BME-476-davidlin-2026-09-16-06-03-08
Title of Course: Synthetic Biology and Microbial Engineering
Prefix and Number: BME 476
Semester and Year: tbd
Number of Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: BME 455 with C or better
Course Details
Day and Time: tbd
Meeting Location: tbd
Instructor Contact Information
Instructor Name: tbd
Instructor Contact Information: tbd
Instructor Office Hours: tbd
TA Name: tbd
TA Contact Information: tbd
TA Office Hours: tbd
Course Description
Introduction to the principles and tools used to understand, analyze, and engineer microbial systems across multiple biological scales. Examples will highlight applications in health, sustainability, biomanufacturing, and environmental biotechnology.
Course Materials
Books: none
Other Materials: none
Fees: none
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Course Learning Outcomes (students will be able to:) |
Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes | Assessment of the Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| Understand foundational concepts in biochemistry, metabolism, microbial growth, energetics, and metabolic diversity. | Lecture, homework, exams, projects | Homework, exams, projects |
| Understand genomics, microbial systems analysis, metagenomics, and microbiome analysis. | Lecture, homework, exams, projects | Homework, exams, projects |
| Understand approaches for modifying and programming microbial functions, including genetic engineering, genome editing, synthetic biology, genetic circuits, biosensors, metabolic engineering, and directed evolution. |
Lecture, homework, exams, projects |
Homework, exams, projects |
| Understand microbial decision-making and collective behaviors, including cell-cell signaling, biofilms, microbial interactions, synthetic communities, and microbiome engineering. |
Lecture, homework, exams, projects |
Homework, exams, projects |
| Dates | Lesson Topic | Assignment | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Introduction and course logistics Biochemistry, metabolism, growth, energetics |
Lecture
|
|
|
Week 2 |
Microbial metabolic diversity |
Lecture Project selection |
|
|
Week 3 |
Genomics and microbial systems analysis |
Lecture HW 1 |
HW 1 |
|
Week 4 |
Metagenomics and microbiome analysis |
Lecture
|
Project: literature survey Quiz |
|
Week 5 |
Genetic engineering and genome editing |
Lecture
|
Project outline |
|
Week 6 |
Synthetic biology: genetic circuits and biosensors |
Lecture Work on project Quiz 2
|
Quiz 2 |
|
Week 7 |
Metabolic engineering
|
Lecture Work on project
|
|
|
Week 8 |
Directed evolution |
Lecture Work on project HW 2 |
HW 2 |
|
Week 9 |
Case study: Engineering BphS |
Lecture Work on project |
|
|
Week 10 |
Cell-cell signaling and microbial decision-making
|
Lecture Work on project HW 3 Quiz 3 |
Quiz 3, HW 3 |
|
Week 11 |
Biofilms and multicellular microbial systems |
Lecture Work on project |
|
|
Week 12 |
Microbial interactions and synthetic communities |
Lecture Work on project HW 4
|
HW 4 |
|
Week 13 |
Microbiome engineering |
Lecture Work on project |
Quiz 4 |
|
Week 14 |
Biosafety, ethics, and emerging technologies |
Lecture Work on project |
|
|
Week 15 |
Student presentation & discussion |
Student presentation & discussion |
Project report and presentation |
Expectations for Student Effort
For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class.
Grading
| Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) | Points | Percent of Overall Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Project assignments | 40% | |
| Homeworks | 40% | |
| Quizzes | 20% |
| Grade | Percent | Grade | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| A |
>92 |
C | 73-76 |
| A- | 90-91 | C- | 70-72 |
| B+ | 87-89 | D+ | 67-69 |
| B | 83-86 | D | 60-66 |
| B- | 80-82 | F | <60 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
Numerical grades will be rounded to the nearest integer value.
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.
Academic Integrity Statement
You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:
-Receive an "F" as the course grade
-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards
-Have the right to appeal my decision
-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished
If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.
If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.