1- Health Biotechnology MSc program

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1- Health Biotechnology MSc program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Master Degree in Health Biotechnology Sciences offers specific education in this field by drawing on the experience of the research groups working at the AGU. The program provides thorough training in the emerging techniques in molecular and cellular biology designed for both diagnostic and therapeutic biotechnological applications. It also seeks to respond to the increasing social demand for relevant discoveries in the evolving field of biomedicine in the gulf region.

Vision

A blueprint for innovative health biotechnology graduate programs.

Mission

To become the top GCC provider of high-quality education and a knowledge producer in the exciting and growing field of health Biotechnology.

2-Environmental Biotechnology MSc program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Master Degree in Environmental Biotechnology Sciences offers specific education in this field by drawing on the experience of the research groups working at the AGU.

The program is designed to prepare students for careers in most tracks of Environmental Biotechnology. It also offers a transition to doctorate level studies or other advanced educational programs.

DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCESACADEMIC PROGRAMS

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Vision

A reference educational and research innovative program in the field of environmental Biotechnology...

Mission

To carry out state of the art graduate-level training and research focused on GCC environmental needs and current issues.

3- Agriculture Biotechnology MSc Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Master Degree in agriculture Biotechnology Sciences offers specific education aligned with the need of the GCC for food safety and taking into account the desert and dry nature of the GCC lands. Besides providing thorough training in the emerging techniques in molecular and cellular biology applied to modern agriculture, the program research tracks focus on the main issues facing agriculture and food safety in the region. The program also seeks to respond to the increasing social demand for innovation in the field of agriculture in the gulf region.

Vision

A state of the art educational and research innovative program in the field of environmental Biotechnology.

Mission

To carry out state of the art graduate-level training and research focused on GCC agricultural needs and current issues.


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4-Diploma in Biotechnology

The Diploma in Biotechnology is offered to students interested in pursuing graduate studies (MSc and Ph.D.) in biotechnology, and whose bachelor GPA is below 3/4. Students who achieve a GPA of 3/4 in the diploma, are eligible to apply for the MSc program [see diploma study plan].

Master Programs Objectives

The specific objectives of these master programs are:

To offer the GCC countries students a wide range of biotechnology specializations and to prepare them to undertake an international level Ph.D. program in the field of biotechnology.

To produce a generation of young professionals endowed with the skills necessary to develop and lead biotechnology-based programs, and to spread the life sciences throughout the GCC countries in both corporate and public institutions.

To build momentum in bridging the gaps found within the academic, governmental and corporate spheres through collaboration on biotechnology projects.

5-Learning Outcomes

After completion of the MSc program (Health, Environment, and Agriculture), the graduate would become:

Familiar with the concepts of biotechnologies and the sciences applicable to Health or environment or agriculture.

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Understand the opportunities offered by the biotechnologies in the academic or private spheres.

Trained to the basic and some advanced technologies used across the biotechnology fields such as Molecular genetics, Molecular biology, Bioengineering, Immunology, and Bioinformatics

Trained in the fundamentals of research methodology in the various fields of biotechnology. Able to develop critical thinking and communication skills to navigate his/her way through the global biotechnology community.

6-METHOD OF ASSESSMENTS

Summative and formative assessments are used to evaluating students‘ learning and skills acquisition and academic achievement during the defined instructional period.

7-ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The department of life program enrolls students holding a bachelor degree in the following

Fields: Human Biology, Botany, Medicine, Pharmacy, Environmental sciences, Chemistry. Candidates with related academic backgrounds might be considered and accepted upon approval of the department academic committee.

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8- GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The applicant must be a citizen of one of the GCC countries. Applicants from other Arab countries, who reside in one of the six GCC countries, can apply and might be accepted in case of available positions.

Applicants from GCC countries should submit his/her nomination from Ministries of Education in his/her country. Citizens of other Arab countries, who are residents of any GCC country, can submit their applications directly to the admission office at AGU.

The applicant has to meet all the requirements of the department, and pass any tests and interviews that the academic program requires. S/He must pass the medical exam, and submit a certificate of decent behavior from his/her competent authority in his/her country.

9- ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have completed their undergraduate studies at an AGU recognized institution. Her/his Grade Point Average (GPA) should be 2.0 or more on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent of good to apply for a diploma degree. To apply directly to the MSc program, the applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 or more on a scale of 4.0 or the equivalent of (very good). Students holding a Diploma degree from the program can apply for an MSc degree provide that their GPA is 3.0 or more.

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10- GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The general requirements for graduation are to complete a minimum of 28 credit hours for Diploma (24 credit hours of course work and 4 credits for Diploma Project); and 41 credit hours for MSc degree (33 credit hours of course work and 8 credit hours for MSc thesis).

The equivalent of at least two semesters of full-time residency is required.

11- Academic Staff:

Prof. Mohamed-Dahmani Fathallah : Chairman

Prof. Wael Ahmed El moslimany

Dr. Noureddine Ben Khalaf

Dr. Khaled Trabelsi

12-Support Staff:

Dr. Dana Ashoor

Mr. Ahmed Rasmi

Mr. Nasser abotaleb

Mr. Ashraf Alnayal

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MASTERS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY STUDY PLAN

Students study (41) credit hours inclusive of the Master thesis, which is equivalent to (8) credit hours.

Course Reference Core Courses Credit Hours

First Semester

GS TS 500 Islamic Culture 0

GS TS 501 Computer Applications (remedial) 0

GS TS 502 English Language (remedial) 0

LSC 520 Current Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology 2

LSC 531 Experimental Biochemistry 3

LSC 532 Cell Biology and Genetics 3

LSC 533 Techniques in Molecular Biology 3

LSC 511 Research Methodology 2

LSC 512 Bioscience Communication 2

Total credits for the first semester 15


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Second Semester

GS TS 521 Applied Statistics 2

* Specialized Courses 9

* Selected Topics in Biotechnology 4

Total credits for 2nd semester 15

Second-year

LSC 630 Bioinformatics 3

LSC (AB,EB,HB) 680 M.Sc. Thesis 8

Total credits for the second semester 11

Total credits for M.Sc. Degree 41

* Specialized courses are specific to each program


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CORE COURSES

These courses are commons to the 3 master tracks: health, agriculture, and environment

Core Courses Credit Hours

LSC 511 Research Methodology 2

LSC 512 Bioscience Communication 2

LSC 520 Current Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology 2

LSC 531 Experimental Biochemistry 3

LSC 532 Cell Biology and Genetics 3

LSC 533 Techniques in Molecular Biology 3

LSC 630 Bioinformatics I3


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SPECIALIZED COURSES

A- Health Biotechnology Program Credit Hours

LSC HB 630 I mmunology 3

LSC HB 631 Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 3

LSC HB 632 Molecular Diagnostics 3

LSC HB 633 Modern Therapeutics 3

LSC HB 634 Tissue Culture and Hybridoma Technology 3

LSC HB 635 Genetics in Medicine 3

LSC HB 636 Signal Transduction Pathways 3

LSC HB 637 Biosensors and Rapid Diagnostic Technology 3

LSC HB 638 Medical Virology 3

LSC HB 649 Selected Topics in Medical Biotechnology 4


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B- Environmental Biotechnology Program Credit Hours

LSC EB 630 Environmental Microbiology 3

LSC EB 631 Environmental Pollution and Ecotoxicology 3

LSC EB 632 Biotransformation of Pollutant Xenobiotics 3

LSC EB 633 Molecular Basis of Xenobiotics Biodegradation 3

LSC EB 634 Bioremediation Technologies 3

LSC EB 635 Biocatalysis and Biosensors 3

LSC EB 636 Recombinant DNA in Environmental Biotechnology 3

LSC EB 637 Petroleum Microbiology 3

LSC EB 638 Marine Biotechnology 3

LSC EB 649 Selected Topics in Environmental Biotechnology 4


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C- Agricultural Biotechnology Program Credit Hours

LSC AB 630 Plant Tissue and Cell Culture 3

LSC AB 631 Plant Molecular Biology 3

LSC AB 632 Plant Biochemistry 3

LSC AB 633 Environmental and Stress Plant Physiology 3

LSC AB 634 Plant Breeding and Population Genetics 3

LSC AB 635 Plant Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Plants 3

LSC AB 636 Plant, Soil and Microbe Interactions 3

LSC AB 637 Agricultural Ecology 3

LSC AB 638 Medicinal Plants and Biopharmaceuticals 3

LSC AB 649 Selected Topics in Plant Biotechnology 4


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POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN BIOTECHNOLOGY

Study Plan

Students study a total of (28) credit hours, including (4) credit hours diploma project.


First Semester

GS500 Islamic Culture 0

GSTS501 Computer Applications (remedial) 0

GSTS502 English Language (remedial) 0

LSC520 Current Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology 2

LSC531 Experimental Biochemistry 3

LSC532 Cell Biology and Genetics 3

LSC533 Techniques in Molecular Biology 3

LSC521 Research Methodology 2

LSC522 Bioscience Communication 2

Total credits for the first semester 15


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Second Semester

* Program Specific Courses 9

LSC 540 Diploma Project 4

Total credits for the second semester 13

Total credits for the diploma 28


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MSc COURSES DESCRIPTION

No. Core Courses Code

Course Description

This course is dedicated to teaching students basic research methodologies, as applied to the biological sciences, based on a solid theoretical framework and an educationally sound learning procedure. Students will be provided with practical suggestions on various aspects of the research process to guide them from problem selection to writing a completed research report. Major topics covered in this course include recognizing good research, tools of research, selecting research problems, literature search, planning research design, design and execution of experiments, reporting research results and communicating information. Students will also learn the approaches for collecting and analyzing experimental data as well as the statistical techniques for analyzing quantitative data. Application of the principles learned in this course will be immediately applied to the students‘ research projects, as each student will be required to write a research proposal for the project of their choice.

Course Description

The goal of this course is to develop the students’ skills in communicating their ideas to other researchers and scientific peers. Students will be presented with effective strategies for improving they‘re written and verbal communication skills. The course focuses on practicing scientific writing, giving oral presentations and evaluating research publications. Students will hone their expertise on the effective communication of research results in the form of written publications, oral presentations, PowerPoint presentations, and scientific posters. At the end of the course, the students will give presentations on research topics that they select under the guidance of their instructor. The students must also write up their oral presentations in the form of a scientific paper.

1) Research Biotechnology LSC 511

2) Bioscience Communication LSC 522


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Course Description

This Course Provides a general introduction to the field of biotechnology that will help the students develop a broad understanding of the scientific, political, ethical and legal issues that have driven the development of the biotechnology industry. Discussion Focuses primarily on the research trends and methodologies currently exploited within the field along with the impact of these endeavors in the areas of industry, agriculture, health, and environment. Students will also be introduced to the ethical issues surrounding contemporary bio-techniques, such as genetic testing, cloning, and stem cell research, which help shape policy regarding different applications of biotechnology.

Course Description

This course focuses on providing the student with a thorough theoretical and practical exposure to current biochemical techniques as applied to the isolation, purification, characterization of major classes of biologically important compounds. Topics covered include biochemical calculations, quantification of protein concentration, spectrophotometry of biomolecules, enzymatic methods of analysis, an overview of protein purification, separation and identification of biomolecules by chromatography, characterization of biomolecules by electrophoretic methods, radioisotopes in biochemistry and centrifugation. The practical part provides students with hands-on experience in the following techniques and instruments spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis, electrochemical techniques, centrifugation, filtration, protein blotting, TLC, HPLC, GC, flame emission and atomic absorption spectroscopy.

3) Current Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology LSC 520

4) Experimental Biochemistry LSC 531


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Course Description

The course provides the fundamentals of the structural and functional organization of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the relationship between the different organelles and their function. The course covers cell cycle, replication, the genetic makeup of chromosomes, genes, and transferable genetic elements and their essential role in heredity. Students will gain knowledge of the causes of gene dysfunction due to mutations, chromosomal aberrations, chromosomal disjunction, and DNA repair mechanisms. Besides, the course covers the basis of Mendelian and extranuclear inheritance, molecular and biochemical basis of heredity and population genetics.

Course Description

This course is designed to give students experience in recombinant DNA techniques and introduce them to principles and research methodologies of modem molecular biology. Techniques include genomic DNA and plasmid isolation, restriction analysis, DNA fragments ligation, DNA labeling, and DNA electrophoresis; bacteria transformation, cloning, screening for clones and DNA sequencing; Southern and northern Blot hybridization; polymerase chain reactions (PCR), primer design, RT-PCR and microarray technology as well as DNA analysis in forensic science.

5) Cell Biology and Genetics LSC 532

6) Techniques in Molecular Biology LSC 533


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Course Description

The course provides the latest techniques used in information technology to access huge databases from different organisms containing DNA, RNA and protein sequences. The students will learn how to retrieve these data from public and private data banks and identify key information regarding nucleic acids and proteins. The course provides students with hands-on experience using special software to execute reverse genetics by looking for DNA open reading frames, conserved sequences, sequence homology analysis, pair-wise and multiple sequence alignment, construction of DNA- & protein-based phylogenic relationship, design primers for research and performs restriction analysis. The course emphasizes the integration of basic and applied knowledge on genome projects, in particular, human gene mapping, molecular cloning, large-scale restriction mapping, DNA sequencing, and computational analysis, and 3-dimensional structures of potential genes.

7) Bioinformatics I LSC 630


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Health Biotechnology track courses


Course Description

This course covers an overview of pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Students are introduced to the general concepts concerning the morphology, genetics, and reproduction of these microbial agents. Lectures focus on microbial pathogenesis in a system-by-system format. The course covers molecular and biochemical characteristics of these organisms and modern molecular and serological identification methods. Students will be introduced to issues of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, newly emerging pathogens, and the current efforts in the development of vaccines and powerful antibiotics and treatment and preventative measures.

9) Medical Microbiology and Infectiousb Diseases LSC HB 631

Course Description

The course provides students with the concepts of basics and clinical immunology as well as immunological techniques. The course covers mechanisms of innate immunity, the inflammatory response, and specific immunity. Also, the course covers antigen-antibody structure and function, cells, tissues and organs of the immune system, antigen presentation, B & T cell receptors, cytokines, and their receptors and immunological tolerance. The course covers immunity to different pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, the concepts of vaccination, tumor immunology, Immunogenetics, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, types of hypersensitivity, transplantation and rejection and autoimmunity. Additionally, the students will gain experience with various immunologic techniques used in research and biotechnology laboratories. Students will be introduced to antibody generation, antibody generation, antibody purification, affinity purification, different formats of immunoassays, immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry, western blot analysis, and cytokine assays. Additional topics including hybridoma technology, phage antibody libraries, and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies will be covered in this course.

8) Immunology LSC HB 630


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Course Description

This course focuses on the latest advances in medical treatment using gene delivery systems (viral and non-viral), applications of gene therapy in disease states such as monogenic deficiencies. The students will gain knowledge on the progress in this field, types of gene therapy for human genetic diseases, their advantages, and drawbacks and the lessons learned since its clinical trials started fifteen years ago. Besides, the course will cover methods of isolation of stem cells, stem cell plasticity, the creation of human adult and embryonic stem cells, and the potential of having universal stem cells. Also, the course provides students with the latest on targeted therapies such as immunotherapy, humanized antibodies, and xeno-transplantation.

Course Description

This course covers basic concepts and practical applications of modern laboratory diagnostic techniques. The course introduces current techniques in molecular biology used to identify the molecular defects implicated in inherited diseases. The course explores the advantages and drawbacks of techniques including RFLP, hybridization, cytogenetics, different versions of PCR including Real-Time PCR technology, Allele-Specific oligonucleotide (SSO), protein analysis, Microarray technology, DNA sequencing, Pre-implantation and pre-natal diagnosis methods, laboratory safety, diagnostic laboratory accreditation, and quality control and quality assurance in diagnostic labs.

11) Modern Therapeutics LSC HB 633

10) Molecular Diagnostics LSC HB 632


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Course Description

The course integrates advances in human genetics to a major development in molecular medicine and biotechnology. The course provides the student with basics on inheritance patterns in genetic diseases, establishing pedigrees, biochemical and molecular basis of inheritance, the relevance of cell division to genetic disorders, analysis of predisposition factors, immunogenetics, cancer genetics, and animal models. Prevalent genetic diseases in our area will be discussed and ways to minimize it as well as genetic counseling, ethics, risk assessment and current approaches to treatment and prevention of genetic disorders.

13) Genetics in in Medicine LSC HB 635

Course Description

This course covers the basic principles and techniques in cell isolation from different sources, culturing and maintaining cells, studying the Characteristics and the requirements to grow cell lines for research and industrial applications. The students are introduced to sterile media Preparation, safety levels in the cultivation of Primary cells and cell lines, detection of contamination, cryopreservation, and cell manipulation such as transfection, and introduction to bioassays. Also, the course covers cell fusion and hybridoma technology including genetic complementation and the production of monoclonal antibodies.

12) Tissue Culture and Hybridoma Technology LSC HB 634




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Course Description

The course is an overview of the current and latest knowledge of principles of biologically based sensing elements, interfacing techniques, and rapid diagnostics. The course covers the basics of commonly used biosensors in laboratory medicine and how they can be connected to a variety of transducers to create complete biosensors for biomedical applications. The focus will be on optical, electrochemical and fiber optics biosensors, sensor sensitivity, selectivity, reusability, stability, and response. Students will be exposed to non-invasive diagnostic technologies, point of care rapid diagnostics, biochips, Microarray technology, and Real-Time PCR technology usage in diagnosis.

Course Description

The course is intended to explore common switches in cells such as phosphorylation, dephosphorylation, proteolysis, and the signal transduction pathways that coordinate cellular activities and their control by diffusible chemicals such as peptide growth factors, hormones, and cytokines. The course provides an overview of the classical pathways during activation by tyrosine kinases and G protein-linked receptors, steroid hormone action, calcium-sensing, integrin signaling, chemotaxis, and cytoplasmic and unclear communication. Students will gain knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in cell response, changes in gene expression, and subsequent events; both in normal conditions and in disease.

15) Biosensors and Rapid Diagnostic Technology LSC HB 637

14) Signal Transduction Pathways LSC HB 636




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Course Description

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular, molecular, clinical and biotechnological aspects of viruses. Viral interaction with host cells starting with attachment, penetration, genetic material release, synthesis and assembly, and particle release will be covered. Specific areas of the viral families, genomic structure, virus cycle, pathogenesis, immunity against viruses, mechanisms by which viruses evade the immune system, viral vaccines and antiviral drugs will be discussed. Additionally, the course will expose the students to the uses of viruses in biotechnology such as viral vectors in gene therapy.

Course Description

The most recent advances, major achievements, current research activities and future application of medical biotechnology will be introduced in this course. The design and content of this course is to be recommended by the academic advisor.

16) Medical Virology LSC HB 638

17) Selected Topics In Medical Biotechnology LSC HB 649


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Environmental Biotechnology track courses


Course Description

This course provides the students with a fundamental understanding of the effect of microbial communities on the environment, particularly their role in soil, water, and waste management. Students will be introduced to the important microbes involved in environmental microbiology and the nature of the different environments in which the microbes are situated and methodologies used to monitor the microbes and their activities. Students will also evaluate the effects of these microbes on the environment and human activities including, the role of microorganisms in pollutant degradation, waste treatment, and geochemical cycling.

Course Description

This course aims to provide background knowledge so that the short- and long term effects of chemical pollution can be evaluated and the risks understood. The course introduces the major classes of organic and inorganic pollutants, their entry into the environment and their movement, storage, and transformation within the environment. The effects of pollutants at the level of population, community and whole ecosystems will also be studied. Topics covered in this course include major classes of environmental pollutants, the fate of pollutants in ecosystems, biomarkers, and biomonitoring, measuring the impact of pollutants on ecological systems and environmental risk assessment.

18) Environmental Microbiology LSC HB 630

19) Environmental Pollution & Ecotoxicology LSC HB 631


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Course Description

Microorganisms inhabiting polluted environments have gained amazing catabolic potentialities to transform a wide range of xenobiotics. Therefore, this course addresses microbial-mediated biotransformations of xenobiotics and explores the diversity of metabolic pathways involved in their degradation. The main classes of xenobiotics such as halogenated compounds, mono- and polyaromatics, heterocyclic compounds, pesticides, surfactants, plastic polymers, and some petrochemical compounds, their nature, structure and physicochemical properties will be discussed. Peripheral metabolic pathways linking the transformation of xenobiotics to central metabolites and the key enzymes will be addressed. Energy gain under oxic-anoxic conditions coupled to the biodegradation of different xenobiotic classes will be studied. The fundamentals and principles regulating the biodegradation rates and the biodegradability of these compounds as well as the concepts of co-metabolism, co-oxidation, synergism, antagonism, substrate toxicity, threshold concentration, diauxic growth, and carbon catabolite repression will be highlighted.

Course Description

The process of natural selection of microorganisms inhabiting polluted ecosystems via adaptation, mutation, genetic recombination and acquisition of mobile genetic elements has resulted in a tremendous capacity to metabolize xenobiotics. Many genes encoding catabolic pathways for xenobiotics are plasmid-borne although others are encoded on chromosomes. This course aims to provide a piece of comprehensive knowledge about the catabolic operons, gene organization, gene duplication, functional analysis, regulation and expression of these genes under different environmental conditions. The stability, as well as the transfer of catabolic plasmids between different bacterial species, will be addressed. The course will focus on the catabolic genes involved in the upper metabolic pathways converting xenobiotics to central metabolites as well as on the catabolic genes of aromatic ring cleavage. The catabolic operons encoding the biodegradation of haloaromatics, polyaromatics, PTEX, NOS-heterocyclic, and benzoic acid as well as the catabolic encoding various catabolic pathways leading to phenyl-acetyl-CoA will be studied.

20) Biotransformation Pollutant Xenobiotics LSC HB 632

21) Molecular Basis of n Xenobiotics Biodegradation LSC HB 633


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Course Description

This course aims to provide survey knowledge of the theory and practices of different remediation technologies involved in treating polluted ecosystems. The various bioremediation technologies actively used in treating contaminated soils and water bodies in situ and ex-situ, which represent the core of the course, will be treated in detail. The applicability and the criteria determining the selection of the bioremediation technique as well as the factors enhancing or suppressing the process will be addressed. Methods involved in monitoring and evaluating the efficiency of the applied technique will be discussed. Cases of successful bioremediation techniques will be presented which will introduce the students to the feasibility of application and highlight the potentiality of bioremediation as a safe and cost-effective technique for eradication or detoxification of hazardous pollutants in the environment.

Course Description

This course gives insight on the feasibility of using enzymes, biological products or a whole genetically engineered microorganisms in various biotechnological applications to develop biologically-based devices for quantitative, qualitative and diagnostic assays for many molecules that have industrial importance or that threat the health and the environment. The course will address the specificity and the efficiency of enzymes catalyzing a wide array of chemical reactions and introduces the different techniques used to produce a biocatalyst with elevated catalytic potentiality and broader specificity and detection limits. Emphasis will be given for protein immobilization technology. The course aim is also to introduce the students to the concept of biosensors. It will present the molecular biology approaches used to design a biosensor such as hybrid or fused proteins or bioluminescent reporter microorganisms used to monitor environmental pollution. The course will also cover the use of biological and physical processes of signal transduction in the manufacture of a bio-device of medical importance such as the one used for the detection of diabetes or cholesterol.

22) Bioremediation Biosensors LSC HB 634

23) Biocatalysis and Biosensors LSC HB 635


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Course Description

Recombinant DNA technologies have opened up new and promising possibilities in a wide range of applications and can be expected to bring considerable benefits to humankind and to restore a healthy environment. This course will focus on important applications of recombinant DNA technology in the environmental sector to prepare genetically engineered organisms with improved traits. The course will introduce the students to various applications of recombinant DNA such as in the treatment of environmental pollution, the construction of reporter organisms to trace hazardous toxic chemicals and for risk assessment, to expand substrate profile of early enzymes of catabolic pathways. The course will also cover the following:

1- The global cycling of bio elements

2- The bio mining and bioleaching of metals from metal ores as well .

3- The study of soil community structure and microbial activity, for production of bio fertilizers, bio pesticides, biopolymers and bio surfactants.

4- The improvement of air quality via the desulfurization of fuels and the treatment of wastewater.

5- The dangers of creating genetically modified organisms and safety considerations and guidelines for environmental applications of organisms derived by recombinant DNA technology.

24) Recombinant DNA in Environmental Biotechnology LSCEB636




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Course Description

The course starts with an overview that covers topics like definition, origin, and composition of petroleum, the common practices in petroleum refining and processing, the environmental impact of the extensive use of petroleum products and their hazardous effect on human health. This is followed by discussing the various aspects of the petroleum industry in which biotechnology can be implemented. Then the various groups of microorganisms that can be found in oil reservoirs and their origin are described. The course focuses on sulfate-reducing bacteria, the problems they cause in the petroleum industry, as well as their control strategies through biotechnology. Another important aspect of petroleum microbiology, microbial enhanced oil recovery, will be also discussed. The following parts of the course are dedicated to the emerging applications of biotechnology in the petroleum industry such as the use of biocatalysts in petroleum refining, upgrading, and bio catalysis on petroleum products. Eventually, the potential applications of bacterial biosensors in the petroleum industry, and the biodegradation of petroleum components are highlighted.

Course Description

This course explores the exploitation of the enormous but uncharted functional diversity of marine organisms towards finding new genes organisms, biosensors, natural products and unusual biochemical processes of importance to industry, nutrition, medicine, and the environment. Students will examine the recent progress in the discovery of novel products from marine organisms, the role of marine microbes in bioremediation, genomics of marine organisms, sustainable aquaculture, development of new methods for the production of marine organisms as well as the use of biosensors for the assessment of environmental quality and management of marine environments.

25) Petroleum Microbiology LSC HB 637

26) Marine Biotechnology




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Course Description

The course deals with topics of increasing concern in environmental biotechnology and that are related to ongoing research in the biotechnology program. The student will write a comprehensive literature review about one of those topics and make a presentation. Eventually, the student will define the important research questions that can be addressed with our current facilities and write a proposal including the plan for his/her MSc work during the second year. The knowledge to be acquired depends on the topic.

27) Selected Topics in Environmental Biotechnology LSC EB 649


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Agricultural Biotechnology Track Courses


Course Description

This course offers an overview of different techniques of in vitro plant cell, tissue and organ culture its application in agriculture, horticulture as well as industrial and pharmaceuticals field of biotechnology. The course covers laboratory organization, different culture techniques, media components, different micropropagation techniques, bioreactor, variation, cryopreservation, and artificial somatic seed development. Students gain hands-on experience by experimental approaches of plant tissue culture technology that include media preparation, explants isolation and culture following different techniques, plant regeneration and acclimatization of tissue culture developed plants.

28) Plant Tissue and Cell Culture LSCAB 630

Course Description

This course concentrates on the detailed understanding and applications of molecular biology techniques for gene isolation, plant transformation and the investigation of gene function in plants. The course will also emphasize the application of genetic manipulation as applied to agriculture, including the manipulation of phenotypic traits such as stress resistance, herbicide resistance and microbial resistance to enhance crop qualities. The experimental part of this course will provide hands-on experience on media preparation, DNA isolation, gene cloning, transformation, DNA and RNA isolation from plants, sequence analysis using public databases, primer designing and bioinformatics.

29) Plant Molecular Biology LSCAB 631


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Course Description

This course content is designed to give a clear picture of the mechanisms of energy flow from the environment to plants, how this energy is used to take up water, carbon dioxide and other nutrients from the soil and how resources are transported and other physiological activities in plants at a molecular level. The course aims to how the intermediary metabolism in plants that is related to plant cell structure and function. Topics to be covered are bioenergetics, cell walls, membrane, cell organelles, different physiological processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, metabolism of carbohydrates, lipid, amino acids, nucleotides, nitrogen, sulfur, secondary products, etc, their functions, biological membrane transport, the role of hormones and other growth factors in growth and development of plants.

30) Plant Tissue Biochemistry LSCAB 632

Course Description

This course Examines the ability of plants to endure the challenges of changing environmental conditions. The mechanism of stress tolerance by avoidance or by adopting specific ways is a matter of discussion. The effect of various environmental stresses such as cold, drought, salt, heat, minerals, freezing, flooding on the regulation of plant metabolic pathways and the modification in physiological processes will be evaluated. This course will also address the strategies employed to minimize the effects of environmental stresses on plant growth and yield and the genetic manipulation of metabolic pathways of plants to develop more resistant plants.

31) Environmental and Stress Plant Physiology LSCAB 633




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Course Description

This course covers the different plant breeding methods used to improve the quality of plants and to solve the problem of disease and insect pest susceptibility, some post-harvest management, long-term storage, and environmental stress susceptibility. This course concentrates on different methods of hybridization, traditional methods of selection and hybrid analysis based on morphological and biochemical method at the same time it introduces students with molecular markers and marker-assisted selection to modernize the plant breeding technology in the current path of research to identify specific gene or genes at the functional level. This course also introduces population genetics that covers population and gene pool, genetic structure, gene frequencies in the population, genetic map, in the population and simple statistical analysis of population data.

32) Plant Breeding and Population Genetics LSCAB 634

Course Description

The course covers the basic dependent nature of plant tissue culture and genetic engineering on plant tissue culture, role and application of recombinant DNA technology in crop improvement program, gene cloning, transformation vectors, techniques of gene transfer in plants, production of GM plants in different aspects such as to improve crop quality, crop quantity, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, herbicide resistance, different methods of molecular analysis of transgenic plants, risk and cost management, public concern and bioethics. The course provides hands-on experience of basic methodology of plant genetic engineering and gene transfer to plants by Ti plasmid through the agrobacterium-mediated method.

33) Plant Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Plants LSCAB 635




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Course Description

This course concentrates on the use of biotechnology to enhance the interactive relations of microorganisms to improve soil fertility and productivity of plants. Topics covered include pathogenic, parasitic, saprophytic and symbiotic relations between microbes and plants, the cycles of plant nutrients in the soil, the use of biotechnology-derived methods to improve soil fertility, reduce the pathogenicity of soil-borne pests, and increase plant production.

Course Description

This course addresses the effect of agricultural practices on the environment by utilizing actual case studies to investigate the interaction of agriculture and the environment. Topics include sustainable agriculture, land degradation, desertification, soil and water pollution with agriculture, chemicals and management of agricultural resources.

34) Plant Breeding and Population Genetics LSCAB 634

35) Agricultural Ecology LSCAB 636




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Course Description

This course provides a survey of medicinally important plants, isolated chemical compounds from plant parts, their method of isolation, identification, the role of plant secondary metabolites in the pharmaceutical industry, their culture method b traditional means and tissue culture. This course concentrates on the recent status of transgenic plants as factories of biopharmaceuticals and the importance of biopharma and molecular pharming for manufacturing biotech drugs. The course covers the recent role of bio farm for the production of a wide range of therapeutic recombinant proteins, a wide range of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, drugs, and important molecules.

Course Description

The most advanced topics, major achievements in plant biology both fundamental and applied research, current research topics covering recent trends in plant biotechnology research will be introduced. The design and content of this course are to be recommended by the academic advisor.

36) Medicinal Plants and Biopharmaceuticals LSCAB 638

37) Selected Topics in Plant Biotechnology LSCAB 639

1- Health Biotechnology MSc program

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