Please note that this is a draft schedule and will inevitably change to some extent.
weeks 1-7 – genetic engineering and bioprinting
weeks 9-16 – growing and working with bacterial nanocellulose
weeks 13-16 – growing and working with mycelium

1   |   8/30   |  An Introduction to Biofabrication


In Class

Homework

2  |   9/6  |   Intro to Synthetic Biology

In Class

  • Discuss readings
  • Lab I – cell culture density analysis
    • Lab safety
    • optical density
    • serial dilutions
    • Pipetting
    • Positive and Negative control
    • lab notes
    • set times for lab access
  • overview of synthetic biology
    • DNA structure
    • genetic parts
    • engineered standardized parts
    • restriction enzymes
    • biobricks assembly
    • CRISPR
  • Introduce Lab II

Homework

3  |   9/13  |   Lab II – Genetic Engineering with CRISPR+Cas9

In Class

  • Review results of Lab I
  • Review readings
  • Technical overview of genetic engineering
    • with restriction enzymes
    • with CRISPR+Cas9
  • Lab II – CRISPR+Cas9
    • paper model (moved to homework)
    • lab exercise

Homework

  • complete questions in lab protocol handout (“Activity 2”)
  • complete paper CRISPR worksheet
  • gather material and ideas for 2D Bioprinting experimentation

4  |   9/20  |  2D Bioprinting Experimentation

In Class

  • review CRISPR lab results and discuss
  • explore different bacterial printing and drawing processes
  • Lecture: bacterial printing examples

Homework

  • review results of experiments
  • plan for project I
  • prepare materials, tools, and/or files for in-class work

5  |   9/27  |  2D Bioprinting Experimentation

In Class

  • Lecture: BioArt Gen I
  • Print with genetically modified bacteria
  • Discuss bioprinting project ideas

Homework

  • DO: complete bacterial prints
    • document process
    • photograph results

6  |  10/4  |  Bioprinting Work Day

In Class

  • work
  • document

Homework

  • Complete Bioprinting Project
  • document bacterial prints

7  |   10/11  |  Critique

In Class

  • Critique
  • Lab cleanup

Homework

  • document
  • create post on class website documenting your bioprinting project and process

8  |   10/18  |  Fall Break

9  |   10/25  |  Bacterial Cellulose

In Class

  • Reading Discussion: Resisting Biopolitics, Introduction
  • Lecture: Bacterial Cellulose
  • Lab: Bacterial Cellulose
    • make media
    • sterilize tubs
    • inoculate media
    • place tubs in incubator

Homework

  • Agitate tubs
  • Resisting Biopolitics assignment
    • select an essay from Resisting Biopolitics to read
    • prepare to give a 5-10 minute summary in class

10  |   11/1  |  Bacterial Cellulose Growth

In Class

  • Complete bacterial cellulose setups
  • Connect air lines to tubs
  • Review how to post your work to this site

Homework

  • Resisting Biopolitics assignment
    • read selected essay from Resisting Biopolitics
    • prepare to give a 5-10 minute summary in class
  • monitor bacterial cellulose cultures for contamination
    • log all observations
  • research bacterial cellulose applications and material treatments
  • create post of bioprinting projects

11  |   11/8  |  Biopolitics

In Class

  • discuss Biopolitics essays
  • discuss biomaterials project proposals

Homework

  • research bacterial cellulose applications and material treatments

12  |   11/15  | Bacterial Cellulose Work Day

In Class

Homework

  • read I Contain Multitudes, Ch 1 (printouts are in the cubbies, outside the lab)
  • continue bacterial cellulose washing protocol
  • continue material experiments
  • document experiments with photos and data
  • collect mycelium substrates
    • common substrates are straw, grain, sawdust (hardwood is often preferred), and other cellulosic starchy materials
    • choose 3 materials for experimentation
      • have enough of each material to fill 4 regular petri dishes
    • choose at least 1 material for your project
      • this should be one of your three experimental materials
      • make sure you have ample material to fill your mold
        • molds can still be TBD for now, but plan for something roughly 0.5L – 3L in volume
  • autoclave substrates (if available Monday 3:00-4:00)

13  |   11/22  | Mycelium Biomaterials

In Class

  • autoclave remaining mycelium substrates
  • discuss I Contain Multitudes
  • overview of mycelium-based biomaterials
  • inoculate substrate
    • bulk material
    • petri dish samples
  • vacuum form demo
  • watch Fantastic Fungi (time permitting)
  • continue work on bacterial cellulose processing

Homework

  • continue work on bacterial cellulose processing
  • create/find mold for mycelium project
  • give thanks

14  |   11/29  | Mycelium Forming

In Class

  • inoculate autoclaved substrate materials with mycelium cultures
  • create petri dish samples
  • vacuum form demo
  • pack inoculated and grown materials into molds
  • continue work on bacterial cellulose
  • discuss I Contain Multitudes
  • watch Fantastic Fungi

Homework

  • complete bacterial cellulose project
  • document bacterial cellulose project
  • monitor mycelium
  • if mycelium is ready pop it out of the mold and tent it for final surface growth

15  |   12/6  | Final Work Day

In Class

  • check on petri dish samples
    • if primary growth is complete, remove it from the petri dish and tent it for final surface growth
    • if all growth is complete, dry it in toaster oven
  • check on mycelium castings
    • if primary growth is complete, pop it out of the mold and tent it for final surface growth
    • if all growth is complete, dry it in toaster oven

Homework

  • complete mycelium project
  • document mycelium project
  • create a post on the class website for your bacterial cellulose project
  • create a post on the class website for your mycelium project

16  |   12/13  | Final Critique of Cellulose and Mycelium Projects

In Class

  • critique