Synthetic and Systems Biology A
Code
11187
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Química
Credits
3.0
Teacher in charge
Ana Margarida Palma Teixeira
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
i) To acquire a solid background in fundamental concepts of this new interdisciplinary field;
ii) To learn the state-of-the-art experimental techniques to measure omic data;
iii) To understand how Systems Biology advances our understanding of fundamental cellular processes, and its importance for biomedicine;
iv) To learn introductory concepts of Synthetic Biology, including the basic circuitry in transcription regulation and signal transduction;
v) To understand how synthetic networks can be built and tested in cells;
vi) To learn cutting-edge biomedical applications of Synthetic Biology.
Subject matter
1) Basic concepts in Systems Biology;
2) Omics high-throughput techniques and data analysis;
3) Metabolic, transcriptional regulatory and signaling networks;
4) Molecular networks in stem cell pluripotency and differentiation;
5) Molecular networks in cancer biology;
6) Basic concepts in Synthetic Biology;
7) Experimental approaches in Synthetic Biology;
8) Basic network motifs, including switches and oscillators;
9) Synthetic metabolic networks;
10) Synthetic gene networks;
11) Biomedical applications of Synthetic Biology.
Bibliography
No textbooks are required for this course. The course material is composed of recent research and review papers selected by the teacher. The review papers are intended to provide an overview about each topic and will be incorporated into the lectures by the teacher. The research papers will be used to facilitate in-depth discussions about cutting-edge methods and approaches.
Teaching method
This course includes lectures and theoretical/practical classes. It will focus on papers that made significant conceptual contributions to Systems and Synthetic Biology. Research papers will be discussed during classroom sessions, and topics will include experimental methodology, principles of experimental design, data analysis and interpretation.
Evaluation method
Grades will be based on student participation in classroom discussions (15%), and completion of assignments (25%), presentations and a written final examination (60%).