Project status: Limited availability!

This course aims to immerse students in the fascinating world of synthetic biology, uncovering the secrets of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and the art of crafting genetic devices that push the boundaries of what living cells can achieve. These groundbreaking devices empower us to modify the behavior of living cells, enabling them to carry out functions beyond their natural capabilities. In essence, students will explore the exciting field of cell reprogramming, gaining hands-on knowledge of shaping living organisms for innovative purposes.

Block 1: Introduction to Synthetic Biology.

1. Basis of Synthetic biology.
2. Introduction to genetic device design.
3. Computational simulation of designed devices.
4. Introduction to basic safety standards in the laboratory.
5. Introduction to experimental DNA modification techniques:

1. CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
2. DNA cloning and bacterial transformation.
3. Cell culture.
4. Electrophoresis.
5. Scientific communication:

1. Scientific journals and bibliography search.
2. Scientific presentations and posters.

Block 2: Crafting a Cellular Biosensor System.

The objective is to engineer a cellular device capable of synthesizing a fluorescent protein in response to external signals. To accomplish this, students will need to:

1. Design the proposed genetic system.
2. Experimental construction and characterization in Escherichia coli

Block 3: Precision Gene Disruption with CRISPR/Cas9 Technology.

The objective is to acquire an understanding of how CRISPR technology facilitates modifications within the targeted DNA region, specifically in this case, by disrupting the coding sequence of specific genes. To accomplish this, students will need to:

1. Engineer each CRISPR/Cas9 component
2. Experimental construction and characterization in the selected cell type.

Practical work

Small workgroups will be organized for hands-on experimental work in the laboratory. Optionally, each group may choose to prepare a scientific poster showcasing their results, which will be presented to the rest of the students. The findings will be further discussed in a round table format, encouraging collaborative analysis and insights.

An integral component of the course entails continuous monitoring of students to evaluate their progress consistently throughout all sessions.

Learning objectives

General Learning Objectives:

• Enhance teamwork skills.
• Cultivate effective communication and dissemination capabilities.
• Acquire proficiency in working within a multidisciplinary field that merges engineering, mathematics, computer science, and biology.
• Foster patience and perseverance in the workplace.

Specific Learning Objectives:

• Adhere to basic laboratory safety standards.
• Develop competence in handling fundamental laboratory materials.
• Master the design of genetic devices.
• Understand the use of CRIPSR/Cas9 technology to achieve DNA modifications.
• Utilize computational simulation methods for experimental design.
• Acquire proficiency in genetic manipulation techniques.
• Gain expertise in the preparation of posters and delivery of scientific presentations.

Matching profiles

This project is designed for students who possess:

• Elevated curiosity and a capacity to engage in multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong teamwork skills.
• Foundational knowledge in computer sciences, mathematics, and biology.
• Demonstrated creativity.
• High motivation in both scientific and engineering pursuits.

Required materials

• Laptop
• Lab coat (provided)

During this project, we aim to mimic the long process that starts with basic research all the way to the clinical application of the knowledge gained. We can divide the project into three main steps. First, we will learn about many different genetic tools researchers can use to study the putative genes involved in tumor formation. Second, we will hypothesize, based on the published literature, on the genes and processes implicated in tumorigenesis. Finally, we will propose a working model and search for a way to revert the phenotypes of this disease.

Our starting point will be to learn about the history of the fruit fly in research and understand the particularities of its biology. Nonetheless, this will be a full hands-on experience so we will also explain how to handle the flies, and which are the most important and interesting genetic tools that can be used to manipulate the genome of this model organism.

Students will also be taught how to search for information about cancer, the genes that are involved in this disease, and the main pathways responsible for the tumorigenesis process. From this, they will discover which databases they should use to find the best scientific publications and also repositories that store information about Drosophila melanogaster.

We will also take advantage of established Drosophila melanogaster transgenic flies that express disease-related genes. Using a well-established genetic tool, we will be able to express these genes in specific populations in order to study their effects. To examine the phenotypes shown by the diseased flies and to compare them with that of healthy flies, we will use various techniques such as immunostaining. In order to visualize our immunostainings, we will also go over the basics of confocal microscopy and we will use cutting-edge confocal microscopes. As the last step, students will analyze all the data obtained and perform statistical analysis in order to draw conclusions and acquire new critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They will formulate hypothesizes and think about strategies to decrease or abolish disease related phenotypes, as they do so, they will learn how to perform rescue experiments in order to test their proposed questions. The conclusions obtained from this kind of basic research studies are the first stone of the common ground for later application to humans, to the ultimate benefit of society.

Learning objectives

• Stimulate critical and structured thinking and problem solving abilities
• Learn how to plan experiments and generate hypothesis
• Learn how to work with a model organism (Drosophila flies) to address different issues in biology: classical genetics, generation and use of mutant and transgenic flies
• Understand the processes that lead to tumorigenesis
• Extrapolate the obtain results in a model organism to what happens in a human context
• Be in contact with real techniques performed in labs nowadays (dissections in vivo, immunostainings, advanced microscopy, image processing, statistics, mutant CRISPR generation, genomic PCR and sequencing…)
• Undestand the work behind research: idealization of the project, posing questions and hypothesis, analysis of data and crafting a presentation (storytelling)
• Learn how to work in a group

Required materials

Labcoat and laptop

Can today’s agriculture and food systems feed a world population that is projected to reach more than 9 billion by 2050? This is the 21st century challenge for agriculture: to produce more and better food to feed a growing population with a smaller arable land. To achieve this goal, we will need to increase food production by 70% by 2050 in a sustainable manner.

For thousands of years, farmers have selected crops based on their visible characteristics -the phenotype-. A slow process known as conventional breeding was approached to convert plants that compete well in the wild into plants that perform well in agriculture, producing an important decrease in genetic diversity.

How can 21^st century plant scientists help breeders and farmers to obtain more productive crops that, at the same time, are adapted to a changing environment? How can we solve the genetic bottleneck? The answer is in genomics research. In this project you will study the DNA of horticultural species in depth, using molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques, as well as cutting-edge technologies for genome editing such as CRISPR-Cas.

You will face the challenge of identifying the melon genes underlying different phenotypes, mainly variations in the ripening process and the carotenoid content. You will need to use genetic maps and molecular markers (SSR, SNPs), extract DNA and perform PCR reactions to uncover the genetic variability behind the studied traits. You will also apply bioinformatics tools to pinpoint the unknown genes. Finally, you will design a strategy, based on genome editing, to produce a melon with the desired phenotypic qualities.

With this challenge, you will learn about genomics and you will be able to propose solutions to a real agricultural challenge -the post-harvest loss due to early ripening-, and to produce vegetables with healthier nutrients –carotenoids–.

Join this project and be part of a real agriculture case investigation!

Learning objectives

• To discover the latest molecular biology and genomics tools, used in plant breeding research as well as in other disciplines that make an extensive use of the molecular biology.
• To learn about the cutting-edge biotechnology that is behind the food we eat.
• To think as a researcher. In particular, at the end of the project you should be able to predict a phenotype using molecular markers and to identify candidate genes for important agronomic traits.

Matching profiles

Biotechnology, genetics, biology, agriculture

Required materials

Laptop, labcoat