BCHM 320 Applications of Synthetic Biology

Winter 2025 (On-Campus)

Year 3

10-11 hours/week

3 units

Available

On-Campus Course

Applications of Synthetic Biology provides students with a comprehensive overview of designing and developing biological ‘parts’ (genes) to use for applications including but not limited to medical, artistry, and agricultural – with special emphasis regarding ethical use. Students will learn and can expand their entrepreneurial skills through website design and grant writing assessments. Moreover, students will be taught concepts such as DNA cloning methods, computational modelling of biological parts, and developing biological assays to assess function of a synthetic part. Successful completion of this course will prepare students to use components of synthetic biology/genetic engineering in their future endeavours.

Prerequisites

Minimum 3rd year (Level 3) standing, and one of (BCHM 218; BCHM 270; BIOL 205).

Learning Outcomes

After completing BCHM 320, students will be able to:

Compose a synthetic biological part to solve a real-world problem (including but not limited to medicine, artistry, and agricultural applications).
Design a methodology to clone, express, purify, and functionally assess a protein, starting with a gene.
Predict the properties of a biological part using computational modelling and computer aided visual tools.
Debate the usage and ethical considerations of synthetic biology in everyday life.
Integrate synthetic biology methodologies with the central dogma of molecular biology.
Communicate the necessity and requirements of a research project by scientific writing.

Evaluations

Assessment 1. Active Learning Session Activities– 10%

Students will be required to participate in active learning sessions throughout the course. These may include completing pre-learning session readings, answering questions as a group, or participating in case study exercises such as debates.

Assessment 2. Grant Proposal – 20%

The ability to communicate one’s scientific project with others is vital as a researcher and may take the form of writing a grant proposal. Individually, students will identify a need for a biological part (e.g., adding anti-freeze gene to an apple seed). Using appropriate literature, students will present the topic background, design a short, yet reasonable methodology to execute the project, and provide a hypothesis.

Assessment 3. Mock ‘DNA Ordering’ Exercise – 15%

Ordering DNA fragments, designing vectors to use these inserts, and primers for amplification, is an essential technique in synthetic biology. Students will work individually in this assignment. Provided with a DNA insert fragment, students will be asked to select a vector; describe antibiotic selection, add a fusion tag, purification tag, and design primers to amplify the insert fragment. Students will be also asked to design primers to perform site directed mutagenesis and introduce a mutation in the DNA fragment.

Assessment 4. Protein Purification Assignment – 15%

Purifying an untagged protein from a crude lysate is a tricky task for even experienced scientists. With the online tool ProtParam, students will predict the properties of their protein sequence assigned by the instructor.

Assessment 5. Group Bio-Startup Website- 40%

Groups (3-4 students) will select a biological part/project idea from one of their group members’ previous grant proposal (Assignment 2). Using an easy-to-use online website designer, groups will construct a plasmid to express/purify the part, describe a method to functionally assess the part, briefly model the part computationally, and debate the ethics of using the part. Groups are expected to apply the principles of engineering in synthetic biology, such as design refinement to improve the part. Through developing a two-minute project summary video as a group, and receiving feedback from classmates, students will build their scientific communication skillset.

Time Commitment

Students can expect to spend on average 10 – 11 hours a week in lectures, online study/activities, and assessments for BCHM 320.