BIOSS Practical
Course 2012
Synthetic Biology and
Signalling
This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to Synthetic Biology, a rapidly expanding discipline at the borderline between life sciences and engineering. The participants will become familiar with the key concepts of Synthetic Biology, of how biologic systems with desired properties can be constructed in a rational and predictive way. At the example of synthetic genetic networks and signaling cascades, the participants will design their own synthetic biologic system and subsequently implement and analyze it in cell-free systems as well as in higher eukaryotic backgrounds like mammalian cell culture. The profound theoretical and practical background on Synthetic Biology concepts will be complemented by lectures from external specialists providing an overview of how such synthetic approaches can provide novel solutions to imminent challenges in the health and environmental sector.
Course objectives:
- Familiarization with Synthetic Biology
- Designing synthetic biological networks and signaling cascades
- Cultivation and transfection of mammalian cells
- Analyzing signaling processes and gene expression in mammalian cells (reporter enzymes, immunological methods, FACS)
- Cell-free systems for the reconstruction of signaling cascades
- Overview of Synthetic Biology applications in the health and environment sector