This course provides an overview of modern concepts of bioengineering across different levels of complexity, from single molecules to systems, microscaled reactors to production environments, and across different fields of applications

This course provides an overview of modern concepts of bioengineering across different levels of complexity, from single molecules to systems, microscaled reactors to production environments, and across different fields of applications

This seminar will feature invited lectures about recent advances and developments in systems biology, including topics from biology, bioengineering, and computational biology.

Biological computers are man-made biological networks that interrogate and control cells and organisms in which they operate. Their key features, inspired by computer science, are programmability, modularity, and versatility. The course will show how to rationally design, implement and test biological computers using molecular engineering, DNA nanothechnology and synthetic biology.

The students are trained in the basic techniques of designing, constructing, conducting, and characterizing CRISPR-Cas gene editing experiments in mammalian cells. CRISPR-Cas plasmids are cloned with custom guide RNAs targeting genes of interest followed by transient transfection into mammalian cells and the analysis of gene editing efficiency.

7 months biological design project, during which the students are required to give presentations on advanced topics in synthetic biology (specifically genetic circuit design) and then select their own biological system to design. The system is subsequently modeled, analyzed, and experimentally implemented. Results are presented at an international student competition at the MIT (Cambridge).