Introduction to Biotechnology

In an Introduction to Biotechnology lesson, we will talk about different types of blood cells and learn about their function in the body. I will show the students equipment that doctors use in a real lab to analyze blood samples.  What is Plasma Made of? What does plasma do?
 In order to approach the topic of CRISPR-Cas9, we need to study several concepts that will make this technique easy to understand. We begin by talking about the  units of life, the cells, and the molecule of life, the DNA. 
We then explore different types of blood cells and specifically, the red blood cells, erythrocytes. 
One of the victories of CRISPR-Cas9 technique is a way to cure sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that changes the shape of erythrocytes due to a single letter mutation in the DNA. 
We will therefore take sickle cell anemia as a study model. Bacterial DNA and genes are the last topic we get acquainted with before we study CRISPR-Cas9 technique. 
We will use hands on and visual approach to study profound and complicated ideas. 
In this class you will get familiar with basic concepts, talk a little about current research and have a glimpse of state-of-the-art instruments.