Harvard:Biophysics 101/2009

FALL 2009 Course overview
Focuses on modern technologies with exponential growth and their impact on global quality of life through weekly updated Wiki class project (in-depth case studies on synthetic biology and personal genomics). Integrating knowledge, tools for research, and commercial decision-making concerning new aspects of bioengineering, personalized medicine, genetically modified organisms, and stem cells. Interplays of biophysical, ecological, economic, and social/ethical modeling will be explored through multi-disciplinary teams of students, and individual brief reports.

This course can be cross-registered through MIT under HST.510

Potential course projects
Synthetic Biology for Personalized Medicine (H. sapiens 2.0)
 * Diagnostics: Disease Risk Calculator web-tool that incorporates family history, lifestyle risk, and individual genotype. Trait-o-matic and PGP.
 * Prevention: Bioweather map. Collection and use of real-time assays to track virus outbreaks, etc.
 * Treatment: Tumor Killing Bacteria and Stem cell therapies.

Logistics

 * Meeting time: Tue & Thu 4:00-5:30pm
 * Location: HMS, TMEC L-007 (Tosteson Medical Education Building, Lower Level, Room 007)
 * First class meets on Sept 3, 2009
 * No exams
 * No prerequisites
 * Grading: Based on problem assignments and project milestones.

Previous Course Links

 * 2007
 * 2005
 * 2003 and earlier
 * Publications resulting from class projects

Documentation
Please visit the Documentation page for organized information on the group project.