The data, which is displayed as histograms plotted on linear or log scales, can be exported easily to most spreadsheet and graphing programs. The summer session course consists of a series of 10 workshops in molecular biology techniques for graduate students, faculty, staff, and other interested persons. The fall semester course will be a series of 15 workshops. Credits for the course vary from one to three, depending on the number of workshops taken. Although preference will be given to students taking the course for credits, if there are openings available, students, faculty, and staff who are not interested in earning credits may sign up for one or more of the individual workshops.
Tentative plans are to add a plant transformation section to the fall semester topics.
The workshop instructors will assume that the participants have no classroom or practical experience with the techniques to be discussed. The emphasis will be on providing hands-on experience with the techniques. Iowa's biotechnology educators may select from at least four different workshops to be offered during the summer on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. Laboratory investigations and instruction will give educators experience with chymosin, BT corn, bovine somatotropin, and more. This workshop course focuses on the basics of biotechnology and how it can be applied in human nutrition and health.