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.

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

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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.

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.

Engineering Life: Synbio, Bioethics & Public Policy

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Engineering Life: Synbio, Bioethics & Public Policy

Instructor: Debra JH Mathews, PhD, MA

9,063 already enrolled

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6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

82 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

82 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

2 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

91%

of learners achieved a positive career outcome

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There are 6 modules in this course

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.

Module details

What's included

1 video1 reading1 discussion prompt

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.

What's included

8 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt

8 videosTotal 105 minutes

Week 1 Introduction1 minute
A Brief History of rDNA15 minutes
A Brief History of Asilomar & the RAC19 minutes
Interview: Dr. LeRoy Walters (Part 1)19 minutes
Interview: Dr. LeRoy Walters (Part 2)22 minutes
Interview: Dr. LeRoy Walters (Part 3)13 minutes
Relevant Contemporary Policy Context6 minutes
The Emergence of SynBio9 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Week 1 Readings10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 1 Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Week 1: What Surprised You?10 minutes

In Week 2 we will learn about and discuss gain of function (GOF) research and the dual-use concerns raised by synthetic biology. The work of the week includes lecture videos, a number of outside videos, and readings. The assessment this week will be your first peer-assessed project, and will focus on identifying ethical duties related to GOF research policy.

What's included

6 videos2 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts

6 videosTotal 49 minutes

Week 2 Introduction1 minute
Gain of Function Research5 minutes
Dual Use Research9 minutes
GOF Research Case Study: H5N112 minutes
Ethical Issues Raised by GOF Research11 minutes
Governance and GOF Research9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Week 2 Readings10 minutes
Additional Video Content10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Identifying Ethical Issues120 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Personal Experience - Week 210 minutes
Week 2: What Surprised You?10 minutes

This week, we’ll learn about biofuels, the complex task of balancing the many ethical issues they raise, and the role of synthetic biology in biofuels development. The work of the week includes lecture videos, one outside video, readings, and an interview with Deborah Scott about biofuels governance. The week will conclude with a quiz.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 assignment2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 69 minutes

Week 3 Introduction1 minute
Biofuels9 minutes
Applications6 minutes
Case Study5 minutes
Ethical Issues Raised by SynBio-based Biofuels9 minutes
Interview: Deborah Scott, PhD, JD (Part 1)24 minutes
Interview: Deborah Scott, PhD, JD (Part 2)15 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Week 3 Readings10 minutes
Additional Video Content10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 3 Quiz30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Personal Experience - Week 310 minutes
Week 3: What Surprised You?10 minutes

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.

What's included

7 videos2 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 50 minutes

Week 4 Introduction2 minutes
Synbio in Human Health5 minutes
Human Genetic Modification7 minutes
Case Study: Artemisinin7 minutes
Case Study: GM Mosquitos8 minutes
Ethical Issues Raised by SynBio-based Medical Applications13 minutes
Governance of SynBio-based Medical Applications8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Week 4 Readings10 minutes
Additional Video Content10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Stakeholder Analysis120 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

Personal Experience - Week 410 minutes
Week 4: What Surprised You?10 minutes

In the final week of the course, we will talk about both models of governance for emerging biotechnologies and the role of public engagement in the development and oversight of the science. The work of the week includes lecture videos, one outside video, and readings, as well as interviews with LeRoy Walters and Jane Calvert. The final course project builds on the Week 2 and 4 peer-assessed projects, and goes a step further, asking you to develop and defend a decision-making process for a government policy related to the release of genetically modified mosquitoes.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 peer review2 discussion prompts

8 videosTotal 99 minutes

Week 5 Introduction2 minutes
Governance & Engagement in SynBio19 minutes
Governance Models9 minutes
Public Engagement14 minutes
Interview: Dr. LeRoy Walters on Governance and Recombinant DNA8 minutes
Interview: Dr. LeRoy Walters on the Importance of Relationships to the Field of SynBio18 minutes
Interview: Dr. Jane Calvert (Part 1)14 minutes
Interview: Dr. Jane Calvert (Part 2)16 minutes