2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Synthetic Biology
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Tomoaki Matsuura / Kosuke Fujishima / Yasunori Aizawa / Naohiro Terasaka / Liam M Longo
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue / 1-2 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A356
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
With the recent development of biotechnology, it has become possible to artificially design and engineer living systems. Research in this field is known as synthetic biology. In this lecture, we will learn the basic techniques in the field of synthetic biology, how they have led to the understanding of living systems, and how they are being implemented in society.
Course description and aims
Students will be able to discuss the basic concepts, fundamental technologies, and their importance in the field of synthetic biology. In other words, the student will be able to discuss the importance of creating biological systems that can be understood by creating them and that contribute to social implementation, using actual examples.
Keywords
Transcriptional networks, genome editing technology, genome synthesis, unnatural amino acids and nucleic acids, artificial cells, evolutionary engineering, biotechnology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The lecture will be given in person. Students are expected to download the materials necessary for the lecture from OCW before attending the lecture.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Synthetic biology: the study of synthesizing organisms | To be able to give an overview of synthetic biology. |
| Class 2 | DNA to proteins | Learn how the information is transferred from DNA to RNA and from RNA to protein. |
| Class 3 | Transcription network | What is a network motif FFL Network Motifs |
| Class 4 | Fundamentals of Protein Structure and Stability | Understand how proteins fold and retain stability |
| Class 5 | Computational Protein Design | Learn to design protein molecules using machine learning and AI |
| Class 6 | Directed evolution in vitro | Able to explain the techniques and research examples for evolving nucleic acids and proteins in vitro. |
| Class 7 | Nucleic acid engineering in vitro | Able to explain the techniques and analytical methods used to utilize natural and unnatural nucleic acid molecules in vitro, as well as research using these techniques |
| Class 8 | Protein engineering in vitro | Able to give an overview of cell-free translation systems and explain the research using them. |
| Class 9 | synthesizing cells | Give an overview of research on creating artificial cells. |
| Class 10 | Modification of biological systems at the Genomic level | Able to explain genomic DNA engineering for modifying and controlling cells and individual organisms. Able to explain the social impact of genome modification technologies. |
| Class 11 | Modification of biological systems at the transcriptional level | Able to explain technologies to modify and control cells at the transcriptional level and metabolic circuit. |
| Class 12 | Modification of biological systems at the metabolic circuit level | Able to explain bioengineering to modify and control cellular metabolic circuits |
| Class 13 | Synthetic Biology and Ethics | Able to explain the two aspects of synthetic biology: convenience and danger. |
| Class 14 | Future of synthetic biology + final exam | The written examination will be conducted in person. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Synthetic Biology, (Springer International Publishing, Ediotrs, Anton Glieder, Christian P. Kubicek , Diethard Mattanovich , Birgit Wiltschi and Michael Sauer)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grades are based on assignments and final examinations.
Related courses
- LST.A203 ： Biochemistry I
- LST.A218 ： Biochemistry II
- LST.A208 ： Molecular Biology I
- LST.A213 ： Molecular Biology II
- LST.A248 ： Molecular Genetics
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of biology is desirable, but not required.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Matsuura（matsuura_tomoaki[at]elsi.jp)
Aizawa（yaizawa[at]bio.titech.ac.jp）
Fujishima（fuji[at]elsi.jp）
Terasaka (nterasaka[at]elsi.jp)
Longo (llongo[at]elsi.jp)
Office hours
Email the faculty in advance.