Abu Dhabi University

College of Engineering
Course Syllabus

Biomedical Engineering Program

Fall Semester AY2023-2024
Course Name: Introduction to Biotechnology
Course Code: BME401
Course Pre-requisites: BME301
Course Co-requisites: -
Credit hours: 3

Instructor’s Name: Dr. Rabah Al abdi

Telephone: 037090845 E-mail: rabah.alabdi@adu.ac.ae
Class Location: U-1F-10 Class Time: MW 9:00 AM-10:45 AM
Office Location: AA L-316 Office Hours: MTWTh:1PM-3PM b

1. Course Description
An introduction to biotechnology course including DNA/RNA molecular biology, bioinformatics,
basic techniques in biotechnology, production of biological molecules, electrophoresis, and PCR ,
DNA extraction and bioethics, Biotechnology Ethics and Regulations.

2. Learning Outcomes and Associated Assessment Tools

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

PLO&
Course Learning Outcome Assessment Tool(s)*
contribution
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Exam 1- Question 1 PLO1 (High)
science and business of biotechnology Final Exam- Question 1

2. Define recombinant DNA technology Exam 1-Question2 PLO1 (High)

and explain how it is used to clone genes Final Exam -Question 2
and manipulate DNA
3. Use Pymol program to visualize, analyze PLO6 (High)
and build DNA molecule and other Labs
biomolecular molecules
4. Demonstrate familiarity with PLO1 (High), PLO4
Exam 1-Question 3
biotechnology’s fundamental techniques, (Medium)
new advances, and latest applications
5. Develop an understanding for protein PLO1 (High)
Exam 2 -Question1
purification
6. Outline how plant biotechnology could PLO1 (High)
reduce hunger and malnutrition around Exam 2 -Question2
the world
7. Develop an understanding for DNA
Exam 3 -Question2
Finger printing techniques
 PLO&
Course Learning Outcome Assessment Tool(s)*
contribution
8. Demonstrate the ability to visualize PLO2 (High)
Project
bimolecules using Pymol
9. Develop an understanding of PLO1 (High)
Bioremediation and how it can be used to Final Exam-Question 3
clean up the environment
10. Demonstrate an understanding of the PLO1 (High), PLO4
Final Exam -Question 4
medical biotechnology (Medium)
*Please note that the assessment tool(s) are to be used in assessing the course learning outcomes.

3. Weekly Outline

Week Topic Readings (Textbook)

1 Introduction to the biotechnology age Chapter 1
2 Introduction to genes and genomes Chapter 2
3 Recombinant DNA technology and Chapter 3
genomics
4 Proteins as products Chapter 4
Exam 1
5 Microbial biotechnology

6 Plant biotechnology Chapter 6

7/8 Labs
Exam 2
9 Animal biotechnology Chapter 7
10 DNA fingerprinting and forensic analysis Chapter 8
Project Announcement: Create a cartoon
Pymol visualization of a DNA molecule
showing the double helix

10 Bioremediation Chapter 9
11 Exam 3 Chapter 10
11/12 Medical biotechnology Chapter 11
13 Biotechnology regulations /Ethics and Chapter 12/Chapter 13
biotechnology
14 Final Exam

4. Pedagogy – Learning Process

The three hours teaching per week will consist of lectures and laboratory classes. The course will
require approximately six hours of work a week in addition to classes and this should include
laboratory exercises, reading, text-book exercises, and revision.

The laboratory work will mainly focus on introducing Pymol program and learning the skills to
use the program to visualize, analyze and build DNA and other biomolecular molecules of
interest. The labs will allow students to put the theory into practice and concepts presented in
readings and lectures. Further practice outside assigned lab times is encouraged and is essential
for many students.
 The instructors will not expect students to be passive recipients of information. They will expect
students to participate actively in their own learning. Learning activities may include discussions,
group activities, writing, computer exercises, videos, and some lectures. Both group and
individual work will be expected. Students may also be expected to participate in student-
instructor conferences, small group discussions, audio visual aid presentations, classroom
experiments and in other methods of presenting and analyzing information.

5. Textbook

W J. Thieman and M.A. Palladino, Introduction to Biotechnology (4th Edition) (What's New in
Biology). Pearson. ISBN-13: 978-0134650197

6. Assessment of Student Learning

Assessment Weights and Descriptions

Assessment Tool Percentage Description

Project/Pymol 10% Used to assess the students’ understanding
of the course material from a practical
side
Labs/Pymol 15% Used to test students’ ability to conduct
research on the course topics
Poster presentation 10% Will examine students’ understanding of
all course material
Quiz 5%
Midterm Exams 27% Will examine students’ understanding of
all course material midway through the
course
Final Exam (face-to-face) 30% Will examine students’ understanding of
all course material upon completion of the
Comprehensive course
participation 3%

7. Grading Key

Grade Percentage Grade Point

A 90-100 4
B+ 85-89 3.5
B 80-84 3
C+ 75-79 2.5
C 70-74 2
D+ 65-69 1.5
D 60-64 1
F Less than 60 0.0
I N/A 0.0

8. Attendance

For all students, absence is marked at a maximum of 30% of total class time. Final dismissals (WA)
will be posted on the student’s academic record. The calculation of the absence percentage is based
on the total number of class meetings, regardless of the length of the meetings. For example, if a
class meets once a week for 15 weeks, then a student would need 5 absences to reach the 30%
threshold.

Students will be considered absent if they do not arrive on time for a lesson. Taking attendance will
start on the first day of classes and will continue until the last day of classes in the semester.

Final Dismissal will not be waived under any circumstances. The Registrar's Office will accept
excuses only from students missing an exam/major assignment due to absence. Students will be
permitted to take a make-up exam, if its weight is at least 10% of the course total mark upon
approval of a legitimate excuse.

Exams/Tests will be repeated when serious reasons similar to the following take place and
documented evidence are submitted to the Office of the Registrar on the day student returns to class.
 Hospitalization,
 Contagious Disease,
 Death, may God forbid, of an immediate family member (father, mother, sibling, husband,
son, daughter, grandparent),
 Car Accident,
 Job Requirement (special assignment), with prior written approval from the Office of the
Registrar
 Al Haj

Al Umra

Al Umra trips are not valid excuses for students to be absent.

In the case of excused absence for a final exam, the student has to apply for an Incomplete (I) grade
at the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours of the exam.

9. Academic Integrity

The mission of ADU includes developing students’ sense of ethics, morality, and social
responsibility. Students at ADU have the fundamental obligation to conduct themselves with utmost
integrity. To ensure an education environment characterized with Academic integrity (AI), ADU has
revised its Academic Integrity Policy (AIP).

The revised Academic Integrity Policy (AIP) – copies available on the intranet under the link of the
Office of Academic Integrity (OAI) – has identified violations of AI punishable by serious penalties,
including “dismissal” from ADU. The types of violations identified in AIP, along with the
description and examples of each violation, are:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarism
3. Fabrication of data
4. Presenting false credentials
5. Collusion
6. Free Riding

At the beginning of each semester, your instructor will review the essential elements of AIP in class
and will describe the intrinsic values of compliance, and the consequences of non-compliance (i.e.,
penalties) with the Policy. In addition, OAI undertakes a widespread AI Awareness Campaign at the
beginning of each semester to educate students about AI issues and the ways students can avoid
violations.

In view of resources provided by ADU in this regard, all students are expected to strictly comply
with the tenet of AIP and conduct themselves with highest degree of integrity and ethical conduct.
Students in need of additional information or assistance are requested to seek help from OAI.
Failure to comply with the provisions of AIP will have severe consequences, including “dismissal”
from ADU.

The System MOSS will be used in determining plagiarism in programming classes

10. Miscellaneous
 Mobile phones: A student whose mobile phone rings during class will be asked to leave the
classroom and will receive a half absence. Should this happen during an exam, the student
will not be allowed to retake the exam at another time, while at the same time receiving a full
absence.
 Eating/Drinking/Smoking: Students will be requested to refrain from engaging in these
activities while in class.
 Only emails from university-provided email accounts will be recognized and used in this
course.
 Students should be aware that for each hour of in-class time, a further two to three hours (on
average) of independent study (out-of-class time) is required.

Submission Policy
 Before the announced deadline, the grade you may receive is up to 100% of the assigned
weight assessment weight.
 After the announced deadline and until the last day of classes, the maximum you may receive
is 50% of the assigned weight. Being 1-minute late is like being 1-hour late or 1-week late.
No exceptions.
 Begin your submission early enough to account for possible technical errors. Make sure your
file size is small for the submission to go smoothly.
 After the last day of classes, you will receive 0 credits for the assignment.
 All late assignments are submitted using the Late Assignment Box link on Blackboard.
 Submissions on Teams or by email are ignored without warning.
 Once grades are out, you have 2 days from the grade release to seek input on your grade. If
you do not approach it about any discrepancies, the grade sticks even if it is our fault. Check
your grades immediately after the grades are out. This does NOT apply to late submissions.