BI3SB17-Synthetic Biology

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Slawomir Nasuto
Email: s.j.nasuto@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Synthetic biology is an exciting emerging interdisciplinary area where biology meets engineering. Molecular biology and genetic engineering allow us to probe and characterise biochemical pathways expressed in cellular machinery – the cascades of reactions utilised by cells to support their various functions. Genetic engineering allows us to link these reactions to the genetic code and understand which genes are involved and how they contribute to the expression of various proteins. Systems biology allows us to characterise such various cellular circuits in terms of their design principles. Synthetic biology treats such circuits with known characteristics as building blocks and applies engineering principles, combining elements of logical circuits from theory of computability with feedback circuits from control theory, in order to create synthetic constructs – cells that have been modified in order to perform useful functions designed by us.

Aims:

• To know and understand the molecular biology principles underpinning synthetic biology


• To become familiar with the experimental tools needed to characterise biological circuits


• To know and understand the genetic engineering principles underpinning synthetic biology


• To become familiar with the experimental tools needed to characterise and model the gene expression effects


• To understand the fundamental concepts of systems biology and how they are used in order to characterise the circuits


• To understand the fundamental concepts of logical circuits and control theory and how they are used in order to obtain required functions withdesired characteristics out of the basic building blocks


• To be able to apply such principles in practice (in a simulated biology environment)


• To understand wider implications of synthetic biology and its implications for healthcare


• To appreciate the ethical issues following from the use or misuse of synthetic biology

Assessable learning outcomes:

Intended learning outcomes:

• Understanding the principles underpinning synthetic biology


• Understanding the synthetic biology design cycle


• Ability to apply these concepts to a practical synthetic biology problem

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Ability to apply the synthetic design cycle to a practical synthetic biology problem


• Understanding of the societal impact of synthetic biology

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The module will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of synthetic biology. The first half of the module will consist of taught lectures covering the foundations including:

• principles of molecular biology and genetic engineering, practical tools used in order to probe and manipulate molecular circuits, an overview of the existing and characterised synthetic biology constructs and case studies illustrating the applications of synthetic biology, both in general and in healthcare context. (40% of taught element),


• basic systems biology methods of characterising such circuits (30% of taught element)


• elements of logical circuits and fundamentals of control theory that allow for systematic use of biological circuits as building blocks. (30% of taught element)

The second half of the module will be based on self-study and will consist of students applying the principles learned in the first half to solve a particular problem using the synthetic biology design cycle.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Taught lectures and practical case-based self-study

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Tutorials		8
Demonstration		2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		10
Wider reading (directed)		10
Advance preparation for classes		5
Preparation for presentations		5
Carry-out research project		30
Essay preparation		20
Total hours by term	0		0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	60
Oral assessment and presentation	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1. Presentations will happen on the last day of the spring term (Friday 27 March 2020)  and we would like students to submit them (PowerPoints) via the BlackBoard  on Thursday 26th March).


2. The essays deadline will be on Friday 24th April (4 weeks after the 1st assessment) – we would like the students to submit them on BlackBoard via Turnit in.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

100% written report

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 30 March 2023