquired in Introduction to Biotechnology and
Intermediate Biotechnology. This course will explore advanced knowledge and skills needed to study, isolate
and produced proteins and DNA. Furthermore, this course will serve as a culminating demonstration of the
students’ ability to synthesize and evaluate appropriate techniques to a biomanufacturing application.
Students will be assigned a plasmid for a protein of interest. They will develop and implement a
“Comprehensive Product Development Plan” with emphasis on the Research & Development phase and
performance of the Small-Scale Manufacturing phase. The majority of the knowledge will be demonstrated
through lab procedures and data analysis recorded in a Legal Scientific Lab Notebook.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES
This course has a dual emphasis that has two equal focuses in CTE and an academic subject.
Expected outcomes are from the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, adopted
by the California State Board of Education in January, 2013 and Next Generation Science (NGSS) Academic
Standards.
Students are expected to perform at a proficient level on a variety of tasks and assessments addressing both
the content and skill standards for Advanced Biotechnology. Levels of proficiency are defined near the end of
this course outline under Classroom Performance Criteria.

District

In This Section

Bio-Technology

Bio Technology Course Sequence

Introduction to Biotechnology

Intermediate Biotechnology

Advanced Biotechnology