Week 07 HW

https://2026a.htgaa.org/2026a/course-pages/weeks/week-07/index.html

Part 1: Intracellular Artificial Neural Networks (IANNs)

What advantages do IANNs have over traditional genetic circuits, whose input/output behaviors are Boolean functions?

They can compute continuous values, not just discrete ones.

Describe a useful application for an IANN; include a detailed description of input/output behavior, as well as any limitations an IANN might face to achieve your goal.

A feedback-response mechanism, for example how the pancreas runs a sort of PID controller / control system for managing glucose levels in the body - through two hormones that move glucose levels in opposite directions - insulin and glucagon.

Part 2: Fungal Materials

What are some examples of existing fungal materials and what are they used for? What are their advantages and disadvantages over traditional counterparts?

Mycelium composites. You can use them to grow coffee cups, fashion (cloths).

What might you want to genetically engineer fungi to do and why? What are the advantages of doing synthetic biology in fungi as opposed to bacteria?

You might want to genetically engineer fungi to grow coffee cups.

The advantage is that in fungi, the chassis is the product - filamentous growth means the organism shapes itself into the material. Bacteria are essentially isotropic point-particles in materials terms; hyphae are intrinsically networked, anisotropic, and 3D, which is the prerequisite for any morphogenetic program over a material.

Part 3: First DNA Twist Order

Review the Individual Final Project documentation guidelines.

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Submit the Google Form with your draft Aim 1, final project summary, HTGAA industry council selections, and shared folder for DNA designs.

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Review Part 3: DNA Design Challenge of the week 2 homework. Design at least 1 insert sequence and place it into the Benchling/Kernel/Other folder you shared in the Google Form above. Document the backbone vector it will be synthesized in on your website.

N/A