Principles of Biological Fabrication

Catalog description

BE 558 introduces methodological approaches that are currently used for the de novo construction of biological molecules - primarily, nucleic acids and proteins - and how to use these molecules to engineer the properties of cells and intact tissue. By the end of the semester, students should (i) possess a molecular-scale understanding of key biological synthesis (ii) and assembly processes, (ii) gain an intuition for how to create novel (iii) methodologies based on these existing processes, and (iii) appreciate (iv) the drivers of technology adoption (e.g. cost, time, ease, and (v) reproducibility). Throughout the course, we will place the material in context of applications in bioengineering and human health, including: protein engineering, drug discovery, synthetic biology & optogenetics, bio-inspired materials, and bio-electronic devices. Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Undergraduate level biology, physics and chemistry.