BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Design Assignment

{{Template:BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers| Content= PDF of this page

Teacher Considerations
Using the bacterial photography system as inspiration, this assignment asks the students (individually or in groups) to use their imagination as they propose a design for a genetic system. The emphasis is on the decisions made by engineers during the planning of the design process and not on the genetics. The students are asked to consider existing technologies, risk, reward, and testing. Of course, they are expected to imagine a genetic system that will make a significant contribution to life on earth. You can worry about its feasibility later.

Readings (just a sample)
Some background readings to learn about synthetic biology, its goals and projects. You may wish to provide your students with these resources.

What is synthetic biology?([[Media:What is Synthetic Biology Davidson.pdf| pdf]]) A Life of Its Own ([[Media:Synthetic biology and evolution The New Yorker09.pdf| pdf]]) Our Synthetic Futures Handmade Biology Synthetic Biology: Tools to Design, Build, and Optimize Cellular Processes Ars synthetica

You may wish to see the type of projects that college synthetic biology students have designed as part of the iGEM Competition. Please keep in mind that these projects put a much greater emphasis on the actual design of the genetic system than is intended by this assignment. How to Make Life Life Reinvented
 * plus some links to older articles:

Navigation

 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Lab 1
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Lab 2
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Lab 3
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Lab 4
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Essay
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Design Assignment
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Glossary
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Teachers: Teacher's resource room
 * BioBuilding: Synthetic Biology for Students
 * [|back to BioBuilder]

}}