Introduction to Biotechnology

The basic tenets of biotechnology including the scientific method will be presented through readings on the commercialization of recombinant DNA technology to produce therapeutic proteins and on the drug discovery process. Students will discuss the ethics, public policy issues, patent issues, career opportunities, and therapeutic promises of recombinant DNA technology. Students will also learn about the drug discovery process to elucidate issues in drug discovery such as target identification, lead discovery and optimization, candidate selection, ethical clinical trials, and drug markets.