Health ProfessionsTest + Skills

Biotechnology

A 50-question lab science test, then hands-on biotech skills such as pipetting, gel electrophoresis, bacterial transformation and ELISA for the top scorers.

The AI judge does not score skill stations. Use the practice test for Round One.

About this event

Biotechnology is a solo two-round event for the Secondary and Postsecondary/Collegiate divisions, sponsored by Bio-Rad. Round One is a 50-question multiple-choice test in 60 minutes (a basic calculator is provided) written from Bio-Rad's Biotechnology: A Laboratory Skills Course and the Starr and Taggart AP biology text. The test plan leans on bench work: basic lab skills, DNA structure and analysis, PCR, protein analysis, microbiology and cell culture, bacterial transformation and immunological applications, with small slices on careers, biotech in health and government regulation. Top scorers advance to Round Two, where everyone receives the same secret written scenario and performs one or more of eight approved skills in 10 to 20 minutes each: using micropipets, transfer pipets and a balance; setting up a restriction digest; running and interpreting a DNA gel; a Bradford protein assay; bacterial transformation and calculating transformation efficiency; and a qualitative ELISA. Judges score each step on a rating sheet, and you must bring your own metric ruler, eye protection, closed-toe shoes and two pairs of non-latex gloves. To place at ILC you need at least 70 percent on the skills; the final rank adds the test score to the skill score, and ties go to the higher test score.

Test day

What to expect

Round One test, then skill stations

Round One is a 50-question test in 60 minutes; the top scorers advance to Round Two, the skill stations. Official format: 50-question test, 60 minutes, then Round Two skill scenarios of 10 to 20 minutes each for top scorers.

Written from the test plan

Questions follow the event's published test plan, section by section, and are written from the listed reference texts. Practice questions here are drawn in the same proportions.

How you advance

How many advance from regionals to states and on to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) depends on your association's rules. Study the official test plan: it lists each section and its share of the test.

What judges score

Skill I: Using Micropipets, Transfer Pipets, and a Balance (15 minutes)Skill II: Restriction Digestion Reaction (15 minutes)Skill III: DNA Gel Electrophoresis (20 minutes)Skill IV: DNA Gel Interpretation (15 minutes)Skill V: Bradford Protein Quantitation Assay (20 minutes)Skill VI: Bacterial Transformation (20 minutes)Skill VII: Calculation of Transformation Efficiency (10 minutes)Skill VIII: Qualitative ELISA (20 minutes)

What's on the test

Biotechnology industry practices and careers · 4%Biotechnology in health · 4%Governmental regulation of biotechnology · 4%Basic laboratory skills (PPE, preparing solutions and calculations, use of balance and equipment, pipetting) · 14%Microbiology and cell culture · 12%DNA structure and analysis · 14%Bacterial transformation · 10%Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) · 14%Protein structure, function, and analysis · 14%Immunological applications · 10%

Study resources

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