Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic Biology is a new STEM summer workshop for students entering grades 10–12 who have completed DNA Science (or AP® Biology). Participants will explore how scientists design and build new biological systems by programming living cells to do things they would never do in nature. This camp sits at the cutting edge of modern biotechnology, connecting molecular biology, engineering, and computer science. Each day, students will build on the skills they gained in DNA Science to take on more complex challenges. They will learn cutting-edge gene-editing methods, and construct a fully functional, synthetic chromosome using the same techniques that created the first ever synthetic genome.

Students will:

• extract and amplify large regions of DNA from bacteria;
• introduce mutations into fluorescent protein genes and assemble new plasmids;
• use nanopore sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to verify DNA designs;
• generate harmless viruses from genomic DNA in a cell-free system.

This camp is a great fit for:

Students who completed DNA Science and want to see its applications, anyone interested in bioengineering or computational biology, and students who enjoy building and designing systems.