A Laboratory Curriculum for Gene Chip Technology

University Of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

This award provides funding to the University of California at Los Angeles, Dr. James C. Liao, Principal Investigator, for a three year Combined Research-Curriculum Development award entitled, "A Laboratory Curriculum for Gene Chip Technology." A novel laboratory course for gene chip technology will be developed. The purpose of this course is to educate students in this cutting-edge area of biotechnology. Gene chip technology combines microfabrication processes with biomolecular recognition, and has begun to revolutionize research and application of life sciences and the biomedical industry. This emerging field draws on engineering talents as well as biological knowledge. Engineers have an unprecedented, significant role to play in life science research and related industry. The objective of this course is to impart the basic principles of gene chip fabrication and the processing of gene chip data. Students will apply the technology to investigate the gene expression profiles of E coli, a microorganism of importance to both biotechnology and biomedicine. Results will be published as a database via the Internet. Multi-media and web-based instruction will be used in the course. Expertise in instructional development will be used for course development and evaluation.