Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field based on a combination of biology and technology to design and produce new molecules, plants, animals, and microorganisms with improved characteristics. Biotechnology offers seemingly unlimited opportunities to combine genes from related or unrelated species to produce useful organisms with desirable properties that were not previously found in nature.

Background

Biotechnology may be thought of as a collection of technologies using animal and/or plant cells, biological molecules, molecular biology processes and genetic engineering for applications in medicine, agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry. The technologies include the use of recombinant DNA for gene cloning and gene transfers between organisms; culture of plant and animal cells and tissues; fusion of animal cells or plant protoplast; the regeneration of whole plants from single cells and the large-scale fermentation processes that use some of these novel organisms for the production of pharmaceuticals, diagnostic tests for disease, feed additives, enzymes and hormones.

Examples of successful biotechnology include the development of crop plants that are resistant to herbicides or insects, the production of human growth hormone and insulin by genetically engineered bacteria and the development of unique vaccines.

The Program and Curriculum

The biotechnology program is offered through both the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources and the College of Science and Mathematics and leads to the Bachelor of Science degree.

The recommended course of study includes both the education in science and mathematics, as well as introduction to the special skills that are needed to enter the rapidly expanding and changing field of biotechnology. In addition to the required courses, students may select from a variety of specialized elective science courses to help develop a particular area of interest. Students majoring in biotechnology are required to perform a research project in the laboratory of a faculty advisor. The results of the research project are incorporated into a senior thesis and presented at the Biotechnology Seminar.

Biotechnology students must maintain at least a 2.5 overall grade point average after 60 credits in order to remain in the program.

The Faculty and Facilities

A faculty advisor is assigned to each student to assist in scheduling, registration and career development. Faculty in each of the cooperating life-science departments have been identified to serve as academic and research advisers for students who select the biotechnology major. The Faculty adviser and the director of the biotechnology program regularly review the progress of each student.

The faculty who advise, teach and serve as research mentors for the biotechnology program, are among several academic departments in the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources, the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Pharmacy. The departments include plant sciences, including biology, botany and zoology; chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology; animal and range sciences; plant pathology; veterinary and microbiological sciences; and pharmaceutical sciences. Several scientists are the NDSU Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering and at the on-campus USDA facilities also serve as research mentors.

Laboratory facilities and specialized equipment are used for instruction and research. These include animal and plant tissue culture facilities, small animal housing, electron and confocal microscopes, automated DNA sequencing equipment, equipment for performing microarray experiments and a fluorescence-activated cytometer among many other state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Career Opportunities

Biotechnology continues to rapidly develop into new research areas. Surveys indicate there will be a continuing high demand for well-educated personnel. Job opportunities are found in life science departments in colleges and universities; private and government research institutes; food production, pharmaceutical and agri-chemical industries; and in the biotechnology industries. Graduates of this program have the educational background and laboratory experience to take advantage of any of these job opportunities. Graduates of the biotechnology program are now successful and productive scientists at pharmaceutical, agri-chemical and biotechnology companies, and as scientists at government and private research institutions throughout the country.

The majority (approximately 60%) of graduates from the biotechnology program choose to continue their education in graduate or professional schools. Graduates of the biotechnology program have earned master's and doctoral degrees in many diverse areas, including cellular and molecular biology, biology, microbiology, plant sciences, animal physiology, cancer biology and virology at many of the most respected universities in the US Graduates of our program are now established and productive professors, physicians and veterinarians.

High School Preparation

Students entering the biotechnology program should have a strong background in mathematics, including trigonometry, biology, chemistry, preferably physics, and writing and computer courses. A composite ACT score above 25 is recommended.

Sample Curriculum

This sample curriculum is not intended to serve as a curriculum guide for current students, but rather an example of course offerings for prospective students. For the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of entrance into a program, consult with an academic adviser or with the Office of Registration and Records.

*Biotechnology Electives (2 courses required):

• Bioc. 473 - Methods of Biochemical Research or PSci. 409 - Isotope Tracer Techniques (3 cr. each)
• Bioc. 485 - Industrial Biotechnology (3 cr.)
• Bot. 480 - Plant Tissue Culture (2 cr.)
• Micr. 445 - Animal Cell Culture Techniques (2 cr.)
• PPth. 453 - Microscopy (3 cr.)

Contact Information

Dr. Eugene Berry, Director

Biotechnology Academic Program

North Dakota State University
Van Es Lab 195
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-7520 Biotechnology Program
Tel: (701) 231-8790 College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources
Tel: (701) 231-7411 College of Science and Mathematics
Fax: (701) 231-7514
E-mail: Eugene.Berry@ndsu.edu
Web:  http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/plantsci/

Office of Admission

North Dakota State University
124 Ceres Hall
Fargo, ND 58105

Tel: (701) 231-8643
Fax: (701) 231-8802
Email: NDSU.Admission@ndsu.edu
Web: http://www.ndsu.edu/prospective/students/

(6/07)