This course is designed as an in depth exploration of the genetic engineering field. The course will cover the history of genetic engineering, the evolution of different genetic engineering technologies (ie Zinc Fingers, TALENs and CRISPR), the current use of genetic engineering, and human clinical trials. Emphasis will be placed on how genetic engineering tools are designed and used to model, diagnose and treat human disease. Other potential topics include how genetic engineering impacts drug discovery, agriculture, and lifestyle.
It is expected that students will have a solid genetics background before taking this course. Prerequisites include ALS 407 or GENE 310, or permission from the instructor.