Description
Course content will encompass lectures covering the key topics of synthetic biology that are currently, or may in future be, applied to challenges in industrial biotechnology and bioprocessing of biopharmaceuticals. Fundamental elements of what currently defines synthetic biology will be explained and explored. These elements will include concepts such as the standardisation of molecular biology techniques and resources (BioBricksTM), and the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition. Further topics will include introduction to areas relevant to:
- Industrial challenges in 'green' biosynthesis of high-value small molecules and biofuels; modelling of metabolic pathways, flux analysis of metabolism, pathway engineering, protein design, de novo pathway design and construction
- Cell-engineering for improved bioprocessing; design and modelling of novel genetic circuits, whole genome editing and construction, novel chassis and hosts.
- Engineering biological systems; mathematical modelling of synthetic gene networks
Upon completion of the course, a student should be able to:
- Acquire knowledge of commercial applications of Synthetic Biology and understand how these arise from interdisciplinary research
- Appreciate how to link information from different biological contexts can be used to build and design new elements, pathways, cells and systems
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 19th August 2024.
Ìý