Harvard:Biophysics 101/2007

February 6: updated with new assignment and FAQ.

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 personal genomics and/or biofuels). 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.

Potential course projects

Earth 2.0

• Analytic: Bioweather map. Collection and use of real-time assays to track virus outbreaks, etc.
• Synthetic: Bioenergy. Integrated metabolic, genetic, economic, process, environmental modeling.

H. sapiens 2.0

• Analytic: Personal Genome Project. What could we do with a ten (or a million) full genome (or exome) sequences?
• Synthetic: Cell therapies – See http://www.synberc.org/testbeds.html#cancerkiller for more info

Logistics

• Meeting time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00—11:30 am
• First class Thu 1-Feb-2007.
• Location: Barker Center, Room 316
• No exams
• No prerequisites
• Grading
  • 25% Participation
  • 25% Personal wiki page (weekly assignments)
  • 25% 5-minute presentations
  • 25% Contribution to group project

Background Info and previous class projects

• 2005
• 2003 and earlier