Biotechnology Program
Student Involvement
The SCC biotechnology program has a full range of molecular biology equipment - more
than many research laboratories - and a large, well equipped cell culture lab. Here
is a taste of the kinds of experiences students will find there:
- Determining and visualizing the growth curves of bacteria, plant and animal cells.
- Monitoring the effects of various agents and conditions on cells grown in culture.
- Analyzing proteins by electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and ELISA.
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Working on paid internship projects sponsored by the US Department of Education and
regional biotechnology companies.
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Separation and purification of biomolecules by centrifugation, chromatography,
electrophoresis and filtration.
- Constructing recombinant DNA molecules.
- Expression of recombinant proteins in bacteria or eukaryotic cells.
- Learning about how the Biotechnology industry is regulated.
- Designing and conducting their own experiments using all of these techniques and more.
Science is all about asking questions. Here are some questions that students might be finding
answers to at the SCC Biotech program:
- What is the difference between a green, white or red plant leaf?
- What are the effects of vitamins, caffeine, nicotine and preservatives on animal cells?
- What allows some bacteria to persist in the presence of antibiotics?
- Can bacteria or plants be used to help clean up the environment?
- Can cells survive being frozen? Dried? Heated? How do these conditions affect their growth?
- How does bacterial contamination affect animal cells? Plant cells? Fungi?
- Can a plant or animal gene be inserted into bacteria?
- How much life is present in a gram of garden soil? A gram of forest soil? A gram of soil from a vacant lot downtown?