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 Marquis Scholar Katie Schrack '03 (left) investigated the relationship between mercury pollution and antibiotic-resistant bacteria for an honors thesis advised by Laurie Caslake, assistant professor of biology.
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Engineering LifeThe biotechnology/bioengineering minor is an interdisciplinary program designed for students interested in these fields for careers or graduate programs. This minor is particularly well suited to science and engineering majors. Rapid advances in biotechnology and bioengineering have led to increasing demands for graduates with a background in these areas, particularly in the pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural, environmental, food, and waste fields. Biotechnology is the commerical use of living organisms to improve animal and human health, agriculture, and the environment. Biotechnology has existed since ancient times, when strains of plants and animals were hybridized (cross-bred) to produce offspring with the greatest number of desirable traits. Repeated cycles of selective breeding produced many present-day food staples.
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The modern era of biotechnology began in 1953 when the double-helix model of DNA was unveiled. Recombinant DNA technology, commonly called genetic engineering, began in 1973 when scientists successfully removed a specific gene from one bacterium and inserted it into another. Since then, the field of biotechnology has expanded at a rapid pace with applications in fields such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, environmental engineering, and waste management. Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles and design to medical problems. Specialized fields of bioengineering have different applications in medicine. For instance, biomechanical engineering is the basis for developments such as artificial hearts, implants, limbs, and respirators. It is important for developing artificial knees, hip joint replacements, and cardiac pacemakers. One of the major applications of biochemical engineering is the scale-up of recombinant DNA processes to produce pharmaceutical products. Bioelectrical engineering has led to the development of the pacemaker to restore normal rhythm of the heart muscle, defibrillators to restore normal heart action in patients whose hearts have stopped, and electrocardiographs to monitor heart action. Course Requirements1. All students enrolled in Biotechnology/ Bioengineering Minor must take:
2. At least one natural science course from the following:
Undergraduate ResearchLafayette offers research opportunities that go far beyond those of most undergraduate schools. Faculty members involve students in their research programs, providing one of the most valuable learning experiences that a student can have. Students can do research with faculty through the EXCEL Scholars program, an independent study, or an honors thesis. FacilitiesStudents in the minor program have access to the outstanding facilities
in the departments of biology, chemistry, physics, chemical engineering,
mechanical engineering, and electrical and computer engineering in the
Kunkel Hall, Hugel Science Center, and Acopian Engineering Center. Among
the equipment are two electron microscopes, warm and cold animal rooms,
two tissue culture suites, a controlled environment room, DNA sequencing
equipment, spectrophotometers, PCR thermocyclers, and a Chemi-Imager
for electrophoretic gel documentation of protein and DNA, bacterial
colony counting, immunoassay microtiter, southern and western blots,
and chemiluminescence. Also available are gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer,
a 400 MHz Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer,
visible, ultraviolet and luminescence spectrometers, laminar flow hood
for cell culture work, one-liter Applikon bioreactor, glove box for
air-sensitive chemistry, and equipment for bench-scale or pilot-scale
laboratory experiments, including distillation and drying. Faculty Advisory CommitteeContact one of the following faculty should you have any question about the program.
Those interested in the minor should complete a petition form at their earliest convenience and have it signed by their advisors and the Chair of the Biotechnology/Bioengineering Minor Program, Prof. Tavakoli. Javad Tavakoli
For general information:
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