A Hands-On Freshman Seminar Course in DNA Origami
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In the fall semester of 2016, the biophysics program at the University of Michigan offered a hands-on seminar course in the theory and practice of DNA origami aimed at first year undergraduate students with varying scientific backgrounds. The course began with lectures on theoretical underpinnings of self-assembly, and quickly moved into group work where students learned to design DNA origami structures using freely accessible software tools (cadnano: http://cadnano.org/ and CanDo: http://cando-dna-origami.org/). Students then assembled an instructor-designed single layer origami and characterized its assembly using electrophoresis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and super-resolution fluorescence localization microscopy. The course ended with discussions of current research aimed at using origami and other self-organizing systems to approach fundamental problems in biology and medicine. The goal of the course is to introduce young students to several fundamental biophysical concepts and approaches. This poster will discuss the positive and negative outcomes of this class, as well as several obstacles encountered in course design and implementation.