ENGINEERING TRIPOS PART IIA - 2012/2013
Module 3G1
Introduction to Molecular Bioengineering
Leader: Dr Gos Micklem, Dr. Jim Ajioka
Assessment:The lecture material will be solely assessed by a written
examination (1.5 hours) at the start of the Easter term and coursework
derived from the laboratory classes.
Timing: Michaelmas term
Prerequisites: This is an introductory course that assumes no prior
knowledge of biology beyond GCSE level.
Structure: 16 lectures, 1 laboratory class.
This is an intensive introductory level undergraduate course targeted
at third year Engineering students. This course will be delivered
through lectures and a laboratory class.
AIMS
The course will provide a basic grounding in key aspects of molecular
bioscience with an emphasis on bioscience engineering..
- Common features of living systems
- Cellular structure and metabolism
- Metabolic engineering
- Key experimental methods
- Genetic Engineering
- Genome sequencing, genomics and key computational methods
- Synthetic Biology
Further details and online resources
SYLLABUS
This course will introduce those elements of molecular biology that are relevant to further
study in bioscience and engineering applications.
Lecturers
Dr Gos Micklem and Dr. Jim Ajioka with one or two
specialist guest lectures.
Lecture Number
- 1-3 Overview/ introduction - why engineer living systems?
Life: cells to organisms
- 4-5 Central dogma of molecular biology,
Gene regulation
- 6-7 Genetic engineering I:
basic parts, methods and terminology
- 8-10 Cellular metabolism
Catabolism/ anabolism,
Core molecular types,
Metabolic engineering
Principles and case studies
- 11-12 Genetic engineering II:
further methods
cases studies
- 13-15 Genomics,
Genome sequencing/ annotation/ key computational methods,
Functional studies
Gene expression/ regulatory networks,
Perturbation studies
- 16 Synthetic biology
Laboratory Practical
Objectives
On completion of the course students will:
- - understand the potential of engineering living systems
- - understand key common features of living systems
- - have a basic understanding of cellular metabolism and examples of
metabolic engineering
- - understand the basics of gene control and expression, concentrating
on systems more commonly used in biotechnology
- -have basic knowledge of what is feasible with genetic engineering,
the key underlying technology and case studies
- - understand the impact of the latest methods of genome sequencing,
genome analysis, and genome-scale experimental methods including
perturbation studies
- - have been introduced to the emerging field of synthetic biology that
aims to rationally engineer biological systems
- - have direct experience of some basic experimental techniques
REFERENCES
Please see the Booklist for Part IIA Courses for references for this module
Last updated: May 2012
teaching-office@eng.cam.ac.uk
