4.3
stars
68 ratings

Debra JH Mathews, PhD, MA

7,185 already enrolled

Offered By

Engineering Life: Synbio, Bioethics & Public Policy

Johns Hopkins University

About this Course

3,405 recent views

Synbio is a diverse field with diverse applications, and the different contexts (e.g., gain-of-function research, biofuels) raise different ethical and governance challenges. The objective of this course is to increase learners’ awareness and understanding of ethical and policy/governance issues that arise in the design, conduct and application of synthetic biology. The course will begin with a short history of recombinant DNA technology and how governance of that science developed and evolved, and progress through a series of areas of application of synbio. 
Content will be presented in many forms, including not only reading and lectures, but also recorded and live interviews and discussions with scientists, ethicists and policy makers. Learners will have the opportunity to think, write and talk about the issues and challenges in their own work and in real-life case examples. A final project will engage students in the development of governance models for synbio.

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

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Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.75/5 (12 Ratings)

Debra JH Mathews, PhD, MA

Assistant Director for Science Programs

Berman Institute of Bioethics

7,185 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

Johns Hopkins University

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

23 minutes to complete

Welcome to Engineering Life: SynBio, Bioethics & Public Policy

23 minutes to complete

1 video (Total 3 min), 1 reading

3 hours to complete

Recombinant DNA Technology: Science and History

We start the course by learning a bit about the history and context of the development of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology in the 1970s, the ethics and policy issues raised by that science, and how those issues remain with us today in synthetic biology. The work of the week includes lecture videos, readings, and an interview with LeRoy Walters, who was involved in the discussions and debates about rDNA in its early years. The week will conclude with a quiz.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 105 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

GOF Research

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 49 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Biofuels

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 69 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Human Health

This week we will learn a bit about applications of synthetic biology to human health, and the ethics of human subjects research. The work of the week includes lecture videos, one outside video, and readings. The assessment this week will be your second peer-assessed project, and will build on your first project, from Week 2. This project will focus on identifying stakeholders in a policy decision, their interests in the decision, and the related ethical duties of the decision-maker.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 50 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.3

22 reviews

5 stars
64.70%
4 stars
16.17%
3 stars
7.35%
2 stars
2.94%
1 star
8.82%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGINEERING LIFE: SYNBIO, BIOETHICS & PUBLIC POLICY

by JQJul 27, 2017

fun and interesting course. very well taught by somebody obviously knowledgeable. Thanks so much.

by AHNov 5, 2020

Great course! Learn a lot of new information about governance in Synbio.

by JSNov 6, 2019

pretty good class. kind of technical but gives one some good stuff to think about

by GGNov 29, 2020

Very insightful course for young scientists and engineers to understand bioethics!

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
What is the most important thing I'll learn if I take this class?
The primary goal of this class is to help scientists think a bit more like policy makers and the public, seeing not only the incredible promise of the science they do, but also the potential risks and pitfalls, so these can be avoided or designed against at the beginning of a project, rather than at the end, when the challenges and costs are higher. Working with scholars, policy makers, and fellow learners, students will gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the ethics and governance of synthetic biology.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Engineering Life: Synbio, Bioethics & Public Policy

Engineering Life: Synbio, Bioethics & Public Policy

About this Course