The course focuses on introducing bioengineers to the types of concepts, cellular hosts, devices, and engineering principles they need to apply to solve real-world problems. Key concepts are covered including the cell as a basic unit of life, central dogma, gene regulation, genetic modification, growth, development and evolution. The course covers the basic principles of cell structure and function of different prokaryotic and eukaryotic species used as hosts for bioengineering applications (bacteria, yeast, algae, plant, human). Students will learn the chemical structure of DNA, RNA, and protein, enzymatic catalysis, metabolism, and manipulations. How this structure information is used to evolve new functions in these molecules will be discussed. The course then highlights the use of these key concepts, devices, molecules, and engineering principles to solve real world problems by providing examples and grand challenges.