BIO* 265 - Synthetic Biology

Credit(s): 4
Prerequisite(s): BIO* 130 and BIO* 230, or a grade of ‘C’ or better in BIO* 121 and CHE* 121.
The study of synthetic biology combines principles of biology, genetics and chemistry, to engineer cells to do useful things. In this multidisciplinary course, students will work in small groups to identify and conduct experiments to solve an outstanding problem with biotechnological and societal impact. Students will apply their knowledge of bacterial and eukaryotic regulatory processes as they manipulate biological parts to generate more complex systems. Applications of synthetic biology include engineering of tissues and cells, gene therapy, biologically-derived drugs, biomaterials, biosensors, and alternative fuels.
Lecture: 3 hours per week. Lab: 3 hours per week.