BioBuilder: Synthetic Biology in the Lab

Today’s synthetic biologists are in the early stages of engineering living cells to help treat diseases, sense toxic compounds in the environment, and produce valuable drugs. With this manual, you can be part of it. Based on the BioBuilder curriculum, this valuable book provides open-access, modular, hands-on lessons in synthetic biology for secondary and post-secondary classrooms and laboratories. It also serves as an introduction to the field for science and engineering enthusiasts.

Developed at MIT in collaboration with award-winning high school teachers, BioBuilder teaches the foundational ideas of the emerging synthetic biology field, as well as key aspects of biological engineering that researchers are exploring in labs throughout the world. These lessons will empower teachers and students to explore and be part of solving persistent real-world challenges.

• Learn the fundamentals of biodesign and DNA engineering
• Explore important ethical issues raised by examples of synthetic biology
• Investigate the BioBuilder labs that probe the design-build-test cycle
• Test synthetic living systems designed and built by engineers
• Measure several variants of an enzyme-generating genetic circuit
• Model "bacterial photography" that changes a strain’s light sensitivity
• Build living systems to produce purple or green pigment
• Optimize baker’s yeast to produce ?-carotene

About the Authors

Natalie Kuldell is an Instructor in the Department of Biological Engineering at MIT as well as Founder and President of the BioBuilder Educational Foundation. She is an invited speaker at meetings all over the country, ranging from the TEDxBermuda conference in 2013 to national meetings for educators such as NSTA and scientists such as AAAS.

Rachel Bernstein writes about all areas of science for educational and journalistic venues. She has written news articles for Science, Nature, Cell, and the Los Angeles Times and contributes to the online educational resource Visionlearning.

Karen Ingram is an artist who uses design and creative direction to promote scientific awareness. A veteran in the world of digital design, Ingram has worked for Campfire, McCann Erikson, and UNICEF, to name a few. Her work has appeared in many publications including.

Kathryn M. Hart is a research instructor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at Washington University in Saint Louis and a Master Teacher for the BioBuilder Educational Foundation