[DIYbio] Fwd: [synberc-all] Principles of Synthetic Biology - free online course

MITx 20.305x: Principles of Synthetic Biology

Do you like biology, biotechnology, or genetic engineering? Are you interested in computer science, engineering, or design? Synthetic Biology is an innovative field bringing together these subject areas and many more to create useful tools to solve everyday problems.

This introductory synthetic biology course starts with a brief overview of the field and then delves into more challenging yet exciting concepts. You will learn how to design your very own biological regulatory circuits and consider ways in which you can apply these circuits to real-world problems we face today.

From basic oscillators, toggle switches, and band-pass filters to more sophisticated circuits that build upon these devices, you will learn what synthetic biologists of today are currently constructing and how these circuits can be used in interesting and novel ways.

Join us as we explore the field of synthetic biology: its past, present, and promising future! Students from all scientific backgrounds are welcome! Students should have at least two years of undergraduate education in science and/or engineering.

What you'll learn

·       Modern techniques in DNA assembly and regulation of gene expression and protein activity

·       How to design basic biological circuits

·       Principles for creating large-scale biological circuits and regulatory networks

·       Basic ODE modeling of biological systems with MATLAB

Useful background: Introductory chemistry and biology, differential equations, MATLAB coding

Course duration: January 4^th, 2016 – April 15^th, 2016 (14 weeks)

Soft launch: December 4^th, 2015 (includes background materials to prepare for course)

Instructors: Ron Weiss (MIT), Adam Arkin (UC Berkeley)

Course page: https://www.edx.org/course/principles-synthetic-biology-mitx-20-305x

Enroll Now!