Experimental Synthetic Biology & AI-Driven Biotechnology

(4 Credits)

Experimental Synthetic biology aims to use state-of-the-art molecular tools to redesign biological systems by employing the approaches of engineering. The guiding principle in designing synthetic projects is often derived from a systems-level understanding of cellular networks, with metabolic network analyses playing a key role in offering informed hypotheses on how to modify cellular wirings for a desired outcome. This course combines lectures, class discussions, and lab experiments. The course engages students in a guided research project to learn advanced molecular techniques and systems-level analysis. Students become familiar with engineering concepts such as defining biological components as "parts" and cataloging them in synthetic biology parts registries.