Homework

Weekly homework submissions:

• Week 1 HW: Principles and Practices

  1. BioBoard want to develop a modular, plug and play platform for biological engineering inspired by how Arduino made electronics easy to access and build. Today, even though synthetic biology is advancing quickly, the ability to design and test biological systems is still limited to well funded labs with specialized equipment. The tool I imagine, which I conceptually call “BioBoard”, would act as a simple interface between users and biological systems. Instead of mastering complicated workflows, users could connect optimized biological modules such as growth sensors, environmental monitors, light control units, or cell free expression kits into a central platform. This would allow faster experimentation, easier data collection, and more room for creativity.

• Week 2 HW: DNA READ, WRITE AND EDIT

  Part 0: Basics of Gel Electrophoresis I attended and reviewed the lecture and recitation materials on gel electrophoresis. From these sessions, I learned that gel electrophoresis is a technique used to separate DNA fragments based on size, where negatively charged DNA migrates toward the positive electrode through an agarose matrix. Smaller fragments travel faster than larger ones, allowing visualization of fragment patterns after staining. Understanding these principles was important for designing and interpreting restriction digest patterns in the subsequent gel art exercise.