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Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology


Course Description

Theories and applications of cellular metabolism, genetic engineering, protein engineering, and metabolic engineering through experiential learning.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students are required to submit a research proposal and give an oral presentation. The research proposal will be about applications of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in the production of high-value chemicals.


Athena Title

META ENGR SYN BIO


Prerequisite

MATH 2700 and [BCMB(BIOL)(CHEM) 3100 or BCMB 4010/6010]


Semester Course Offered

Offered every year.


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

1) Equipping the students with both fundamental and updated knowledge of biological sciences and biochemical engineering by classroom instruction 2) Training the students in the basic experimental skills of molecular biology, biochemical engineering, and chemical analysis by laboratory instruction 3) Encouraging the students to develop their own ideas and apply what they learned by involving them in hands-on projects 4) Graduate students are trained to develop their ideas into research proposals 5) Students learn design of biochemical experiments and interpretation of results 6) Teamwork is promoted among students from multiple disciplines (Engineering and Biological Sciences) 7) Students enhance their skills at technical report writing, presentation and communication 8) Students enhance their critical thinking abilities


Topical Outline

The course consists of both lecture and laboratory sessions and is offered to upper level undergraduate students and lower level graduate students. The topics that will be covered in the lecture session include: 1) Introduction to genetic engineering and protein engineering 2) Cellular metabolism 3) Comprehensive models of cellular reaction 4) Metabolic flux analysis 5) Metabolic pathways in practice The laboratory session includes: 1) Gene synthesis and amplification 2) Gene cloning 3) Protein expression and purification 4) Bioconversion/Biosynthesis 5) Independent projects


Syllabus