2023-2024 / GBIO0016-1

Introduction to systems and synthetic biology

Duration

26h Th, 26h Pr

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Biomedical Engineering5 crédits 

Lecturer

Frank Delvigne, Philippe Jacques

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course  will give an introduction to systems and synthetic biology.
The part "introduction to systems biology" covers the emerging properties of dynamical systems, such as robustness, performance, complexity and optimality.
The topics of the theoretical parts on synthetic biology are:

  • historical overview of synthetic biology
  • tools and approaches in synthetic biology
  • DNA sequencing and building of "elementary bricks"
  • mathematical modelling
  • measurements (microscopy, flow cytometry)
  • design of metabolic pathways
  • design of regulatory systems
  • security, social and ethical aspects
The theoretical part will be followed by a synthetic biology projet consisting of modelling and an implementation in E.coli.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, the student will master basic concepts of systems and synthetic biology. He or she will be able to build virtually as well as in E. coli simple synthetic systems.

This course is taught in English, with support material available in English.

This course contributes to the learning outcomes II.1, II.2, III.1, III.3, IV.1, V.2, VI.2, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in biomedical engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

none

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on ex-cathedra lectures, and a laboratory project requiring the use of a computer for simulating biochemical reaction systems (Matlab or a software dedicated to simulating biological systems) as well as biological / biochemical manipulations.
This course is taught in English. Students may ask questions in French or English.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

The systems biology part is based on the book: Uri Alon « An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits », Chapman & Hall/CRC Mathematical & Computational Biology, 1996.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam


Additional information:

Detailed individual report (publication style) on the project (25%); oral examen (75%).

Participation in the project is a prerequisite for the final oral exam.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The course is organised in the second quadrimestre, at dates to be arranged.

Contacts

Frank DELVIGNE
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech Microcial Processes and Interactions Avenue de la Faculté 2B 5030 Gembloux  Tel 081 622309 F.Delvigne@uliege.be
 


 

Association of one or more MOOCs