Ever heard of CRISPR, the biology class buzzword and purported future of human evolution? (One of these descriptions is more accurate than the other). Come learn about the differences between the fact and fiction of this powerful gene-editing tool! We’ll cover the basics of the discovery of CRISPR, its original functions in bacteria, and how it has been engineered for a range of different applications today.

https://xkcd.com/1430/ If you think origami is hard, imagine folding a chain of amino acids into a fully functional protein! Come learn about the twists and turns of the protein folding problem and what progress scientists have made so far, from Levinthal’s paradox to the biennial CASP competition and more. Try it out for yourself during the second half of this class, where we’ll introduce the protein folding game Foldit and finish with a mini-contest!