BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191ab:  Biomolecular Computation
Professor: Erik Winfree
TA: TBA

Description (slightly edited) from the course catalog:
BE/CS/CNS/Bi 191 ab. Biomolecular Computation. 9 units (3-0-6) second term; (2-4-3) third term. This course investigates computation by molecular systems, emphasizing models of computation based on the underlying physics, chemistry, and organization of biological cells. Topics will be selected from computation by self-assembly, molecular folding, signal transduction, genetic regulatory networks, and transcription; simulation and design of biochemical systems; physical limits of computation, reliability, and the role of noise; reversible computation; DNA-based computers; in vitro evolution; molecular ecosystems. Part (a) develops fundamental results. Part (b) is a reading and research course: classic and current papers will be discussed, and students will complete projects on current research topics. 

Time & Place:  BE 191a: Second term, 2010; BE 191b: Third Term, 2010.
Annenberg 106, Tu 1-2:25pm, Th 1-2:25pm
On Jan 14 and Feb 11, class will meet in Annenberg 314.

Grading Policy for BE 191a:
There will be weekly homework sets, a midterm, and a final exam.
Homeworks: The homeworks will consist of two simple questions and will be graded on a {0,1,2} scale.

Note that getting a 2 does not necessarily mean it is 100% correct. An exemplary homework set will be chosen each week as a "solution set" and handed out in class (with the name hidden).
Midterm and Final exam: Exams will be take-home, and will consist of the same kind of questions as those constituting the homeworks. In other words they will not be difficult if you have been doing the homework and carefully reviewing the solution sets. The midterm will have ~4 questions on the material up to that point, and the final will have ~8 questions on the material throughout the class. Exams will be graded more rigorously than the homework; clarity, correctness, and completeness will be essential.
Grade composition: Your class grade will be based on: 50% final, 25% midterm, 25% homeworks.

Grading Policy for BE 191b:
Your grade will be based on weekly reading and writing assignments, as well as a final project. The final project is due (TBA). Presentations will be scheduled, TBA.

Office hours: TBA

Resources: Will be posted as appropriate.

Syllabus: Will be posted soon.



CS 191b Reading List for 2007 (NOTE: These papers are for download by Caltech students for "fair use" only!):


CS 191b Reading List from 2005 (NOTE: These papers are for download by Caltech students for "fair use" only!):

References: The following books may be useful in understanding the ideas in this course. None of them are required, but all of them will be useful for various sections of the course.


Reading list for CS 191b from 2002; see above for 2005:

Physics of Computation

Error correction and Organisms Cellular computing Genetic regulatory networks Synthetic biochemical systems Noise and Stochastic Effects


In vitro evolution of DNA and RNA

DNA computing for combinatorial search Thermodynamics and kinetics of DNA hybridization and folding Molecular engineering and DNA nanotechnology Computation by molecular self-assembly and molecular folding
The selection of papers is open to reconsideration depending upon how our discussions proceed.