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Biological Circuit Design

biocircuits.github.io

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Re: Biological Circuit Design

#11

Post by dekhn »

BalinKing wrote: post #10
dekhn wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not for biologists; typically, they will do multivariate calculus but not so much diffeq (although depends on the school and the student).

At Caltech specifically FWIW, the biology major requirements include intro to diff eq (Ma 2),[0] which is usually taken in the first quarter of sophomore year. [0] https://www.bbe.caltech.edu/academics/biology/undergraduate-...

yes but caltech is atypical (at many schools, biologists would fail diff eq just like many biologists fail organic chemistry). This course is definitely designed for educated, motivated students.

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#12

Post by jna_sh »

j7ake wrote: post #7
dekhn wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean that PhD candidates would be the primary target, rather than undergraduates, although talented, advanced undergraduates would also be welcome (this being Caltech, I'd expected there to be plenty of juniors and seniors in the course). I say this because it drops into diffeqs and fairly subtle/complex behavior quickly.

Differential equation are usually introduced to undergrads by year 2 or 3. So I expect this to be upper undergraduate course.

The US doesn’t do differential equations in high-school? Huh, TIL

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#13

Post by dekhn »

jna_sh wrote: post #12
j7ake wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Differential equation are usually introduced to undergrads by year 2 or 3. So I expect this to be upper undergraduate course.

The US doesn’t do differential equations in high-school? Huh, TIL

No, typically things end at single variable calculus, although it depends on the school. I can't imagine that there is much value to having high school students doing diff eq.

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#14

Post by queuebert »

j7ake wrote: post #6
dekhn wrote: post #2

I sure hope this is a graduate-level course.

The difference between graduate and undergraduate level is that graduate is often easier (ie less work load) than undergrad… This is because graduate students main focus is their research, and courses are a distant second.

Completely depends on the program of study and school. In astronomy and physics programs, graduate courses are far more advanced, but grades are based almost entirely on homework sets. Undergraduate course are less comprehensive, but have a mix of homework and tests. Working on problem sets is chronically hard, while tests are acutely hard.

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#15

Post by j7ake »

dekhn wrote: post #11
BalinKing wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At Caltech specifically FWIW, the biology major requirements include intro to diff eq (Ma 2),[0] which is usually taken in the first quarter of sophomore year. [0] https://www.bbe.caltech.edu/academics/biology/undergraduate-...

yes but caltech is atypical (at many schools, biologists would fail diff eq just like many biologists fail organic chemistry). This course is definitely designed for educated, motivated students.

Organic chem was standard second year course for any science/ engineering student, just like diff eq.

I also TA’d a course like this , and it was for 3rd year biologists/ life sciences / bioengineering

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#17

Post by throwup238 »

brcmthrowaway wrote: post #16

Can anything be made out of this?

The individual techniques described in the class are in use all over the pharmaceutical and biotech industries (especially biosensors) but we're still in the early stages of biological circuits, akin to where electronics was right before the vacuum tube was invented. We've got stuff that operates sort of like basic logic elements like relay switches did in electronics, but we're far from designing any complex integrated circuits.

I think this point from the introduction says it best:

> - From a more practical point of view, we have a very limited ability to construct, test, and compare designs. Even with recent developments such as CRISPR, our ability to rapidly and precisely produce cells with well-defined genomes remains limited compared to what is possible in more advanced disciplines. (This situation is rapidly improving!)

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#18

Post by [deleted] »

queuebert wrote: post #14
j7ake wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The difference between graduate and undergraduate level is that graduate is often easier (ie less work load) than undergrad… This is because graduate students main focus is their research, and courses are a distant second.

Completely depends on the program of study and school. In astronomy and physics programs, graduate courses are far more advanced, but grades are based almost entirely on homework sets. Undergraduate course are less comprehensive, but have a mix of homework and tests. Working on problem sets is chronically hard, while tests are acutely hard.

[deleted]

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#19

Post by cge »

dekhn wrote: post #5
max_ wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do u mean "graduate level"?

I mean that PhD candidates would be the primary target, rather than undergraduates, although talented, advanced undergraduates would also be welcome (this being Caltech, I'd expected there to be plenty of juniors and seniors in the course). I say this because it drops into diffeqs and fairly subtle/complex behavior quickly.

I TA'd BE/CS/CNS/Bi/etc 191 years ago, we had some freshman in the class, and there was definitely the expectation they'd have some familiarity with differential equations; for example, the mass-action model of chemical reaction networks relies on them.

These sorts of classes tend to get students in a broad range of levels, and I think there's the expectation that they'll figure out whatever they're unfamiliar with. I doubt this class is targeted to graduate students, but Caltech classes tend not to have a graduate/undergraduate distinction.

Re: Biological Circuit Design

#20

Post by cge »

dekhn wrote: post #8
j7ake wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Differential equation are usually introduced to undergrads by year 2 or 3. So I expect this to be upper undergraduate course.

Not for biologists; typically, they will do multivariate calculus but not so much diffeq (although depends on the school and the student).

This class is actually BE, not Bi; it's a different department, and I certainly think diffeq would be expected.
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