To print this document, click here first to activate the frame. GRADUATE PROGRAM IN BIOTECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE OVERVIEW Biotechnology utilizes basic knowledge from the biological sciences, chemistry, and chemical engineering to solve practical problems in the fields of medicine, agriculture and chemical manufacturing. Over the last 20 years, biotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry through the creation of recombinant protein products including bovine and human growth hormones, insulin, interferons, and erthythropoietins. In agriculture, biotechnology has produced herbicides and insect-resistant plants and will have a major impact on society by producing high-yielding nutritious crops that can grow in high salinity, drought, and in extreme cold. In the field of medicine, genetically engineered animals, as well as human gene therapies, have immense potential. PROGRAM It is in light of these practical applications that the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at UCI offers its graduate program in biotechnology, leading to the Master's of Science degree in Biological Sciences. Students are trained in experimental rationales for solving actual research problems and are encouraged to take summer internships in industry during the course of their studies. The program emphasizes formal training and immediate participation in research. First-year students participate in core technical laboratories in protein isolation and characterization, animal and microbial cell culture and recombinant DNA methodology. Students also participate in individual faculty research projects. ADMISSIONS Admission is contingent upon the successful completion of a bachelor of science degree, or equivalent. Applications are evaluated on the basis of grades, recommendation letters, GRE scores, and other relevant qualifications. Applicants should contact Dr. Krishna K. Tewari, Program Director at biotech@uci.edu. COURSEWORK The graduate program in biotechnology is designed to provide the students with theoretical and practical training in biological expertise that are currently used in the biotechnology industry, as well as in academic, medical, and governmental laboratories. These include: recombinant DNA technology; protein isolation and characterization; and animal and microbial cell culture. A typical sample program is presented below. First Year Fall Structure and Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids (Mol. Biol. 203) Structure and Biosynthesis of Proteins (Mol. Biol. 204) Recombinant DNA Technology (Mol. Biol. 250) Winter Elective* Research with individual faculty members (Mol. Biol. 200B) Protein Isolation and Characterization (Mol. Biol 251) Spring Genetic Engineering (Mol. Biol. 228) Research with individual faculty members (Mol. Biol. 200C) w Animal and Microbial Cell Culture (Mol. Biol. 252) Seminar: Product Development & Marketing Second Year Fall Research with individual faculty members (Mol. Biol. 200A) Elective* Winter Research with individual faculty members (Mol. Biol. 200B) Spring Research with individual faculty members (Mol. Biol. 200C) *Elective [Electives can be selected from courses in virology (Mol. Biol. 200), immunology (Mol. Biol. 221), molecular genetics (Mol. Biol. 207), developmental genetics (Dev. Cell. 214), cell biology (Dev. Cell. 231B) or any other courses recommended by the committee]. back to top