Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing scientific fields and is very promising in the coming 21st century going along with new advances in genomics. New products made based on discoveries through research and development continue to transform the way we live. Because biotechnology makes use of living organisms or their products for the benefit of humans and the environment, it has several sub-disciplines depending on the type of research organism or system being studied. Whatever the source organism or system, it remains an experimental science where most research is performed in the laboratory. It is therefore vital that future biotech scientists become familiar with up-to-date experimental methods, experimental designs, and data analyses. Employers, both in industry and academia, have a preference for scientists who have good hands-on laboratory experience, can work as part of a team, good critical thinking complemented by good communication skills. This lab manual is designed to enhance those skills by adopting an inquiry-based self-directed active learning approach to learning in the lab.