Fall 2013 Syllabus
Biology 520
Topics in Interdisciplinary Biology and
Biological Sciences (TiBBs)
Meets: Monday, 15:00-17:30
Week 1 to 5 meets in Castetter 51 (basement)
Weeks 6 to 16 meet in PiBBs Suite, Castetter 1424
Summary
This course presents and discusses recent work in biological science that bridges
scientific disciplines, integrates different approaches, and demonstrates the effectiveness
of collaborative research. This year, units will be taught by individuals from Biology,
Computer Science, and Information Technology.
Unit 1: Introduction to Molecular Computing and Nanotechnology
Instructor: Dr. Darko Stefanovic
Students will attend the first 4 weeks of Dr. Stefanovic’s semester-long Introduction to
Molecular Computing and Nanotechnology course (CS591). This seminar examines
recent developments in molecular computing and other related DNA nanotechnology.
Following an introductory sequence of lectures, students will read, present, and discuss
current research papers.
Unit 2: Data Management
Instructors: Multiple
Students and professors can feel overwhelmed with the amount of data that is being
generated, and struggle with how to deal with it. This unit focuses on the ethics of good
data keeping, what file formats and tools are available, and will encourage students to
generate an example data-plan document. Students will select a specific research project
(their own research, or an existing research case they select) and develop a Data
Management Plan(DMP) for the project. The DMP will include a Federal agency
compliant document, that would be suitable for submission with a grant application;
students will then write detailed specifications for the plan that describe how data will be
handled and managed at each stage of the research lifecycle. The final specification
would be sufficiently complete to use as a training aid for colleagues and graduate
assistants who are just starting on the project.
Unit 3: DDT is Good for Me—How Monsanto became a “Life Science”
Company.
Instructors: Dr. Sean T. Hammond, Dr. John Hammond
In this unit, we’ll use primary literature (book chapters, scientific papers, etc.) to examine
how a chemical company best known for manufacturing Agent Orange and DDT remade
itself into a “Life Science” company. The goal is to better understand the cultural,
economic and technological drivers that made this transition possible. Along the way
we’ll look at why certain crops are modified.
Week
Date
Activity/Topic
Introduction to Molecular Computing and Nanotechnology
Lead by
1
13-08-19
Preliminaries; overview of unconventional
computing; the promise of DNA computing
Dr. Darko
Stefanovic
2
13-08-26
Computing and manufacturing by DNA selfassembly
Dr. Darko
Stefanovic
3
4
13-09-02
13-09-09
Labor Day. No Class
Molecular logic circuits; DNA strand
displacement; deoxyribozymes
Dr. Darko
Stefanovic
5
13-09-16
Synthetic molecular walkers and motors
Dr. Darko
Stefanovic
Data Management
6
13-09-23
Metadata essentials, eLab notebooks, open
data, and final project requirements
Geospatial data management,
current/future national data initiatives,
data management training and education
Research data lifecycle and data
management planning
Data workflow, tools, applications, and
responsible conduct of research
Monsanto from DDT to GMOs
Zoe Choa, Steve
Koch
Karl Benedict,
Mark Emmons
7
13-09-30
8
13-10-07
9
13-10-14
10
13-10-21
Brief history of transgenics leading to
Monsanto’s work, from Griffith (1929) to
Fraley (1983)
Better living through chemistry, Monsanto,
DDT, “Silent Spring” and the EPA
Dr. Sean
Hammond
11
13-10-28
12
13-11-04
13
13-11-11
14
13-11-18
15
13-11-25
Monsanto is still a chemical company and
“Amphibians are not RoundUp Ready”
Persistent rumors and published problems
surrounding modified plants
Commercialization of modified plants from
1992 to 2006.
What plants, what traits and why those?
16
13-12-02
GMO pot luck?
Kevin
Comerford
Jonathan
Wheeler
Dr. Sean
Hammond, Dr.
John Hammond
Dr. John
Hammond
Dr. Sean
Hammond
Dr. Sean
Hammond
Dr. Sean
Hammond
Dr. Sean
Hammond