In this course, we will explore the foundations of synthetic biology and its application to the pharmaceutical sciences and beyond. Synthetic biology is an emerging discipline that lies at the interface between biology and engineering. Work in the field involves the design and construction of new biological components such as genetic circuits and metabolic pathways, and in doing so is creating new ways to produce small molecule drugs, novel protein/RNA-based therapeutics and diagnostics.
The course is designed to introduce students without a background in the field to the theoretical and applied concepts of synthetic biology so that they can incorporate aspects into their own research and, more broadly, be aware of the potential of this emerging discipline. The course is organized to include a mixture of didactic teaching (17 hours) and practical classes (13 hours). Lectures will include an overview of synthetic biology, the technologies driving the field, practical theory on the design and assembly of genetically encoded tools, and the application of these technologies for human health.