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Department of Natural Sciences

Biotechnology

fb05_bio_biotechnology.jpg (DE)

Lecture

Elective Course

  • in BSc Applied Biology, 4th Semester
  • 6 h/week (2L/2E/2P)
  • Credits: 6 ECTS

 

 

Content:

  • Bioprocess Engineering:  fermenter design, size and materials of bioreactors, aeration, temperature control, sterilization
  • Culturing conditions and purification strategies: primary and secondary metabolites, growth yield, productivity, time-volume-yield, batch and fed-batch cultivation, chemostat, turbidostat, concentration of cells by centrifugation and filtration, cell disruption
  • Food Biotechnology: beer brewing, making of wine, fermented dairy products, acetic acid, citric acid and amino acid production, conversion of starch to high fructose syrup, strategies for overproducing metabolites by microorganisms
  • Production of Biopolymers: bioplastic made of polylactide, polyhydroxyalkanoates or polysaccharides, emulsifying agents made of alginate, dextran or xanthan
  • Enzymes in washing powder for the making of food or textiles; diagnostic enzymes, enzymes for the production of fine chemicals
  • Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: hormones and growth factors, enzymes and enzyme modulators, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies
  • Diagnostic Biotechnology: Protein-based diagnostics: ELISA; DNA-based diagnostics: DNA-Hybridization; Amplification of target sequence by PCR; Microarray analysis
  • Plant Biotechnology: genetically modified food, cloning by meristem propagation, introducing desired traits
  • Environmental Biotechnology: degradation of xenobiotics, wastewater treatment plants, bioremediation; biogas production

Exercises

Content:

  • Repetition of the content of the lectures
  • Stimulation of critical thinking
  • Gaining background information about Biotechnology topics by internet search
  • Connecting information from different resources

Internship

Content:

  • Protein purification by affinity chromatography and protein detection SDS-PAGE and Western Blot
  • Microbial production of dihydroxyacetone
  • Detection of ovalbumin as potential allergen in composite food by ELISA
  • Production of wine
  • Enzyme immobilization and use of a fixed-bed reactor for an extended period of time

Requirements

Successful participation in Written Exam and in Practical Course.

Written Exam: 60%

Practical Course: 40%

Literature

  • Ratledge & Kristiansen: Basic Biotechnology; Cambridge University Press; ISBN:0521779170
  • Clark & Pazdernik: Biotechnology; Academic Press; ISBN: 0123850150
  • Kück & Frankenberg-Dinkel: Biotechnology; De Gruyter; ISBN: 3110341107
  • Herren: Introduction to Biotechnology – An Agricultural Revolution; Delmar Learning; ISBN: 076684272
  • Scragg: Environmental Biotechnology; Oxford University Press; ISBN: 0199268673

Links