The day started off with Karthik showing the class the Human Genome project, covering DNA replication and chromosomes. The class then branched into Bioinformatics, looking at Genscope, Ensembl, and the Biology Workbench. Bob2 joined the class for a video chat while using Biology Workbench to show similarities between different genomes, and then the class returned to working on their own explorations into genomes for diseases, and similarities between other creatures.
The afternoon session started with a quick explanation by Jenna of the differences between tension and compression, and then the class spent some time designing their own trusses with the online truss designer (jhu.edu/~virtlab/bridge/bridge.htm) trying to minimize their structure's maximum values for the different types of strain.
After break, the class came back and started building their own physical model out of straws and pins, with guidance from Jenna and Warren. The class ended with weight testing the teams' structures to see whose was the sturdiest.