Lansing Community College

If biotechnology, biomedical research, genetics, or pharmaceutical research sounds like a career for you, get your start at LCC.  In the Molecular Biotechnology Program, students learn to:

• Grow and maintain genetic strains of bacteria
• Isolate and purify DNA from a variety of cell types and environmental samples
• Clone genes using bacteria and plasmid DNA vectors
• Prepare and analyze polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and real time PCR analysis
• Complete a DNA barcoding project
• Prepare and screen DNA libraries for specific genes
• Prepare and analyze DNA profiles on agarose gels
• Isolate and purify proteins and analyze with SDS-PAGE electrophoresis
• Utilize on-line DNA Sequence Databases and bioinformatic tools for gene annotation and sequence analysis
• Tours of university research laboratories and biotechnology company facilities
• Courses emphasize critical thinking skills, laboratory notebook documentation, laboratory math skills, laboratory safety and experimental design
• Develop quality control/quality assurance methods, write S.O.P., learn ISO standards
• write resumes and cover letters
• learn to use critical thinking, work as a team and independently

Students in this program have been hired by:

• Biotechnology companies in Michigan and across the United States
• Twenty-five molecular research laboratories at Michigan State University
• DNA Sequencing Laboratory at the University of Michigan Medical School
• Michigan State Police DNA Laboratory DNA/Forensic Laboratories (Lansing and Grayling, MI)

The program also provides additional training for technicians from the DNA Forensic Lab of the Michigan State Police, college faculty from other institutions, and students who already have advanced degrees in the biological sciences.

For a sampling of some of the courses we offer, please watch our one minute videos:

Biol 275

ISCI 275

Biol 128