Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Course Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biotechnology Laboratory Methods, Certificate


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The Biotechnology Laboratory Methods certificate is designed for students who currently have previous coursework or experience equivalent to the core biotechnology AAS or AS  program courses in biology and chemistry to quickly obtain additional laboratory training and update their current skills in order to broaden their job position or to obtain employment in biotechnology. The certificate includes the Biotechnology program capstone courses BIO 250 - Cell & Molec Bio-Nucleic Acids , BIO 251 - Cell & Molecular Bio-Proteins  and Microbiology to provide them with more than 200 hours of hands-on lab experience, as well as Statistics to ensure graduates are able to interpret scientific data.

The certificate coursework is structured to allow students to develop marketable job skills, focusing on written and oral communications, critical thinking, problem-solving, computer skills and small-group collaboration. The hands-on laboratory work enables students to develop understanding and proficiency in the following wide variety of biotechnology laboratory methods:

Nucleic Acids Protein Chemistry Microbiology

Laboratory Safety Computer Modeling of Protein Structures and Interactions Oil Immersion Microscopy
Laboratory Notebooks and Documentation Solution Preparation Aseptic Transfers and Inoculation
Solution Preparation Measure Total Protein in Food Samples Wet Mount and Hanging Drop Preparations
Plant Tissue Culture Measure Enzyme Activity Staining Techniques: Simple, Negative, Gram, Acid-Fast, Capsule, Endospore, Flagella
Restriction Enzymes Test Effects of Concentrations, pH and Temperature on Enzymes
Restriction Digestion Analysis Chromatography Methods: Colony Morphology Analysis
Conventional PCR   Size Exclusion Isolation Methods
qPCR   Affinity Selective Media Analysis
Agarose Gel Electrophoresis   Ion Exchange Metabolic Analysis:
STR Analysis Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis   Carbohydrate, Protein
gDNA Extraction Protein Extraction & Purification Identification of Unknown Microorganism
GMO Food Testing Analysis of Extracted Protein Antimicrobial Susceptibility Analysis
Gene Cloning   SDS-PAGE Plaque Assay and Analysis
Nested PCR Enzyme Activity Total Coliform Determination
PCR Product Purification ELISA and Automation of ELISA’s  
Ligation into Plasmid vectors Western Blotting  
Clone Sequence Analysis 2-D PAGE  
Bioinformatics    
Southern Blotting    

Please check with the program chairperson for Biotechnology or an advisor for additional information or assistance. For more information about the Biotechnology program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/biotechnology.

Program Details


Location: Ankeny


Selected courses in this program are offered at other campuses.

Students start Fall or Spring semester


Program Entry Requirements


  1. Complete an application for admission.
  2. Satisfy the assessment requirement.
  3. Attend any required information/registration session.
  4. BIO 112  , BIO 113  and BIO 146 .
  5. CHM 122   and CHM 132  OR CHM CHM 165  and CHM 175  .

Graduation Requirements


To earn a Biotechnology Laboratory Methods certificate, a student must be accepted into the Biotechnology Laboratory Methods certificate program, complete all course work as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average.

Semester 1


Total Credits Required to Complete this Certificate - 18*


*Program total credits do not include 18 entry requirement credits.

Fixed Costs


Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$156.00 per credit

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Varied Costs


  Semester 1 Semester 2
Books (approximate) 190 280
Supplies 120 120

Approximate total for program: $3,518**

**Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost.

What Kind of Work Will You Do?


  • Record, analyze, summarize and present data.
  • Properly use, calibrate and maintain laboratory equipment.
  • Prepare reagents and chemicals used in the laboratory.
  • Design and conduct basic laboratory experiments or processes.
  • Use current technology such as gel electrophoresis, chromatography, or protein and DNA analysis for research, manufacturing or quality control processes.

What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?


  • Critical thinking and problem-solving.
  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in groups or teams.
  • Effective oral and written communication skills.
  • Accuracy and attention to detail.
  • A good understanding of concepts of biology, chemistry, math and computers.
  • Self-motivation and ability to complete projects on time.

What Else Should I Consider about this Certificate program?


  • This is a competitive and rapidly changing field. You need to continually learn new things and to keep your skills up to date.
  • This field requires attention to detail and an ability to recognize and solve problems.
  • Some parts of the job can be very repetitive.
  • There is opportunity for advancement, but it will often require additional formal education in addition to demonstrated performance as described above.
  • This is a rapidly growing field with more than 1,000 biotech companies, academic institutions, state biotech centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations searching for students trained in biotechnology (iowabio.org).
  • Anticipated average starting salary $25,000-$38,000 depending on industry and position. Benefits often include: training, healthcare, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, competitive pay, bonus programs and retirement plans.

Nondiscrimination Statement


DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, National & Environmental Services /Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Arts, Design, and Visual communications/Business, Management, and Marketing/Education, Public, and Human Services/Health Science/Hospitality and Culinary/Information Technology/Manufacturing/Transportation & Logistics

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (in employment), disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a person. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6857, sgbittner@dmacc.edu.  Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6216, title9@dmacc.edu.  Question or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone 312/730-1560, tax 312/730-1576..

Legal references: Iowa Code §§ 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S. C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S. C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S. C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).(2018)

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