NAT809: Assembling minimal living systems (5 ECTS)

STADS: 07010501

Level
Master's level course

Teaching period
The course is offered in the autumn semester.

Teacher responsible
Email: email:steen@sdu.dk

Timetable
There is no timetable available for the chosen semester.

Comment:
AFLYST E2015.

Prerequisites:
Bachelor's degree.

Academic preconditions:
Basic knowledge of physics and chemistry as well as rudimentary laboratory or programming experience. This course is intended for nanobioscience, physics, chemistry, pharmacy and robotics students, but is also suitable for e.g. molecular biology, biology and computer science students.

Course introduction
This course is intended as an introduction to the physics and chemistry of Artificial Life, including Synthetic Biology and self-replicating computational- and 3D printing systems. We explore the functional nature of minimal living systems in order to create an understanding of life itself. With an understanding of fundamental concepts of living systems, we investigate various ideas, concepts and attempts to create life in the laboratory, mainly focused on physicochemically based protocells but also within technological systems. Lectures will introduce the main science and engineering ideas, approaches, and accomplishments as well as outline current research directions of this field. Through a small individual project the students will develop some in depth knowledge in a narrow area chosen in consultation with one of the teachers. Furthermore, the students will be actively involved in their knowledge acquisition through mandatory readings of relevant research papers and the presentation of one or two papers related to their project.. 

Through the individual project, the students will develop his/her ability to propose and carry out actual research in the relevant area. Further, the students will be getting a broad overview of the subject through the presentation and discussion hours, which are mandatory.

The individual project is chosen together with one of the course teachers and can e.g. be selected as a problem from:

• Origin of life / Astrobiology
• Protocell assembly
• Self-replicating computational systems and simulations
• 3D printing of 3D printers

The courser will both prepare the students for research within these areas, and expose them to novel methodologies developed to investigate and construct living and life-like systems with broad application ranges in nanoscience, bio- and information technology, computing, pharmacy, novel materials and robotics.

Expected learning outcome
At the end of the course, the student is expected to be able to:

• Explain the physicochemical properties of the molecules used in protocell design and how these properties contribute to protocell processes.
• Explain the interplay between the parts in a simple living system, including the possibilities for implementing self-replicating robots and 3D printers.
• Explain the role of autocatalysis, self-assembly, self-organization and energetics in minimal living systems.
• Explain the subject of their individual project and its significance in the field.
• Carry out initial experiments with the advice of appropriate supervisors. Interpret results and their relevance with respect to the larger context, i.e., what might the end result be? What would be the next experiment?
• Write a report in the form of a short article.

Subject overview
This course is based on a series of lectures, student activities (short presentations) and a project (with laboratory/computer work and a report) to be chosen from a series of proposed subjects that cover the research area. Students will become familiar with the emerging field of living technology, construction of new living materials and systems with life-like properties both theoretically and experimentally.

Literature

Oplyses senere.

Website
This course uses e-learn (blackboard).

Prerequisites for participating in the exam
None

Assessment and marking:
Oral examination based on report (50%) as well as reading and discussion of articles (50%). Evaluated by internal censorship by the danish 7 mark scale (5 ECTS).

Reexamination in the same exam period or immediately thereafter. The examination type at reexamination may differ from the one at the ordinary examination.

Expected working hours
The teaching method is based on three phase model.
Intro phase: 13 hours
Skills training phase: 34 hours, hereof:
 - Laboratory exercises: 34 hours

Educational activities

Language
This course is taught in English.

Remarks
This course is designed to teach masters students (800 level). Undergraduates can participate only by application to the study board.

Course enrollment
See deadline of enrolment.

Tuition fees for single courses
See fees for single courses.