After successful completion of the course, students are able to explain what Synthetic biolgy is, to estimate which potential this scientifc field has, and to understand some of the methods used as well as their possible applications.
Topics:
i) Newly constructed DNA (synthetic promoters, transcription factors, ribo-swithches, aptamers, DNA walker, DNA machines)
ii) extending the genetic code
iii) constructing orthogonal ribosome - mRNA pairs
iv) enzyme design (domain suffling, scaffold proteins, directed evolution)
v) pathway design
vi) design of signaling casscades (repressilator, oscilator, metabolator, multicellular circuits
vii) complete genome synthesis ("minimal organisms")
viii) geneome reconstruction
ix) simulation of complex biological networks ("in silico exeriments")
Introduction into terms and methods, discussion of applications by examples, explanation of the development and realization of a research project in this research field.
