| (a) General requirements. This course is recommended
for students in Grades 11 and 12. Prerequisite: Biology. Recommended
prerequisites: Principles of Biosciences and Chemistry. Students must
meet the 40% laboratory and fieldwork requirement. This course satisfies
a high school science graduation requirement. Students shall be awarded
one credit for successful completion of this course.
(b) Introduction.
(1) Career and technical education instruction provides
content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical
knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed
in current or emerging professions.
(2) The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) Career Cluster focuses on planning, managing, and providing
scientific research and professional and technical services, including
laboratory and testing services, and research and development services.
(3) In Biotechnology I, students will apply advanced
academic knowledge and skills to the emerging fields of biotechnology
such as agricultural, medical, regulatory, and forensics. Students
will have the opportunity to use sophisticated laboratory equipment,
perform statistical analysis, and practice quality-control techniques.
Students will conduct laboratory and field investigations, use scientific
methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical
thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in Biotechnology
I will study a variety of topics that include structures and functions
of cells, nucleic acids, proteins, and genetics.
(4) Science, as defined by the National Academy of
Sciences, is the "use of evidence to construct testable explanations
and predictions of natural phenomena, as well as the knowledge generated
through this process." This vast body of changing and increasing knowledge
is described by physical, mathematical, and conceptual models. Students
should know that some questions are outside the realm of science because
they deal with phenomena that are not scientifically testable.
(5) Scientific inquiry is the planned and deliberate
investigation of the natural world. Scientific methods of investigation
can be experimental, descriptive, or comparative. The method chosen
should be appropriate to the question being asked.
(6) Scientific decision making is a way of answering
questions about the natural world. Students should be able to distinguish
between scientific decision-making methods (science methods) and ethical
and social decisions that involve science (the application of scientific
information).
(7) A system is a collection of cycles, structures,
and processes that interact. All systems have basic properties that
can be described in terms of space, time, energy, and matter. Change
and constancy occur in systems as patterns and can be observed, measured,
and modeled. These patterns help to make predictions that can be scientifically
tested. Students should analyze a system in terms of its components
and how these components relate to each other, to the whole, and to
the external environment.
(8) Students are encouraged to participate in extended
learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations
and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.
(9) Statements that contain the word "including" reference
content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such
as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
(1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability
skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected
to:
(A) demonstrate knowledge of how to dress appropriately,
speak politely, and conduct oneself in a manner appropriate for the
profession;
(B) show the ability to cooperate, contribute, and
collaborate as a member of a group in an effort to achieve a positive
collective outcome;
(C) present written and oral communication in a clear,
concise, and effective manner;
(D) demonstrate time-management skills in prioritizing
tasks, following schedules, and performing goal-relevant activities
in a way that produces efficient results; and
(E) demonstrate punctuality, dependability, reliability,
and responsibility in performing assigned tasks as directed.
(2) The student, for at least 40% of instructional
time, conducts laboratory and field investigations using safe, environmentally
appropriate, and ethical practices. These investigations must involve
actively obtaining and analyzing data with physical equipment, but
may also involve experimentation in a simulated environment as well
as field observations that extend beyond the classroom. The student
is expected to:
(A) demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and
field investigations, including chemical, electrical, and fire safety,
and safe handling of live and preserved organisms;
(B) demonstrate an understanding of the use and conservation
of resources and the proper disposal or recycling of materials;
(C) demonstrate appropriate safety procedures, guidelines,
and chemical hygiene plan;
(D) maintain required safety training, including location
and understanding of interpretation of safety data sheets;
(E) comply with federal and state safety regulations
as specified by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
and other regulatory agencies as appropriate;
(F) identify and obey safety symbols and signs;
(G) maintain clean and well organized work areas;
(H) dispose of equipment, glassware, and biologics
according to laboratory policies;
(I) recognize common laboratory hazards;
(J) observe procedures for the safe use of instruments,
gas cylinders, and chemicals; and
(K) maintain safety and personal protection equipment.
(3) The student uses scientific methods and equipment
during laboratory and field investigations. The student is expected
to:
(A) know the definition of science and understand that
it has limitations, as specified in subsection (b)(4) of this section;
(B) know that hypotheses are tentative and testable
statements that must be capable of being supported or not supported
by observational evidence. Hypotheses of durable explanatory power
which have been tested over a wide variety of conditions are incorporated
into theories;
(C) know that scientific theories are based on natural
and physical phenomena and are capable of being tested by multiple
independent researchers. Unlike hypotheses, scientific theories are
well-established and highly-reliable explanations, but they may be
subject to change as new areas of science and new technologies are
developed;
(D) distinguish between scientific hypotheses and scientific
theories;
(E) plan and implement investigative procedures, including
asking questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting,
handling, and maintaining appropriate equipment and technology;
(F) collect data individually or collaboratively, make
measurements with precision and accuracy, record values using appropriate
units, and calculate statistically relevant quantities to describe
data, including mean, median, and range;
(G) demonstrate the use of course apparatus, equipment,
techniques, and procedures;
(H) organize, analyze, evaluate, build models, make
inferences, and predict trends from data;
(I) perform calculations using dimensional analysis,
significant digits, and scientific notation; and
(J) communicate valid conclusions using essential vocabulary
and multiple modes of expression such as lab reports, labeled drawings,
graphic organizers, journals, summaries, oral reports, and technology-based
reports.
(4) The student uses critical thinking, scientific
reasoning, and problem solving to make informed decisions within and
outside the classroom. The student is expected to:
(A) in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and
critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical
reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining
all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations,
so as to encourage critical thinking;
(B) communicate and apply scientific information extracted
from various sources such as current events, news reports, published
journal articles, and marketing materials;
(C) draw inferences based on data related to promotional
materials for products and services;
(D) evaluate the impact of research and technology
on scientific thought, society, and the environment;
(E) evaluate models according to their limitations
in representing biological objects or events;
(F) describe the connection between biotechnology and
future careers; and
(G) research and describe the history of biotechnology
and contributions of scientists.
(5) The student explores the emerging field of biotechnology.
The student is expected to:
(A) define biotechnology and provide examples of biotechnology
products such as recombinant proteins, fermented foods, biopharmaceuticals,
and genetically modified foods;
(B) apply scientific processes and concepts outlined
in the Texas essential knowledge and skills (TEKS) for Biology relevant
to biotechnology, including all types of cells; cellular structures
and functions; and viruses;
(C) explore applications of bioinformatics such as
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) barcoding, phylogenetic relationships,
and the use of online databases;
(D) research career opportunities in fields such as
molecular, forensic, medical, regulatory, and agricultural biotechnology;
(E) research the history of biotechnology and contributions
of scientists;
(F) define bioethics and research applications of bioethics;
(G) research applications in agricultural biotechnology
such as tissue culturing, genetically modified foods, plant propagation,
and hydroponics; and
(H) research applications in medical biotechnology
such as vaccines, stem cells, microarrays, and pharmaceutical production.
(6) The student summarizes biotechnology laboratory
procedures and their applications in the biotechnology industry. The
student is expected to:
(A) identify the major sectors of the biotechnology
industry;
(B) categorize the biotechnology laboratory procedures
included in each sector; and
(C) compare the different applications used in biotechnology
laboratory procedures of each sector.
(7) The student understands the role of genetics in
the biotechnology industry. The student is expected to:
(A) explain terms related to molecular biology including
nucleic acids, nitrogen bases, amino acids, transcription, translation,
polymerase, and protein synthesis;
(B) describe the structure and function of deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) in cells and viruses;
(C) compare and contrast the nitrogen bases of DNA
and RNA;
(D) explain how nucleotides join together to form a
DNA double helix;
(E) describe the DNA replication process in eukaryotic
and prokaryotic cells;
(F) illustrate the process of protein synthesis; and
(G) describe the structure and function of proteins,
including 3D folding, enzymes, and antibodies.
(8) The student analyzes the importance of recombinant
DNA technology and genetic engineering. The student is expected to:
(A) describe the fundamental steps in recombinant DNA
technology;
(B) explain how recombinant DNA technology is used
to clone genes and create recombinant proteins;
(C) explain the role of tissue cultures to genetic
modification procedures;
(D) describe plant- and animal-tissue culture procedures;
(E) compare and contrast proper growing conditions
for plant and animal tissue cultures;
(F) explain the role of restriction enzymes;
(G) distinguish among vectors commonly used in biotechnology
for DNA insertion, including plasmids, retroviruses, and bacteriophages;
and
(H) explain the steps and components of the polymerase
chain reaction.
(9) The student examines federal, state, local, and
industry regulations as related to biotechnology. The student is expected
to:
(A) discuss the relationship between the local, state,
and federal agencies responsible for regulation of the biotechnology
industry; and
(B) analyze policies and procedures used in the biotechnology
industry such as quality assurance, standard operating procedures
(SOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs),
and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality systems.
(10) The student performs standard biotechnology laboratory
procedures. The student is expected to:
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