Course Description
Seminars, readings, and discussions of topics related to biochemistry, biotechnology, and molecular biology. Scientific writing will be emphasized, and visits to laboratories may be scheduled.
Athena Title
SPECIAL TOPICS
Non-Traditional Format
The topics can be directed to individual student interest, and off-campus travel and research can be accommodated.
Prerequisite
(BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1103L) or BIOL 1107-1107L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide students extended readings and discussions beyond topics generally covered in the didactic lecture courses. The students will learn critical analysis of scientific papers, oral presentation of concepts, and rudimentary scientific writing. Trips to laboratories at UGA and off-campus may be included depending upon student interests.
Topical Outline
Since the intent of this new offering is to provide a flexible course to accommodate diverse student and faculty interests and provide instruction in critical reading and analysis, oral communication, and scientific writing, where laboratory visits and off-campus field trips may also be included to view specialized instrumentation and experimental procedures, it is not possible to provide a fixed outline of the topics to be covered. One possible offering could, for example, focus on biotechnology and society. For such an offering students would have assigned readings in the basic scientific methodologies underlying biotechnology, e.g. cloning (gene, reproductive, and therapeutic), biomanufacturing (microbial and animal cell production), and current and potential applications in health and agriculture, as well as the moral and ethical concerns. Students would be asked to present the papers and defend or criticize the content; they would also have written assignments involving literature research. Visits to laboratories and facilities at UGA, as well as off-campus, will be scheduled as appropriate.