[Todos] EMBO Global Exchange Lecture Course: Introduction to synthetic biology

[Alejandro Nadra]

EMBO Global Exchange Lecture Course:
Introduction to synthetic biology

16 - 22 April 2012 | Buenos Aires | Argentina
Facultad de Cs. Exactas y Naturales - Universidad de Buenos Aires


The course aims to introduce students to the most important methods, 
strategies and challenges of Synthetic Biology.
Synthetic biology operates at the interface of systems biology, 
engineering, computer science, and classic molecular biology.
Synthetic biologists challenge the (often bewildering) complexity of 
nature by building new biological systems according to their
own specifications using clear-cut engineering principles and 
well-behaved off-the-shelf components.


  The course covers four grand topic areas: top-down approaches, 
bottom-up engineering, theory, and applications.

(1) From natural to synthetic complexity
Before engineering new circuits, we have to appreciate the organization 
and robustness of natural ones.
Modern high throughput methods give us an increasingly complete picture 
of genome, transcriptome and proteome dynamics.

(2) Engineering principles of bottom-up synthetic biology
The engineering of biological complexity from re-usable parts and 
devices is one of the most inspiring new ideas of synthetic biology.
Parts collections, assembly methods and measurement standards are now 
beginning to narrow the gap between a once radical vision and 
experimental reality.

(3) Life is computation
Theoretical models inspired by statistical physics or control theory 
shed light on principles governing biological networks and guide the 
design of synthetic information processing networks.

(4) Interfaces between synthetic and natural networks
Synthetic, domain-based, protein fusions and modular RNA switches 
promise the precise interception and manipulation of intracellular 
signaling.

(5) Challenges of synthetic biology
A round of discussions about the future of the field hopes to spark 
interest in the science, applications and social aspects of Synthetic 
Biology:
Garage bio-hackers ignite fears of uncontrolled hazards and Open Source 
activism challenges intellectual property.


The format is: one week, six speakers, 30 Ph.D students or postdocs. Our 
goal is to contribute to the development of Synthetic Biology in Latin 
America and the Caribbean.
Students working in the region or Latin American students working abroad 
will be given preference, but all applications are welcome


*CONFIRMED SPEAKERS*

Marc Güell, Harvard Medical School, USA
Roman Jerala, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Reshma Shetty, Ginkgo Bioworks, USA
Christina Smolke, Stanford University, USA
Ricard Solé, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Aleksandra Walczak, Ecole Normale Supérieure, France


APPLY ONLINE: https://www.conference-service.com/glc12-04/welcome.cgi

Deadline for applications: 22 December 2011
Selected participants will be contacted by 31 January 2012
Deadline for payment of registration fee: 15 February 2012

Registration fee: 25 Euros


*ORGANIZERS*

Alejandro Nadra, Biological Chemistry Dpt., School of Sciences, 
University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Raik Grünberg, IRIC, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Ignacio Sanchez, Biological Chemistry Dpt., School of Sciences, 
University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alejandro Colman-Lerner,  School of Sciences, University of Buenos 
Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina


*SUPPORT*

EMBO
UNU-BIOLAC
ANPCyT

Contact: synthbiol en gmail.com