Nucleic Acid Biotechnology

This course introduces students to the benefits and applications of biotechnology and how it uses the products and processes of living organisms to improve quality of life. Nucleic acid biotechnology has many different applications including gene therapies to treat genetic disorders; more effective medicines tailored to individuals; vaccines to prevent disease; environmental decontamination to restore polluted spaces; genetic engineering of crops and livestock to improve their yield, nutrition including modified starter cultures for making cheese, yogurt of desired quality. Different aspects of biotechnology in the areas of genetics, microbiology, fermentation and forensics are introduced.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Objectives :

• To apply various aspects of biotechnology to solve day-to-day problems in medicine, agriculture, environment, forensic and nutrition.
• To provide students with practical training in the skills and techniques of biotechnology and instill adaptable skills relevant to the changing world of biotechnology
• To integrate the laboratory and lecture components of the program through the use of an experimental approach to learning