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...

  1. Choose a problem about which they're interested.
  2. Learn enough about the problem, and synthetic biology, to propose a (few) solution(s).
  3. Plan a general approach to the solution (including talking to stakeholders - )
  4. Plan specific approaches and the first set of characterization experiments.
  5. Design DNA

Learning Goals (Planning/Design): When students finish

...

the spring, they should be able to:

  1. Identify problems that are interesting and important
  2. Read a paper and extract useful information from it
  3. Identify and fill gaps in their own knowledge
  4. Formulate general strategies to address problems
  5. Propose a specific implementation of a strategy
  6. Design experiments to demonstrate that implementation
  7. Design the DNAs necessary to implement the proposed strategy
  8. Design the cloning strategy necessary to construct those DNAs


DateGoal/Activity
Feb 5
  • Intro: uh ..... olive oil? If available.
  • What is synbio? How is it different than bioengineering?
  • Semester overview / expectations
    • Instructor / advisor roles
  • Project possibilities
    • Weiss lab biases
    • Student roles / specializations
  • Project list - assignments
  • How to find a paper
  • How to read a paper
  • Homework: find and read (at least) one paper about the "state of the art" on your problem
    Come next week prepared to discuss one specific problem
Feb 12

GOAL: Narrow down to six projects

  • Intro: FerriTALES
  • White board silent brainstorming
    • Project owner gives title, specific problem
    • Others: other problems, solutions, observations, connections, approaches
  • Review projects together
  • Vote or self-assort to six projects (1-3 people each)
  • How to present a paper
    • Introduction to science-as-storytelling
    • Intro to record keeping.
  • Homework: meet as a group, find and read one paper about your project; come prepared to present it (with slides)
Feb 19

GOAL: Narrow down to three projects

  • Intro: ??
  • Each group presents (10 min each)
  • Vote or self-assort to three projects
  • Intro to synbio as a problem-solving strategy
    • Parts, circuits, input / processing / actuation
  • Homework: meet as a subgroup (with advisors, this time); propose two synbio-based approaches; come up with one relevant paper for each.
Feb 26

GOAL: Narrow down to two projects.

  • Intro: ??
  • Each group presents.
  • Vote one project off the island. (Preference voting?)
  • Classwork & homework: swap projects. (Ie, if you were working on Project #1, this week you work on Project #2. The one that was voted off self-assorts.)
    Propose two (different) synbio-based approaches; come up with one relevant paper for each. 
Mar 6

Final project selection.

  • Review and vote.
  • Identify holes in knowledge, ways forward.
Mar 12 
Mar 19 
Mar 26SPRING BREAK
Apr 2 
Apr 9 
Apr 16 
Apr 23 
Apr 30 

May 7

 
May 14