Bethlehem University Graduate Catalog 2020-2021

Faculty of Science/ Department of Biology/ Course description

MBT 100 - ENGLISH FOR SC& TE - 3 credits

The course is designed to prepare graduate students for the most common forms of scientific reporting. The students are encouraged to situate themselves within the discourse of their chosen field. The course covers basic guidelines for clear, concise, informative science writing. The students also learn how to develop good research skills, audience awareness, and attention to models as guides to the writing expectations. The course includes a variety of assignments including an online source review, a laboratory report and a research paper. Students work in groups and are encouraged to see themselves as developing problem solving skill and will work independently in shaping/ revising their individual projects, seeking advice from subject area teachers in their field of interest.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 700 - COLLOQUIUM - 0 credits

This course is intended to train students to the rational methods of scientific literature searching as well as the proper way to make a literature review and present scientific research reports and seminars. In the first part of this course, students will gain hands-on experience using different electronic literature sources such as PUBMED, EBSCO, AGRICOLA, AGRIS, CAB abstracts and other relevant databases.
In the second part each student will select, under supervision of faculty mentors, a research project that involves literature review, written report, and oral presentation in a public forum.

Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 701 - Seminar Sessions I - 3 credits

This course is intended to train students to the rational methods of scientific literature
searching as well as the proper way to make a literature review and present scientific
research reports and seminars. The first part of this course will be held in internet
computer lab, where students will gain hands-on experience using different electronic
literature sources such as PUBMED, EBSCO, AGRICOLA, AGRIS, CAB abstracts
and other relevant databases.
In the second part each student will select, under supervision of faculty mentors, a
research project that involves literature review, written report, and oral presentation in
a public forum.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 702 - Seminar Sessions II - 3 credits

This course has the same course description in MBT701. However on another theme.
Pre Requisite: MBT 701

MBT 711 - ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - 3 credits

As part of the graduate Master program, this course is a cornerstone course for molecular biology. It aims to introduce the field of Advanced Molecular Biology in a practical applied way. It is relevant to clinical and other areas of biology and medicine. Knowledge of the field is indispensible in all areas of biotechnology from new drug design to gene therapy.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 712 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN CELL BIOLOGY - 3 credits

This is an advanced graduate course that will examine molecular and mechanistic aspects of cell biology. Topics include protein structure and targeting, control of gene expression and how cells read the genomes, receptors and signaling pathways critical for cell function, and membrane structure and transport. Empahsis are placed on contemporary research in cell biology as presented in journal review articles.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 713 - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY - 2 credits

This course is a series of lectures that are aimed at developing the research skills of students. Knowledge and skills will be attained in areas such as research ethics, research frameworks, using information technology in research, qualitative and quantitative research methods, managing the data, formulation of research proposals, and research communication.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 714 - SOCIAL & ETHICAL ASPECTS OF BIOTEC. - 1 credit

This is ethics in biotechnology class with one credit hour. It is intended for students in the Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering field. It is intend to familiarize the students with the ethical standards associated with employing techniques in biotechnology in various laboratory settings. It will concentrate on recent implications of newly developed bio-techniques that are usually controversial in natures. In addition to classic ethical issues in biotechnology, and it will emphasize on recent advancements, such as the use of animals in research, cloning debates, use of embryonic stem cells, use of embryonic tissues and organs, and ex-vivo tissue and organ regeneration. Students will be asked to select a topic on which they will write a report and make an oral presentation towards the end of the semester.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 715 - BIOTEC. INSTRUM.& TECHNIQUES - 3 credits

The course will be given in a form of modules. It focuses on aspects that are related to his expertise and research interests and will introduce students to techniques and instrumentations that are commonly used in both animal, plant and microorganism biotechnology. This course will provide the theoretical basis and the hands-on experience needed for the understanding and execution of those laboratory procedures which are widely used in biotechnology and molecular genetics. While the subject matter will be discussed in the context of broadly stated research objectives, the emphasis will be on the techniques rather than on specific applications and strategies. Thus, students will acquire skill in the use of "generic" methods, and through an understanding of such methods, improve their effectiveness as scientists or just workers in a contemporary research laboratory.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 716 - BIOINFORMATICS - 3 credits

Bioinformatics is a new multidisciplinary field which utilizes computer science, information technology and mathematics to tackle and answer biology problems. This course has been designed for students with life sciences background who are interested in bioinformatics to allow them to know how to search, retrieve, and analyze biological data. The students will learn how to use public bio-data to design their experiments and to analyze their lab results using different bioinformatic tools. A problem-based learning approach will be implemented to ensure that students will gain enough hands on experience with various bioinformatic resources and to enhance their self learning capacities. This course will focus on fundamental domains in bioinformatics such as biological databases and sequence analysis with emphasis on exemplar problems from the different research groups of the master program.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 717 - EXPER. DESIGN & BIOSTATISTICS - 2 credits

Statistical genetics is an advance human genetics field in which the statistical methods and inferences are applied on genetic data to better understand disease association risks factored by population stratification and sex effect. Beside analyzing genetic data at the population level, it covers also family-based association analysis of inherited diseases.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 718 - BUSINESS ASPECTS OF BIOTEC. - 1 credit

The aim of this graduate course is to familiarize graduate students with the characteristics and trends of the biotechnology sector. The business sides of the applications of biotechnology like their commercialization, regulation and funding will be highlighted. The course contains several parts: history and profile of the sector, business models, financial management of biotechnology companies, current and future development, biotechnology and the government. Important is that not only the characteristics of mature companies will be examined, but also the relevant aspects of young, starting biotechnology companies and emerging life science technologies will be considered. Opportunities and challenges concerning intellectual property and its application in a high-technology sector like biotechnology will be discussed.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 719 - ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODOL0GY & ETHICS - 3 credits

This course tacles advanced methods and skills of scientific research. It focuses on the main aspects in any scientific studies including literature review (library and the internet), sampling strategies and designs, hypothesis testing, introduces experimental design, in addition to writing good research proposals. The course also provides insight into ethical aspects related to scientific research.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 721 - MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS - 3 credits

This course is primarily a seminar/lecture-based course divided it two parts. Two thirds of the course is devoted to Molecular Microbiology and one third to Molecular Oncology. The course is designed to provide the Master's student in biotechnology up to date information on the utilization of molecular diagnostic techniques for identifying pathogens.In the oncology part the student is expected to understand the principles of molecular diagnosis for the different types of cancer, and get an idea about the background of how and why different molecular methods are used in cancer research.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 722 - SELECTED TOPICS IN PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY - 3 credits

This course will focus on the principles, techniques and application of plant cell, tissue and organ culture. Composition of and procedures for preparation of nutrient media; techniques for explant and propagule isolation and culture; and tissue culture growth environments required for initiation and maintenance of cell, tissue and organ cultures will be presented. Principles related to the regulation of cell growth, and tissue and organ differentiation will be discussed and linked to the utilization of tissue culture systems for micropropagation and production of haploid plants. Also, methods for genetic transformation, mainly Agrobacterium-mediated methods, and plant regeneration that result in production of transgenic plants and implications of these methodologies to crop improvement will be discussed. Reading and oral presentation of scientific papers on various fields of plant tissue culture will be an integral part of the learning process in this course. In addition to the theoretical material covered in this course, students will have the chance to experience practical work on plant tissue culture as well as observation of the main steps involved in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato plants towards the improvement of their drought tolerance.

Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 726 - ADVANCED TOPICS IN GENOMICS - 3 credits

This course is intended to introduce students with recent advances in genomic sciences and their impact on biotechnology applications. The course will be primarily literature-based, with lectures as necessary to give students an introduction to a particular topic. Potential topics will include large-scale sequencing projects, the use of DNA markers for mapping novel genes, genomic variations, functional genomics and comparative genomics.
Additionally, since advances in genomics are often driven by technology, the course will familiarize students with current methods being used in the field (e.g., computational approaches to comparative sequence analysis, DNA microarrays, proteomic techniques, etc.). In addition to use human genome to study the above topics, emphasis will be placed on microbial and plant genomes that are relevant to local community needs.
At the end of the course, each student is expected to presents a mini proposal on how to use the available genomic information to address research problems.

Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 727 - ADV.TOPICS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLIC. - 3 credits

This course will cover 4 selected topic areas: two are lecture based, and 2 are practical laboratory-based. The main lecture topics are i) transgenic and ‘knock-out' mouse technologies in forward and reverse genetics with the emphasis upon design strategies and their critical evaluation and ii) a case study of emerging viral threat(s) to humans, which this year will focus upon the MERS coronavirus and the research strategies and molecular epidemiological analyses employed to understand and address the risks to humans.The 2 laboratory based modules are: animal cell culture techniques and plant tissue culture techniques. Students will get hands-on experience of working with animal cells and plant tissues during these practicums. The animal cell work will cover 3 weeks in the animal cell culture lab, with 2 hours of introductory background covered at the beginning. Dr Rami Arafah will introduce the plant tissue culture techniques over 2 weeks in the plant lab.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 729 - ADVANCED BIOCHEMISTRY - 3 credits

This is an advanced graduate course that will discuss selected topics in Biochemistry and industrial biotechnology with a special focus on its applications and recent advances. Topics will include enzymes kinetics, industrial enzymes, industrial microbes, bio-processing, fermentation and bioreactors.

Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 730 - STEM CELLS: BASIC SCIENCE, TECH. AND APP. - 3 credits

Stem cells provide an endless potential resource for regenerative medicine and disease modeling. This course will cover topics in the basic biology of embryonic, adult, and cancer stem cells. This course will discuss the technologies, methods and experimental protocols needed to study and characterize stem cells; as well as the application of stem cells to treat specific human diseases. The ethical aspect of stem cells in Christianity Judaism, and Islam are discussed as well.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

MBT 900 - RESEARCH - 6 credits

This course involves a graduation research project. The student is either involved in a project that is running by one of the program professors, or a new project is designed with the advisor. The student is responsible for the execution of the research under the supervision of the advisor. The student follows the theses guidelines, and prepared in a publishable format. At the end of the course, the student holds a defense presentation before an external and an internal examiner.
Pre Requisite: No prerequisite

E-mail: info@bethlehem.edu | Phone: +972-2-274-1241 | Fax: +972-2-274-4440
Bethlehem, Palestine