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Explore Biotechnology
By Mr. David Fusco
Do you know that living organisms are being used to address problemsof the world? From diagnosing and fighting deadly diseases to increasing crop yields and reducing environmental impacts, biotechnology continues to revolutionize the way scientists approach the issues of our global society. 
Explore Biotechnology is a lab intensive course that will give participants hands-on training in the use of the most common tools and technologies associated with the field of biotechnology. Students will learn and experiment with advanced, cutting-edge techniques such as DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis, which scientists frequently apply to the medical and agricultural fields.
A capstone investigation will allow students to determine whether or not certain foods have a genetically modified component by combining multiple techniques taught throughout the course.
| Did you attend Biotech Bootcamp last summer at Biotech High School? Mr. Fusco, who teaches The Stars Challenge Biotech course and is familiar with the Biotech Bootcamp course, says there is about 50% overlap between our course and Biotech Bootcamp. However, The Stars Challenge course is smaller so there is more opportunity for hands-on work. In addition, there is a lot of material presented in both courses and sometimes a little repetition helps one to completely absorb the material. |
Mr. David Fusco
Science Faculty
Biotechnology High School
Freehold, NJ
Mr. David Fusco is a biotechnology teacher at Biotechnology High School (BTHS) in Freehold, NJ. Additionally, he has served as an adjunct in the Biology department at Brookdale Community College. Selected as BTHS Teacher of the Year 2010-2011, Mr. Fusco has authored and implemented a variety of courses including Molecular & Agricultural Biotechnology, BioBusiness, and a summer camp for high school students titled “Agriculture to Medicine: Real World Applications of Biotechnology.” He has been selected and sponsored in various initiatives, such as the Biotechnology Teacher-Leader program and the Wolbachia Project.
Mr. Fusco graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Rutgers University and an M.S. in Biology from Georgian Court University. In his spare time, Mr. Fusco enjoys traveling and learning about foreign cultures. He has visited parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, as well as more than half of the 50 states. He believes that a well-rounded individual should have exposure to diversity in a variety of ways.
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