Guidelines for Qualifying Examination in Biotechnology

• The DEB faculty representative on the students PhD Qualifying exam should question the student on topics related to material covered in MCB 263 (Biotechnology Fundamentals and Application), GGG 296 (Scientific Professionalism and Integrity) and/or biotechnology related areas of the student’s research proposal.
   
• Topics covered in MCB 263 typically include: fundamental principles of molecular biology (recombinant DNA methods, restriction endonucleases, vectors, promoters, creating and screening a library, transformation methods); alternative expression systems (bacterial, yeast, insect, mammalian, plant and animal); bioprocess engineering (bioreactor designs, operating strategies and scale-up considerations, protein recovery and purification methods) and tools/methods used in biotechnology such as PCR, microarrays, etc.
   
• MCB 263 is designed to train graduate students interested in careers in biotechnology research. Students learn the fundamentals of molecular biology and chemical engineering as they relate to recombinant DNA technology. This includes the principles of rate processes of biological systems, optimization of bioreactor performance, and other practical issues related to over-expression and production of recombinant molecules.

Text: Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA, 2nd Ed. B.R. Glick and J.J. Pasternak, American Society of Microbiology Press, 1998.
Reference Text: Bioprocess Engineering Principles. Pauline M. Doran. Academic Press. 1995.

• The reviewer may ask questions related to core bioethics issues covered in GGG 296. Topics include scientific conduct, manuscript preparation, grant writing, seminar presentations, and time management. Emphasis on responsibilities of scientists to factually and thoughtfully communicate results.
   
• The reviewer may also examine on special biotechnology topics related to the student’s research proposal