Introduction to Biotechnology
Traditional and modern biotechnology. Topics include fermentation processes, medical, agricultural and forensic applications; the use of biotechnology in waste treatment.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: BIOL 1F90 and CHEM 1F92 (1P80 and 1P81 or 1P90 and 1P91)
Introduction to Biophysical Chemistry
(also offered as CHEM 2P63)
Physical chemistry as applied to biological sciences. Introductory thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibria, transport phenomena as applied to proteins, biological membranes and other biological systems. Laboratory work includes kinetic measurements, equilibrium constant measurements and protein purification and characterization.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: CHEM 1F92 (1P80 and 1P81 or 1P90 and 1P91); MATH 1P01 and 1P02 (preferred), or MATH 1P97.
Bioreactor Processes
Fermentation technology and bioprocessing; the kinetics and thermodynamics of fermentation. Topics include batch and continuous fermentation, biomass production (single-cell proteins), immobilized systems, by-product recovery and scale-up.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: BTEC 2P63.
Applied Microbial Ecology
(also offered as BIOL 3P43)
Ecology of microorganisms and special adaptations that permit their use in biotechnology and applied microbiology.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: Students must have a minimum of 8.0 overall credits.
Prerequisite: BIOL 2P98 or permission of the instructor.
Molecular Genetics
(also offered as BIOL 3P50)
Topics include the genetic code and information flow from nucleic acids to proteins, RNA and protein synthesis; prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosomes; gene organization; transcription, RNA processing; codon usage; enhancers and transposons.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week for 6 weeks.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 8.0 overall credits.
Prerequisite: BIOL 2F01 or permission of the instructor.
Bio-organic Chemistry
(also offered as CHEM 3P62)
Biosynthesis of the natural products of secondary metabolism. Introduction to the use of enzymes and other biological reagents in organic synthesis.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: CHEM 2P21.
Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
(also offered as CHEM 3P63)
Structure and chemistry of proteins and nucleic acids. Selected aspects of transcription, translation, protein folding, post-translational modification, targeting, synthesis and sequencing, and detection techniques.
Lectures, 3 hours per week; lab, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisite: CHEM 2P21.
Research Project
Experimental research carried out under faculty supervision.
Restriction: permission of the co-ordinators.
Thesis
The thesis will incorporate the results of the research project and will form the basis of a seminar presented by the student.
Restriction: open to BTEC majors with approval to year 4 (honours).
Co-requisite: BTEC 4F90.
Bioinformatics
(also offered as BCHM 4P06 and BIOL 4P06)
Genome sequencing projects, gene discovery and gene expression. DNA/RNA/protein sequence data, including mutagenic processes, molecular evolution and systematics, codon usage, reconstruction of ancient molecules, and prediction of higher level molecular structure.
Lectures, seminar, 2 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 14.0 overall credits or approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisites: BCHM 3P02, BIOL 3P80 and MATH 1P98 or permission of the instructor.
Topics in Plant and Microbial Biotechnology
(also offered as BCHM 4P08)
Illustrative cases from the current literature to show how specific biochemical processes or structures may be characterized, and how molecular manipulation allows genetic modification of such processes and structures to meet scientific and/or societal needs. Examples include yeast and microbial enzymes or enzyme systems as well as crop proteins and enzymes.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 14.0 overall credits or approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisite: one of BTEC 3P50, 3P63, BCHM 3P01, 3P02 or permission of the instructor.
Molecular Virology
(also offered as BIOL 4P51)
Bacterial and animal viruses. Topics include biochemical properties, virus-host interaction, productive cycle, effect of virus on host cell and organism, viral vectors and gene therapy, recombinant viral vaccines and origin of virus.
Lectures, seminar, 2 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 14.0 overall credits or approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisite: BTEC 3P50 or permission of the instructor.
Bacterial Genetics
(also offered as BIOL 4P57)
Molecular and transmission genetics of bacteria. Bacterial genetics from early descriptions of transformation and transduction to current developments in molecular genetics.
Lectures, seminar, 2 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 14.0 overall credits or approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisites: BTEC 3P50 and BIOL 2P98 or permission of the instructor.
Fungal Genetics
(also offered as BIOL 4P58)
Transmission and molecular genetics of fungi. Recent advances in gene manipulation and the contribution of studies on these organisms to general genetic principles.
Lectures, seminar, 2 hours per week.
Restriction: students must have a minimum of 14.0 overall credits or approval to year 4 (honours).
Prerequisite: one of BTEC 3P50, BIOL 2P96, 3P51 or permission of the instructor.
Biophysical Techniques
(also offered as BCHM 4P67 and CHEM 4P67)
Modern instrumental methods of biotechnology emphasizing understanding theory development of newer technologies which utilize biological components. Topics include optical, X-ray and NMR techniques; separation techniques, hybridization assays, immunoassays, biosensors and mass spectral techniques; membrane chemistry.
Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week.
Prerequisites: BTEC 2P63 and CHEM 2P21 or permission of the instructor.