Checking date: 24/04/2024


Course: 2024/2025

Biophysics 2: Systems and synthetic biology. Computational biology
(18319)
Bachelor in Engineering Physics (Plan: 434 - Estudio: 363)


Coordinating teacher: LEON CANSECO, CARLOS

Department assigned to the subject: Bioengineering Department

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
It is recomended to have completed satisfactorily Biophysics 1: Molecular, celular and tissular physics biology, Biología física molecular, celular y tisular
Objectives
CB1. Students have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in a field of study that builds upon their general secondary education, and is typically at a level that, whilst supported by advanced textbooks, includes some aspects that will be informed by knowledge of the forefront of their field of study CB2. Students can apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to their work or vocation, and have competences typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within their field of study CB3. Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) to inform judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues CB4. Students can communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences CB5. Students have developed those learning skills that are necessary for them to continue to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy CG2. Learn new methods and technologies from basic scientific and technical knowledge, and being able to adapt to new situations. CG3. Solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity, and communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities, understanding the ethical, social and professional responsibility of the engineering activity. Capacity for leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. CG5. Use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the definition, approach and resolution of problems in the framework of the exercise of their profession. CG7. Undertake further specialized studies, both in physics and in the various branches of engineering. CE11. Analyze biological systems as complex systems, know the concepts of synthetic biology and apply the latest developments in biomaterials and biofabrication techniques, including bioprinting techniques. CT1. Work in multidisciplinary and international teams as well as organize and plan work making the right decisions based on available information, gathering and interpreting relevant data to make judgments and critical thinking within the area of study. RA1. To have acquired sufficient knowledge and proved a sufficiently deep comprehension of the basic principles, both theoretical and practical, and methodology of the more important fields in science and technology as to be able to work successfully in them; RA2. To be able, using arguments, strategies and procedures developed by themselves, to apply their knowledge and abilities to the successful solution of complex technological problems that require creating and innovative thinking; RA3. To be able to search for, collect and interpret relevant information and data to back up their conclusions including, whenever needed, the consideration of any social, scientific and ethical aspects relevant in their field of study; RA4. To be able to successfully manage themselves in the complex situations that might arise in their academic or professional fields of study and that might require the development of novel approaches or solutions; RA6. To be aware of their own shortcomings and formative needs in their field of specialty, and to be able to plan and organize their own training with a high degree of independence. In this course, students will learn about the foundational technologies and theory behind engineering biology. Students will study strategies for engineering cellular and molecular systems as well as, will explore current and future applications for synthetic biology and system biology approaches. Students will study how to build novel synthetic biological systems that solve practical biomedical problems. They will incorporate elements from many different disciplines including chemistry, biology, mathematics, physics and engineering.
Skills and learning outcomes
CB1. Students have demonstrated possession and understanding of knowledge in an area of study that builds on the foundation of general secondary education, and is usually at a level that, while relying on advanced textbooks, also includes some aspects that involve knowledge from the cutting edge of their field of study. CB2. Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study. CB3. Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements which include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues. CB4. Students should be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. CB5. Students will have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy. CG2. Learn new methods and technologies from basic scientific and technical knowledge, and being able to adapt to new situations. CG3. Solve problems with initiative, decision making, creativity, and communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities, understanding the ethical, social and professional responsibility of the engineering activity. Capacity for leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit. CG5. Use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the definition, approach and resolution of problems in the framework of the exercise of their profession. CG7. Undertake further specialized studies, both in physics and in the various branches of engineering. CE11. Analyze biological systems as complex systems, know the concepts of synthetic biology and apply the latest developments in biomaterials and biofabrication techniques, including bioprinting techniques. CT1. Work in multidisciplinary and international teams as well as organize and plan work making the right decisions based on available information, gathering and interpreting relevant data to make judgments and critical thinking within the area of study. RA1. To have acquired sufficient knowledge and proved a sufficiently deep comprehension of the basic principles, both theoretical and practical, and methodology of the more important fields in science and technology as to be able to work successfully in them. RA2. To be able, using arguments, strategies and procedures developed by themselves, to apply their knowledge and abilities to the successful solution of complex technological problems that require creating and innovative thinking. RA3. To be able to search for, collect and interpret relevant information and data to back up their conclusions including, whenever needed, the consideration of any social, scientific and ethical aspects relevant in their field of study. RA4. To be able to successfully manage themselves in the complex situations that might arise in their academic or professional fields of study and that might require the development of novel approaches or solutions. RA6. To be aware of their own shortcomings and formative needs in their field of specialty, and to be able to plan and organize their own training with a high degree of independence.
Description of contents: programme
1. Introduction to "omic" technologies 2. Omic integration and biomedical applications 3. Introduction to biological networks and Systems Biology. Analysis of collective properties in systems of interacting components 4. Gene regulatory and protein-protein interaction networks 5 Metabolic networks and disease networks 6. Introduction to Neurosciences: Modeling the brain and the nervous system 7. Introduction to Synthetic Biology. Synthetic Biology circuits 8. Modeling biological systems. Logic circuits. 9. Metabolic engineering. Minimal cells. 10. Biomedical applications of Synthetic Biology
Learning activities and methodology
AF1. THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL CLASSES. Knowledge and concepts students mustacquire. Receive course notes and will have basic reference texts.Students partake in exercises to resolve practical problems AF2. TUTORING SESSIONS. Individualized attendance (individual tutoring) or in-group (group tutoring) for students with a teacher.Subjects with 6 credits have 4 hours of tutoring/ 100% on- site attendance. AF3. STUDENT INDIVIDUAL WORK OR GROUP WORK.Subjects with 6 credits have 98 hours/0% on-site. AF8. WORKSHOPS AND LABORATORY SESSIONS. Subjects with 3 credits have 4 hours with 100% on-site instruction. Subjects with 6 credits have 8 hours/100% on-site instruction. AF9. FINAL EXAM. Global assessment of knowledge, skills and capacities acquired throughout the course. It entails 4 hours/100% on-site AF8. WORKSHOPS AND LABORATORY SESSIONS. Subjects with 3 credits have 4 hours with 100% on-site instruction. Subjects with 6 credits have 8 hours/100% on-site instruction. MD1. THEORY CLASS. Classroom presentations by the teacher with IT and audiovisual support in which the subject`s main concepts are developed, while providing material and bibliography to complement student learning MD2. PRACTICAL CLASS. Resolution of practical cases and problem, posed by the teacher, and carried out individually or in a group MD3. TUTORING SESSIONS. Individualized attendance (individual tutoring sessions) or in-group (group tutoring sessions) for students with teacher as tutor. Subjects with 6 credits have 4 hours of tutoring/100% on-site. MD6. LABORATORY PRACTICAL SESSIONS. Applied/experimental learning/teaching in workshops and laboratories under the tutor's supervision.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination 50
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 50

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • Natalie Kuldell PhD., Rachel Bernstein, Karen Ingram, Kathryn M Hart. Synthetic Biology in the Lab. BioBuilder. 2015
  • Uri Alon. An Introduction to Systems Biology: Design Principles of Biological Circuits. Chapman & Hall/CRC Mathematical and Computational Biology. 2006

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.