MCB 6937 Synthetic Biology

Credits: 3

Tuition: $1,605

Syllabus: Click Here

Description

Synthetic biology applies basic genetic/metabolic principles to engineer biological cells to attain new functions. Synthetic biology research is a cutting-edge area that marries knowledge from biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering principles. It is still in the infancy of development, yet synthetic biology has already brought breakthroughs in human medicine, industrial and pharmaceutical development, environmental protection, and crop improvement. This course will introduce design principles and applications of biological cells. Topics include synthetic pathway design, artificial photosynthesis, repurposing genetic codons, genome synthesis and editing, and genetic circuit design among others. 

Course Goals

Students are expected to gain the following knowledge and principles regarding synthetic biology.

• Have an in-depth understanding of microbial genetics
• Have an in-depth understanding of microbial physiology
• Have a basic understanding of metabolic engineering principles
• Understand design principles for biology
• Be able to design synthetic biology research 
• Explore the possibility of developing synthetic biology tools for applications in biotechnology and human health. 

Library Access

Distance Education and UF Online Students enjoy the same library privileges as on-campus students.

• Utilize the University of Florida Library System