no colloquium

Prof. John King
MIT

The world would be better if more people knew physics -- why? what? how?

Abstract:
Awareness of some fundamentals of science (physics particularly), such as respect for the sample, observation, quantification and description, as well as respect for doubt and evidence, can be taught and learned at all ages informally from exposure to a more instructive environment to be developed as an extension of the existing public educational system. The putative effects of this development, its nature and how it might be started will be described.

Prof. Beth Parks
Colgate University

Prof. Anne Gershenson
Brandeis University

Prof. Rebecca Younkin
Mt. Holyoke College

Dr. Caspar van der Wal
CfA, Harvard University

TBA

Prof. Kate Kirby
CfA, Harvard University

Prof. Corinne Manogue
Oregon State University

Prof. David Kastor
UMass

Dr. Joseph Tan

Prof. J. J. Collins
Boston University (Dept. of Biomedical Engineering)
Co-Director, Center for BioDynamics

Nonlinear DNAmics: Designer Gene Networks

Abstract:
Many fundamental cellular processes are governed by genetic programs which employ protein-DNA interactions in regulating function. Owing to recent technological advances, it is now possible to design synthetic gene regulatory networks, and the stage is set for the notion of engineered cellular control at the DNA level. Theoretically, the biochemistry of the feedback loops associated with protein-DNA interactions often leads to nonlinear equations, and the tools of nonlinear analysis become invaluable. In this talk, we describe how techniques from nonlinear dynamics and molecular biology can be utilized to model, design and construct synthetic gene regulatory networks. We present examples in which we integrate the development of a theoretical model with the construction of an experimental system. We also discuss the implications of synthetic gene regulatory networks for gene therapy, biotechnology, biocomputing and nanotechnology.