Author:

Erakogu

Synthetic Biology and its Applications

On-site in Tartu 28 July – 7 August 2024

The summer school aims to provide an overview of synthetic biology advances and their applications. This course is designed for high school students. This course provides an overview of how study life looks like in our university. Students will get hands-on experience in molecular cloning and genetic engineering by visiting the University of Tartu research centres.

Laboratory work will focus on genetically modifying yeast to produce carotenes and violacein, extracting them from yeast cells, and analysing the results via HPLC and TLC.

Carotenes and violaceins are colourful chemical compounds and have a wide range of applications. For example, carotenes are used in cosmetics and the food industry, and violaceins possess antimicrobial and antitumor properties that have great potential in medicine. Students will learn how society could utilise synthetic biology to decrease the production price and reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact compared to conventional production methods.

Students will learn how to work in the molecular biology lab, safety rules, and how to operate laboratory equipment (e.g., PCR machines, centrifuges, vortexes, thermostats, etc.). Students will also create artworks using yeast cells that synthesise carotenes and violaceins.

UniTartu Summer School :

Ülikooli 18, 50090 Tartu Estonia

+372 737 6115

E-post: isu@ut.ee

https://isu.ut.ee

BSc in Science and Technology

Students can choose a combined specialisation in either genetics and biotechnology; bioengineering and robotics; or chemistry and materials science. The general objective of the curriculum is to provide the graduates with a broad-based academic education in the natural sciences, which enables continuing studies on the Master’s level or commencing work in professions that require basic knowledge in the field and simpler working skills, such as at monitoring centres, different technological enterprises and laboratories as a member of a technologically competent lab personnel.

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MSc in Bioengineering

The main aim of the program is to educate specialists with skills and knowledge that will help them to find jobs and contribute to the success of various companies working on the field of industrial or medical biotechnology, circular bioeconomy, bioprocessing etc. The graduates will have understanding and practical experience covering the main industrial bioprocesses, fermentation, design of biological systems, industrial biotechnology, and biomedical technologies. The curriculum emphasises practical training, and provides internships in various companies that are active in the fields of biotechnology and biomedical technology.

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Focus area:	Applied Biotechnology, Synthetic Biology, Bioengineering	Coordinating unit at UT	Institute of Technology
Study Field:	Science and Technology, Bioengineering	Course Leader	Ilona Faustova, Associate Professor in Molecular Biology
Format	Hands-on workshop	Location	Tartu, Estonia

Course dates:	28 July - 7 August 2024	Apply by:	30 April 2024
ECTS:	2	Fee:	600 €
Study group	High school students, beginner level BSc	Language	English

Lecturers:

Ilona Faustova, Associate Professor in Molecular Biology, Programme Director of Science & Technology and Bioengineering programmes
Artemi Maljavin, PhD student
Kristina Reinmets, Research Fellow in Synthetic Biology
Amedeo Pagliotto, Junior Research Fellow in Technology
Science & Technology students

Application period: 15 January - 30 April 2024

Apply now

NB! Please note that every applicant must pay the application fee of 25 EUR. In the application form you must upload proof of payment. Please complete the payment on the application fee payment page.

Before every practical assignment, instructors will explain the theoretical basis of the method.

Week 1

Sunday, 28 July
Arrival

Monday, 29 July

Introduction to summer school: Schedule, goals, learning outcomes.
Lecture: How synthetic biology is changing the world
Introduction to safety rules and laboratory techniques
PCR amplification of Modules’ parts (promoters, genes, terminators, degrons), Gel electrophoresis, Golden Gate assembly, bacterial transformation

Tuesday, 30 July

Lecture: Bioproduction of valuable compounds: benefits and potential risks
Plasmid extraction from bacterial cells, DNA restriction analysis
Sequencing

Wednesday, 31 July

Analysis of sequencing results
PCR amplification of Modules.
Lecture: The basics of homologous recombination and its application in synthetic biology
Yeast transformation

Thursday, 1 August
Free day

Friday, 2 August

Preparing yeast cells for the production of carotenes and violacein
Introduction of the Bioengineering MSc programme at the University of Tartu

Saturday, 3 August
Free day

Sunday, 4 August
Free day

Week 2

Monday, 5 August

Extraction of carotenes and violaceins from yeast cells
Lecture: HPLC and TLC methods: benefits, restrictions, applications
TLC analysis of the extracted carotenes and violaceins.
Artistic work: make a drawing on the Petri dish using colourful yeast cells

Tuesday, 6 August

Analysis of the HPLC results
Group photos
Feedback form

Wednesday, 7 August
Departure

The students can take part in a cultural programme in the evenings.

Entry requirements:

Online application form
Motivation letter (up to 1 page) that demonstrates the applicant’s motivation to participate, his/her expectations about the programme, how participation in the summer programme relates to his/her studies and interests, and how the applicant plans to use the gained experience and knowledge in the future
Transcript of academic records
Copy of passport

PS: Only complete applications including all annexes submitted by the deadline will be considered for selection

The student completing the course will:

1. Know the main branches of synthetic biology

2. Will learn potential drawbacks and ethical issues raised by synthetic biology development

3. Know different molecular cloning techniques, including Golden Gate assembly and digest/ligate cloning

4. Be able to perform PCR, DNA gel electrophoresis, Bacterial and yeast transformations, DNA extraction from bacterial cells.

5. Learn about different sequencing methods and how to analyze the results of Sanger sequencing

6. Perform carotene and violacein extraction from S. Cerevisiae cells

7. Learn the basics of HPLC and TLC, perform TLC and analyze the results.

Two weeks prior to the start of the programme an information file will be sent to all participants. This file contains the daily schedule and relevant contact information of the programme managers.

Students are responsible for their travel, accommodation and travel insurance (visa arrangements if needed) from their home country to Tartu and back to their home country. It is recommended to visit the Tartu Welcome Centre website and arrival and housing section to find accommodation opportunities.

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Synthetic Biology and its Applications

Application period: 15 January - 30 April 2024

2 weeks of personal growth surrounded by the best people

UniTartu Summer School application period ends on 30 April

What is yours will find you: reflecting on my UniTartu Summer School experience